Lab Director. |
Dr. Cullen C. Merritt, an award-winning researcher and teacher, is an associate professor and research director of the Institute for Public Leadership (IPL) in the School of Public Policy (SPP) at the University of Maryland, College Park.
The throughline connecting his research centers on unpacking how managers across sectors can leverage their organizations' "publicness"—or public features—to enhance performance and create public value. Dr. Merritt's research appears in Public Administration Review, The American Review of Public Administration, Public Administration, Perspectives on Public Management and Governance, and numerous other outlets. His research has been nationally recognized by the American Society for Public Administration and the American Political Science Association. Dr. Merritt's commitment to advancing his research agenda is not only reflected in his scholarly pursuits but also in his dedication to mentoring students within the Project for Research on Organizations, Management, and Publicness Theory (PROMPT) lab. His faculty lab operates as a dynamic catalyst for research mentorship and student support, fostering an environment where academic growth and research excellence are integrated. As an innovative research director at the Institute for Public Leadership, he has developed and led numerous initiatives to advance public leadership research within the School of Public Policy and the broader public management discipline. Key programs include the IPL Seed Grant Program, which funds SPP faculty projects with potential for external funding, particularly those advancing public leadership in Maryland; the Summer Doctoral Research Fellowship, designed to support SPP doctoral research that significantly advances public leadership theory and practice; and the Public Leadership Research Summit, which promotes the work and development of early-career scholars across the United States making significant contributions to public and nonprofit management research. As a leader within his academic community, Dr. Merritt has demonstrated leadership by serving on editorial boards, including as associate editor of Public Administration Review (2021-2023), and co-chairing the 2023 Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) Annual Conference. A native of Texas, Dr. Merritt earned his Ph.D. in Public Administration and Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas A&M University. |
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