WMU Alumni Named to Executive Council

The Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration has named two Western Michigan University graduates, one of which is a WMU director, to its Executive Council. WMU alumna, associate professor and director of the School of Public Affairs and Administration, Dr. Barbara Liggett '83 '86 and dean of the School of Public Affairs at American University, Dr. Barbara Romzek '72 were elected to three-year terms on NASPAA's Executive Council.

Dr. Liggett joined the faculty at WMU in 1992, after leadership positions at WMU since 1980 that include associate vice president of Human Resources, executive advisor to the President, and associate to the vice president of Business and Finance. Her current research and consultation work focuses on ethical decision-making in public and nonprofit organizations. She has served as director of WMU’s School of Public Affairs and Administration since 2010, after a one-year interim director position. Dr. Liggett is a Senior Professional in Human Resources, the highest certification signifying demonstrated strategic mastery of human resources.

Dr. Romzek, a political science graduate, held various academic leadership positions prior to joining American University that include department chairperson, association dean, interim dean and interim senior vice provost. She is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and currently serves on the Board of the Public Management Research Association. Her research encompasses the complex work settings of NASA, Congress and the U.S. Air Force, as well as state agencies, local governments and nonprofit agencies. Building upon her research on formal accountability, Dr. Romzek's recent work focuses on informal accountability in collaborative work settings. Dr. Romzek is the recipient of WMU's Department of Political Science 2013 College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Achievement Award.

NASPAA is the global standard in public service education. It is the membership association of over 280 schools of public policy, public affairs, public administration and public and nonprofit management. NASPAA is located throughout the United States and in 13 countries around the world. It is also the recognized accreditor of master's degree programs in fields of public affairs, administration and nonprofit management. NASPAA's mission is to promote excellence in education and training for public service and to promote the idea of public service.