UWO Public Administration

UWO Public Administration We invite you to explore the opportunities that the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and the Public Administration Department have to offer you!

Our vision is for UWO Public Administration graduates to be exceptional leaders. With its commitment to academic rigor, public service, and leadership excellence, the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is one of the best and most affordable in the State of Wisconsin. It allows you to pursue a management degree from an accredited university at your own pace and in a convenient format. Bo

th hybrid (on-campus + online) or 100% online options are available. The MPA is open to mid-career professionals, as well as students looking to begin their careers in public service. You will receive instruction from dedicated faculty members, as well as practitioners in the field. Students will have many networking opportunities with classmates and local administrative representatives from a variety of organizations. Since 1979, more than 500 students have received Master's degrees in Public Administration. Our MPA graduates are employed in a wide array of public, nonprofit, health care, and public safety organizations. The degree helps them to advance in their current jobs, as well as to obtain competitive administrative positions. Enjoy your visit to our site, and please contact us with any further questions! Sincerely,

PA Department Faculty

A nice media mention for UWO and the Whitburn Center in the San Antonio Express-News:
07/13/2026

A nice media mention for UWO and the Whitburn Center in the San Antonio Express-News:

An investigation of former Judson ISD Superintendent Milton Fields found he mishandled academics and district finances and jeopardized student safety.

06/22/2026

Another new Whitburn Center report!

The report is the outcome of the last year's Future Leaders in Public Service Academy (FLIPS) aimed at exposing more undergraduate students to career pathways in public service. The biggest takeaway from this project is the need for more site visits, job shadowing, and internships as key workforce development and partnership strategies in the state and local government space. It is something we are working to make progress on in collaboration with our alumni board and professional partners. The report is here:https://www.uwosh.edu/whitburn-center/wp-content/uploads/sites/211/2026/06/06.16.26-FLIPS-Report-FINAL.pdf

Thanks to the Thompson Center for their support in funding this project!

06/17/2026

Congrats to UWO MPA Kaija Snyder, the new City Administrator for Omro, WI!

06/17/2026

New Whitburn Center Report: Expanding Workforce Housing in Wisconsin: The Role of State-Local Partnerships and Zoning Reform.

The report focuses on housing shortages, specifically looking at why some communities do better than others despite operating under the same state statutes. The report includes practical steps municipal leaders can take, including: regulatory flexibility, modernized building codes, partnership with private employers, and taking advantage of existing state programs for smaller less-resourced communities. It is a nice addition to our library of practical resources for municipal leaders.

The report is here:

Shout out to MPA professor and Whitburn Center Director Michael Ford who is quoted in this recent Chicago Tribune articl...
04/10/2026

Shout out to MPA professor and Whitburn Center Director Michael Ford who is quoted in this recent Chicago Tribune article on school board governance. The UWO MPA program is all about connecting research to practice.

The Chicago Board of Education approved a resolution Wednesday calling on Gov. JB Pritzker to reject the Trump administration’s federal tax-credit scholarship program.

Congratulations to Travis Wells on his appointment to City Administrator in South Milwaukee!
04/07/2026

Congratulations to Travis Wells on his appointment to City Administrator in South Milwaukee!

South Milwaukee, Wis. (April 6, 2026): The City of South Milwaukee is pleased to announce the appointment of Travis Wells, MPA, as City Administrator. Wells was appointed by the Common Council at a special meeting held tonight, Monday, April 6, 2026, at 6 p.m. He will officially commence his servic

02/24/2025

Check out the Whitburn Center's new quick reference resource on the process of changing to a professionally managed local government:

https://www.uwosh.edu/whitburn-center/wp-content/uploads/sites/211/2025/02/Process-of-Changing-Governing-Form.pdf

Of course you always will want to work with your municipal attorney, but we wanted to provide some answers and examples for the most frequently asked questions.

01/14/2025

Professor Michael Ford will be presenting "Dealing with Challenging Budget Issues" to a group going through the UW Extension's Certified Public Manager Program this morning. The UWO MPA program has been working with the UW Extension for well over a decade on issues of public finance and governance. All about collaboration!

Congrats to our new UWO MPAs!
12/14/2024

Congrats to our new UWO MPAs!

12/12/2024

Was a pleasure presenting UWO governance research at Neenah City Hall this morning. A research enhanced moment...practical research involving students presented to folks on the front-lines meeting Wisconsin's local government challenges.

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838 High Avenue
Oshkosh, WI
54901

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