About Us

The Center for Public Service (CPS) provides professional management training opportunities to members of the public and nonprofit sectors and promotes learning through community services on behalf of the Department of Political Science and Texas Tech University. The CPS strives to enhance the effectiveness and professionalism of public-sector managers through our CPM (Certified Public Manager) Program as well as our various outreach and collaborative research project efforts. In support of this mission, the CPS works closely with the Department's faculty and graduate students.

In its training mission, the CPS is guided by the management philosophy promulgated by the National Certified Public Manager® Consortium: the quality and efficiency of management in government have a major impact both on the lives of citizens and the orderly functioning of society. In this regard, comprehensive training programs are essential in maintaining and improving the effectiveness and professionalism of public sector managers. In particular, the CPS administers the TTU CPM Program that operates under the auspices of the Texas CPM Program accredited by the national Consortium.

The CPS strives to be a strong collaborative partner with the public and nonprofit sector organizations and university communities. It seeks to facilitate mutually beneficial liaisons by providing services where appropriate. For this purpose, the CPS hosts symposiums and speaker events focusing on topics relevant to public service. It also provides high-quality research services with public or nonprofit organizations through its capability to utilize a range of resources. Through active research efforts, the CPS offers opportunities for current graduate students majoring in public administration to assist in research projects and to exercise what they have learned from their program.

Staff

Sung-Wook Kwon, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Public Service and Professor in the Department of Political Science, 806-834-4786.

Era Ibarra, MPA, Coordinator, 806-834-3729.

Affiliated Faculty

Wendy Chen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science
Austin McCrea, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science 
Wesley Wehde, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science