Ric Kolenda
Associate Chairperson
Biography
Faculty Bio
Ric teaches graduate-level public policy and public administration as a Clinical Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Public Administration. Ric Kolenda’s scholarship focuses on public affairs pedagogy, urban policy, nonprofit entrepreneurship, and technology, with an emphasis on the “gig economy� and the role of innovation on the economic development of cities.
He is also an experienced technology and nonprofit entrepreneur with the strong analytical skills developed as a Ph.D. in public policy.
Awards and Honors
- Department of Public Administration, 2023, Faculty Member of the Year, 2022-23
- Helene and Grant Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship, 2020, Faculty Fellowship, 2020-21
Education
BS, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI
Economics
PhD, Georgia State University/Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Public Policy
MA, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Urban Studies
Research and Creative Works
Research Interest
Public affairs pedagogy & civic engagement; the economic geography of creative industries; urban inequality, equality of opportunity & socio-economic mobility; and twenty-first century employment structures.
Grants, Sponsored Research and Contracts
The City and the Sea: A planning grant for a NYC undergraduate fellowship in civics and public service
Tekula, R., Scutelnicu, G., Bolton, M. & Kolenda, R. February 2024 - December 2024. The Teagle Foundation, Private. Funded. To develop an undergraduate fellowship program in public service, a two course sequence and summer placement, with the aim to support and empower 91ÊÓÆµâ€™s diverse trove of first generation students to become the future civic leaders of New York City. https://www.teaglefoundation.org/Newsroom/News/Articles/Teagle-in-the-News/91ÊÓÆµ-University-Receives-$25,000-Teagle-Foundation
Courses Taught
Past Courses
PAA 101: Public Admin & Its Environment
PAA 102: Organizational Planning
PAA 602: Organization Theory & Mgmt
PAA 603: Eco of Govt, Health, Nonprofit
PAA 606: Research Design for Admins.
PAA 607: Applied Data Analysis
PAA 615: Program Planning & Evaluation
PAA 616: Prjct Dvlpmnt & Grant Writing
PAA 620: Advanced Economic Analysis
PAA 632: Policy Studies
PAA 641: Municipal Management
PAA 642: Regional Planning
PAA 699: Capstone Project Seminar
Publications and Presentations
Publications
Are Central Cities More Creative? the Intrametropolitan Geography of Creative Industries
Kolenda, R. & Liu, C. Y. (2012). Journal of Urban Affairs. Vol 34 (Issue 5) , pages 487-512.
Counting and Understanding the Contingent Workforce
Liu, C. Y. & Kolenda, R. (2012). Urban Studies. Vol 49 (Issue 5) , pages 1003-1025.
Re-Creating New Orleans: Driving Development Through Creativity
Liu, C. Y., Kolenda, R., Fitzpatrick, G. & Todd, T. N. (2010). Economic Development Quarterly. Vol 24 (Issue 3) , pages 261-275.
Professional Contributions and Service
Professional Memberships
- American Society for Public Administration
- American Society for Public Administration NY Metropolitan Chapter [President & President-Elect]
Professional Service
American Society for Public Administration New York Metropolitan Chapter [Officer, President/Elect/Past]