Abstract
An enduring concern in the field of public administration is the relevance of theoretically motivated research in academic journals to the world of professional practice (Bozeman et al. 2023). As educators and as journal editors, we believe a valuable nexus exists between scholarly inquiry and professional practice. Moreover, we believe State and Local Government Review is an important forum for analyzing and communicating insights about professional public service at the state and local level. As editors, we have welcomed contributions by government professionals in the “Perspectives Essay” section, which has focused our attention on pandemic recovery, civility in government, intergovernmental relations, and performance management, among other topics. As this year comes to a close, we ask that you take a moment to share the value of State and Local Government Review and use it as a tool to foster dialogue connecting professional practice and public service education.
A subscription to State and Local Government Review is a membership benefit of the American Society of Public Administration’s (ASPA) Section on Intergovernmental Administration and Management (SIAM). This community within ASPA supports scholars and public service professionals who work at the intersections of state and local government. If you are a SIAM member or someone who reads SLGR regularly, we ask you to share an article with someone who can put the insights to use.
We encourage readers to use State and Local Government Review as a tool to foster dialogue that strengthens the connections between universities and professional practice. Articles from the Field Notes and Perspective Essay sections are particularly ideal for this purpose, but all contributors to the pages of SLGR are asked to highlight the relevance of their research for professional practice. Miller and Broadnax (1976, 28), reflecting upon the training of students entering careers in local government, quipped “most managers are as ill-prepared to teach as most academicians are to manage city hall.” While this stinging observation may still hold some truth, it need not. University faculty teaching public affairs and leaders in state and local government share a commitment to the future of the public service profession. Organizations like the International City County Management Association (ICMA) are taking steps to equip public managers for adjunct teaching so they may bring their expertise into the classroom. Public affairs programs engage their alumni and government officials in guest lectures to bring front-line experience from government experts into the classroom. So too, more faculty are answering to call to enhance experiential and applied learning opportunities that bring students into direct contact with problem-solving opportunities in government (Evans 2018). As our universities and professional associations take steps to improve connections, we ask that you consider individual-level obligations to foster these links as well.
Staats (1977, 76), reflecting on professional development noted, “all development is self-development; all development is individual.” So too, we believe linking theory and practice begins with individual development. As individual readers, we encourage you to take two action steps in the year ahead. First, reach across the university-practice divide to invite someone you know to have a conversation about the relevance or applicability of research in State and Local Government Review. Faculty, invite a nearby city manager or state agency official to sit down for a cup of coffee. Government leaders, use a conversation about SLGR as a way to make a connection to a local MPA program, university career center, or community college. Conversations about research findings may point to new insights for practice, or illuminate new questions for research. We believe conversations about articles in the journal will enliven the relevance of SLGR for all. As editors, we invite you to follow up with us by email (
Second, we invite government professionals to share their experience and insights in the Perspective Essay section of SLGR. These short contributions describe how leaders in state and local government are innovating, meeting new challenges, and guiding their states and communities. If you prefer not to write alone, talk with a faculty member at a local university about writing together. In the year ahead, we believe readers of State and Local Government Review can take concrete steps to improve the quality of the dialogue between theory and practice. SLGR is the premier outlet for scholarship of state, local, and intergovernmental affairs, but it is also a tool to foster dialogue. Thank you for reading State and Local Government Review and for joining us in these important conversations about the future of public service.