Published October 2, 2018
Two University of Louisiana Monroe faculty from the Political Science and Public Administration
program presented at the Southeastern Conference on Public Administration (SECoPA)
in Birmingham, Ala.
Assistant professors Dr. Patrick Exmeyer and Dr. Leigh Hersey both participated in
the research conference Sept. 21-23.
SECoPA is a regional gathering for public service practitioners, researchers, and
students from 10 states in the southeast. Conference attendees have the opportunity
to engage in scholarly discourse, discover the latest innovations in the field, share
ideas from practitioners, and network with other public service administrators. The
conference has been held since 1969.
Exmeyer and co-author Dr. Michael P. Brown of Ball State University presented on the
public service motivation within juvenile delinquents who have participated in public
rehabilitative services. Exmeyer also chaired a panel on ethical dilemmas in leadership,
politics, and policy. Hersey presented her research on how the city of Selma, Ala.,
has used the arts to stimulate community development. She coordinated the panel which
explored arts and civic engagement.
SECoPA is scheduled to head to Louisiana for 2019. Baton Rouge has been selected as
the host city and Hersey hopes that ULM will have a strong presence at the conference.
“We are excited that next year’s conference is just down the road. Dr. Exmeyer and
I have already been in contact with the conference organizers to offer our support
with the event. We want to have a large contingent of faculty, students, and alumni
at the conference to bring more recognition to our program,” said Hersey.
SECoPA is affiliated with the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), the
nation’s most respected society representing all forums in the public service arena.
