Whitburn Center

Michael R. Ford – Director

Michael Ford is the EAA C.R. Meyer Endowed Professor of Public Administration at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO). He has published over 40 peer reviewed articles on public and nonprofit governance, and one peer reviewed book on education policy. In addition to his role at UWO, he served as an elected member of the Oshkosh Common Council, as a member of the Oshkosh Plan Commission, on the board of Clarity Care Inc., and as President of the Midwest Public Affairs Conference. He also writes monthly columns for the Public Administration Times and the Oshkosh Herald. His work has been featured in a variety of media, including the Washington Post, the Houston Chronicle, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Associated Press, and Wisconsin Public Radio. His school board research has been used in board trainings across the United States, including in districts in Wisconsin, Iowa, California and Texas.

Prior to joining Academia Ford served as a Research Associate and Vice President of Operations for School Choice Wisconsin (2004 – 2011), and Research Director for the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute (2011 – 2013). He holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Marquette University, a Masters of Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a Ph.D. in Urban Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

 Samantha June Larson – Senior Affiliate Faculty

Dr. Samantha Larson is an Associate Professor and Director of the Master of Public Administration program at UWO. Her research interests include program implementation, evaluation, and policy analysis to advance community resilience and sustainability through a social equity lens. She has published in a variety of journals, such as Administration & Society, the Journal of Public Affairs Education, and Public Administration Review, and has authored multiple book chapters and technical reports. One of her recent honors includes the 2024 Community Engagement Award from the College of Letters & Science. Prior to UWO, Sam served for more than 15 years in various public and nonprofit organizations leading rural, environmental, and educational programs. A native of North Dakota, Sam received a B.A. in Social Science from the University of North Dakota, an M.S. in Sociology from North Dakota State University, and her Ph.D. in Public Affairs at the University of Colorado – Denver.

Matt Richie – Affiliate Faculty

Matt Richie Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the Criminal Justice Department at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. His research focuses on evaluation, recidivism and desistance, and qualitative methods. Matt received his Ph. D. in Social Welfare / Criminal Justice and M.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. He also earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

Paul Van Auken – Affiliate Faculty

Dr. Paul Van Auken is professor and chair of the Department of Sociology & Public Administration, member of the Environmental Studies faculty, and an affiliate faculty of the Sustainability Institute for Regional Transformations and the Whitburn Center at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. He conducts research on community, public space, immigration, environmental issues, and teaching and learning, and is engaged in public sociology. His most recent sole-authored publication is “Aiming for Clarity while Embracing Ambiguity: The LIFE Framework of Interactional Community” in Local Development & Society. He is an author on multiple Whitburn Center reports, including a recent one that assesses rural community capitals in Wisconsin. He is also co-organizer of Urban Ecology Oshkosh and was a founding board member of the Oshkosh Food Co-op.

Lisa Lewis – Administrative Manager

Lisa Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science in English from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and an Associate in Applied Science from Fox Valley Technical College’s Administrative Professional program. She has worked at UWO since 2015 and has been an Administrative Manager for the Whitburn Center since 2022.