Faculty, Staff, and Students : Community Development and Applied Economics (CDAE) : University of Vermont

Skip to local navigation Skip to main content

Apply to UVM

Community Development and Applied Economics

Christopher Koliba

Christopher Koliba, PhD Associate Professor and Director of the MPA Program

PhD 1998 Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs
MPA 1992 Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs
BS 1988 Syracuse University

Areas of Expertise:

public administration, educational policy, governance networks

Website:

http://www.uvm.edu/~ckoliba

View/Download CV (PDF)

Contact Information

Office: 103D Morrill Hall
Phone: 802.656.3772
Email: Christopher.Koliba@uvm.edu

Dr. Koliba came to UVM in 1999 and has been a faculty member in CDAE since 2002.
Dr. Koliba is now the Director of the Master of Public Administration Program and Professor in CDAE. Dr. Koliba's research interests include organizational change, civic education, cross-sector collaborations, network theory and governance networks, and educational policy. Dr. Koliba is an experienced workshop facilitator and also consults with community organizations and institutions, utilizing applied research and group development approaches to support program evaluation and organizational change. Dr. Koliba has just published a textbook titled Governance Networks: Public Administration and Policy in the Midst of Complexity.

Courses Taught

PA 301: Foundations of Public Administration
PA 317: Systems Analysis and Strategic Management

Recent Publications

Books and edited volumes

Koliba, C. Symposium editor. 2011. Performance Management in Governance Networks: Critical Concepts and Practices.” Public Performance Management Review. 34(4): 515-597.
Koliba, C., Meek, J. and Zia, A. 2010. Governance Networks in Public Administration and Public Policy. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press/Taylor & Francis.

Recent Peer Reviewed Journal Publications, Book Chapters and Conference Proceedings

Zia, A. and Koliba, C. Accepted for publication. Climate Change Governance and Accountability: Dilemmas of Performance Management in Complex Governance Networks. Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis.
Koliba, C. 2011. Book chapter: Administrative Strategies for a Networked World: The Educational Imperative for Intergovernmental Relations in 2020. Thurmaier, K. and Meek, J. editors. Network Governance: Implications for Intergovernmental Relations in 2020. New York: Sage Publications.
Conner, D., King, B., Koliba, C., Trubek, A. and Kolodinsky, J. 2011. Mapping Farm to School Networks: Implications for Research and Practice. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition. 6:133-152.
Koliba, C., Campbell, E. and Zia, A. 2011. Performance Measurement Considerations in Congestion Management Networks: Evidence from Four Cases. Public Performance Management Review. 34(4): 520-548.
Koliba, C., Zia, A., Lee, B. 2011. Governance Informatics: Utilizing Computer Simulation Models to Manage Complex Governance Networks. The Innovation Journal: Innovations for the Public Sector. 16(1). Article 3.
Koliba, C., Mills, R. and Zia, A. 2011. Accountability in Governance Networks: Implications Drawn from Studies of Response and Recovery Efforts Following Hurricane Katrina. Public Administration Review. 71(2): 210-220.
Koliba, C., Meek, J. and Zia, A. 2010. Gordian Knot or Integrated Theory? Critical Conceptual Considerations for Governance Network Analysis. The Future of Governance: 5th Annual TransAtlantic Dialogue Proceedings. Brandsen, T and Holzer, M. editors.
Kemekes, R., Farley, J. and Koliba, C. 2010. Determining When Payments are an Effective Policy Approach to Ecosystem Service Provision. Ecological Economics.
Westdijk, K. Koliba, C. and Hamshaw, K. 2010. Collecting Data to Inform Decision-Making and Action: Research and Planning for School-Wide Faculty Civic Engagement. Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement. 14(2): 5-33.
Baker, D., Koliba, C., Kolodinsky, J., Liang, K., McMahon, E., Patterson, T. and Wang, Q. 2009. Moving Toward a Transdisciplinary Approach in the Land Grant System. North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA).
Koliba, C. and Zia, A. 2009. Dispelling the Myths of Invisible Hands and Invincible Governments: An Argument for Democratically Legitimate Inter-Organizational Governance Networks. Administrative Theory & Praxis. 31(3): 417-423
Koliba, C. and Meek, J. 2009. ‘Mixed-Form’ Governance Structures: An Analytical Turn. Public. Institute of Public Governance and Management. 47(19). http://www.esade.edu/public/modules.php?name=news&idnew=521&idissue=47
Koliba, C. and Gajda, R. 2009. Communities of Practice as an Empirical Construct: Implications for Theory and Practice. International Journal of Public Administration. 32. 97-135.

Conference Proceedings

Koliba, C., Zia, A., Tucker, M., and Novak, D. 2011. Fostering Innovation in an Intergovernmental Transportation Planning Governance Network through Multi-Criteria Analysis. American Political Science Association National Conference. Seattle, WA
Koliba, C., and Zia, A. 2011. Theory Testing Using Complex Systems Modeling in Public Administration and Policy Studies: Challenges and Opportunities for a Meta-Theoretical Research Program. COMPACT Conference. Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Zia, A., Metcalf, S., Koliba, C. and Widner, M. 2011. Agent Based Models of Cross-Jurisdictional Governance Networks: Simulating the Emergence of Project Prioritization Patterns Under Alternate Policy Theoretical Frameworks and Network Structures. COMPACT Conference. Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Koliba, C. and Zia, A. 2011. Theory Testing Using Complex Systems Modeling in Public Administration and Policy Studies: Challenges and Opportunities for a Meta-Theoretical Research Program. Public Management Research Conference. Syracuse, NY..
Zia, A., Metcalf, S., Koliba, C. and Widner, M. 2011. Agent Based Models of Cross-Jurisdictional Governance Networks: Simulating the Emergence of Project Prioritization Patterns Under Alternate Policy Theoretical Frameworks and Network Structures. Public Management Research Conference. Syracuse, NY.
Zia, A., Koliba, C., Metcalf, S. and Widner, M. 2011. Decision Making in Watershed Governance Networks: Simulating Heterogeneous Beliefs and Accountability Ties in Agent Based Models. International Earth Systems Governance Conference. Fort Collins, CO.
Koliba, C. 2011. Convener and panel moderator. Public Administration within Complex, Adaptive Governance Systems: Questions Concerning the Next Generation of Research, Theory and Practice. American Society of Public Administration Annual Conference. Baltimore, MD.
Zia, A., Koliba, C., Campbell, E., Lee, B., Meek, J. and Calengelo, D. 2011. Prioritization of Performance Measures for MPOs: Understanding the Effects of Contextual Complexity and Collaborative Capacity from a National-Level Survey. Transportation Research Board, Annual Conference. Washington, D.C.
Koliba, C. 2010. The Little Engine that Could: The UVM-MPA Program, a Small Program with a Big Research Agenda. National Society of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. Las Vegas, NV.
Koliba, C., 2010. Administrative Strategies for a Networked World: Intergovernmental Relations in 2020. Workshop on the future of intergovernmental relations. American Society of Public Administration Annual Conference. San Jose, CA.
Zia, A., Metcalf, S., Koliba, C. and Widner, M. 2010. Management of Complex Governance Networks: Opportunities and Challenges for Agent Based Models of Policy Analysis. American Society of Public Administration Annual Conference. San Jose, CA.

Recent Grants

Koliba, C. Science Leader. 2011 – present. Research on Adaption to Climate Change. Judy van Houten, Principal Investigator. National Science Foundation EPSCoR. $12,000,000 research grant of which ~$1,500,000 that Koliba is responsible for.
Koliba, C. and Farley, J. 2011-2012. Principal Investigator. Managing Vermont’s Groundwater. Northeastern States Research Cooperatives: Research for Northern Forests. $9,950.
Koliba, C., and Zia, A. 2011-2012. Principal Investigator. Signature Award. James Jeffords Center. University of Vermont. $50,000.
Koliba, C. 2011. Sandia National Laboratory Faculty Exchange Program. Jeff Marshall, Principal Investigator. Sandia National Laboratories. ~$20,000.
Koliba, C., Campbell, E. and Davis, H. 2010-2011. Principal Investigator. University of Vermont Food Systems Research Collaborative. $1,000.
Koliba, C., Zia, A. and Lee, B. 2010-2011. Principal Investigator. Signature Award. James Jeffords Center. University of Vermont. $50,000.

Honors and Awards

2007 Nominee for Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Vermont
2005 Best Rural Education Research Article for "Place-based education in the standards-based reform era- conflict or complement?" as selected by Mr. Rural Ed. Blog
2005 Finalist for Thomas Ehrlich Award for Community Service-Learning, Campus Compact.
2005 John Glenn Scholar in Service-Learning. Critical Issues and Priorities. John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy. Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
1998 Award for Outstanding Achievement. Office of Student Affairs, Georgetown University
1994 Chancellor's Award for Public Service for Outstanding Leadership, Syracuse University
1994 National Residence Hall Honorary Membership, Syracuse University

Professional Societies

Pi Alpha Alpha (Public Administration National Honor Society), American Society for Public Administration, National School Reform Faculty, American Evaluation Association, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Public Administration Theory Network