The Department of Community Development and Applied Economics is pleased to welcome Dr. Brian Ohl as a Lecturer in Public Administration. Ohl joins CDAE with more than 20 years of experience as a public-sector leader, policy practitioner, and scholar whose work has focused on environmental policy, sustainability, public management, and governance.
Beginning Fall 2026, Ohl will teach courses in public and nonprofit budgeting, human resource management, public management, and sustainability. He is committed to helping students connect classroom learning with real-world public service challenges and preparing them for careers in government, nonprofit organizations, and public affairs.
"Dr. Ohl brings a powerful combination of public sector leadership, sustainability expertise, and a deep commitment to student success to our public administration faculty," says MPA Director Dr. Barsky. "His instruction will help our students see how the tools they learn in the classroom translate directly to managing complex public challenges in government and nonprofit settings."
Prior to joining UVM, Ohl served as a Postdoctoral Faculty Fellow at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, where he taught undergraduate and graduate courses and conducted research on sustainability and collaborative governance. He earned his Ph.D. in Public Administration from Syracuse University, with concentrations in public management and environmental policy.
Before pursuing his doctoral studies, Ohl spent many years with the New York City Office of Management and Budget, where he held several leadership positions and helped develop and implement major sustainability, climate, transportation, and environmental initiatives. Drawing from these experiences, he brings a practitioner-focused perspective to the classroom, helping students understand how public policies are developed, implemented, and managed.
Ohl's research explores how organizations can advance public value and sustainability through innovative management practices. His work focuses on identifying strategies that help organizations build sustainability as a core competency and improve their capacity to address complex public challenges. His scholarship has been published in leading public administration journals and contributes to ongoing conversations about sustainability and effective governance.
Ohl is particularly eager to connect with students and colleagues across the university when he arrives on campus this fall.
"Once I arrive on campus at the start of the fall semester, please stop by my office to say hello," said Ohl. "I'll be continuing my practice of walking office hours for anyone interested, a chance to discuss course topics, research, and careers while enjoying the beautiful UVM campus. I'm excited to meet and work with the MPA students, faculty, and alumni, and to join the CDAE team."
