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my biography

Clinical Assistant Professor of Public Public Administration at Pace University, New York, NY

After receiving a B.S. in Economics from Grand Valley State University in 1984 and a M.A. in Urban Studies from Temple University in 1987, Ric took several courses in a Ph.D. Program in Political Science before leaving for other career pursuits in the technology industry.  His professional career began in desktop publishing, and this led to Internet technologies as they developed in the early 1990s. Ric worked with several Internet startups between 1995 and 2001, while utilizing his urban policy background to work on regional workforce development issues. This eventually led to teaching at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Cape Fear Community College prior to enrolling in the program.

Ric’s fields are Urban Economic Development and Urban & Regional Planning, and his research interests are in the area of human capital development and the economic geography of creative industries. His dissertation title is Growing an Industrial Cluster?: Movie Production Incentives and State Film Industries.

Ric joined the faculty of the Pace University in August 2019. Previously he was a Professional Lecturer at DePaul University’s School of Public Service, a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA) and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.

my education

Ph.D., 2017, Public Policy, Georgia State University/Georgia Institute of Technology

• Joint Ph.D. Program with Andrew Young School of Public Policy & Georgia Tech School of Public Policy
• Major field: Economic Development Policy
• Minor field: City and Regional Planning
• AYSPS Dean’s Scholar Fellowship, 2008-2011
• AYSPS Dissertation Fellowship, 2013

M.A., 1987, Urban Studies, Temple University

• Fields included Public Administration & Urban Politics

Ph.D. student, Political Science, Temple University

• Coursework completed, fields included Public Policy, Urban Politics & Political Philosophy

B.S., 1984, Grand Valley State University

• Economics, Minor in Journalism

my teaching experience

2019-present  Clinical Assistant Professor, Pace University, New York, NY

• Undergraduate courses taught:
  • Public Administration and Its Environment
  • Organizational Planning and Budget Process
• Graduate courses taught:
  • Organization Theory and Management
  • Research Design for Administrators
  • Applied Data Analysis (Statistics)
  • Program Planning and Evaluation
  • Project Development and Grant Writing
  • Policy Studies
  • Municipal Management
  • Regional Planning
  • Capstone Project Seminar (MPA)

2017-2018  Professional Lecturer, DePaul University, Chicago, IL

• Graduate courses taught:
  • Metropolitan Planning
  • Policy Design & Analysis
  • Local Government Administration
  • Research Methods for Public Service
  • Integrative Seminar (Capstone)

2016-2017 Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL

• Undergraduate courses taught:
  • Environmental Policy
• Graduate courses taught:
  • Theory of Public Administration
  • Public Policy Development and Process

2014-2015 Adjunct Assistant Professor of Planning, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC

• Undergraduate courses taught:
  • Town, City and Regional Planning
  • Planning Techniques
  • Community Development (Graduate & Undergraduate)
  • Planning Studio in Economic Development

2009-2014 Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

• Undergraduate courses taught:
  • Economic Development Policy
  • Evaluating Public Policy
  • Public Policy Analysis
• Graduate courses guest lecturer:
  • Economic Development Policy
  • Microeconomics for Public Policy

2012 Adjunct Instructor, University of West Georgia, Carrolton, GA

• Courses taught:
  • Technology and Sustainable Economic Development
    (Graduate & undergraduate levels)

2005-2007 Adjunct Instructor, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC

• Undergraduate courses taught:
  • American National Government

2003-2006 Adjunct Instructor, Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, NC

• Undergraduate courses taught:
  • Hospitality Information Systems
  • Basic PC Literacy

1991-1993 Adjunct Instructor, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ

• Undergraduate courses taught:
  • American Government

1990 Adjunct Instructor, Philadelphia University, Philadelphia, PA

• Undergraduate courses taught:
  • Introduction to Political Science

1987-1990 Adjunct Instructor & Teaching Assistant, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

• Undergraduate courses taught:
  • American Political System
  • American State & Local Politics
  • Urban Politics and Problems
  • Urban Society

my professional experience

Economic Development Consultant, Chicago, IL

• Worked on innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem issues for greater Sacramento with a team from RW Ventures.

Founder & Executive Director, Cape Fear Hospitality Association, Wilmington, NC

• Create and execute all marketing, public relations and fundraising efforts and events
• Designed & created content for organization website

Chair, City of Wilmington/New Hanover County Emerging Issues Action Group

• Analyze and report on emerging issues affecting the health and safety of the community

Chair, Philadelphia School District’s Computers & Technology Stakeholders’ Partnership

• Developed programs in conjunction with teachers and students to better prepare students for technology careers

Advisor, Greater Philadelphia CollegeTown Project Advisory Group

• Worked with businesses and universities to attract and retain students for the Philadelphia area to bolster the “knowledge economy.”

Founding President & Executive Director, Philadelphia Area New Media Association, Philadelphia, PA

• Created and executed all marketing and fundraising efforts
• Organized, facilitated and oversaw all organization events
• Built the organization to over 300 members and $50,000 in annual revenues in its first year as a 501(c)6

Other Experience

• President, Kolenda Associates, Philadelphia, PA
• Director of Interactive Strategies, Culture Quest, Inc., Philadelphia, PA
• Director of Product Marketing, WiredVines, Inc., Plymouth Meeting, PA
• Director of Creative Technologies, GivingCapital, Inc., Philadelphia, PA
• Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer, Precision Media, Inc., Plymouth Meeting, PA
• Co-founder & Partner, Odyssey Systems Corporation, Philadelphia, PA

my awards & leadership training

• Helene and Grant Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellowship, 2020-21
• Andrew Young School of Public Policy Dissertation Fellowship, 2013
• Andrew Young School of Public Policy Dean’s Scholar Fellowship, 2008-2011
• Fellow, Institute of Political Leadership, Spring 2004
• Leadership Wilmington, 2003-4
• City of Wilmington’s Citizens Academy, Spring 2003