Jaclyn Piatak

Jaclyn Piatak is a Professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte), where she also teaches in the Gerald G. Fox Master of Public Administration Program. Her academic affiliations include editorial roles at Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly and Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. She holds a PhD in Public Administration from American University, an MPP from Johns Hopkins University, and a BA in Political Science from Providence College.

Dr. Piatak's research focuses on public and nonprofit management, emphasizing volunteering, human resource management, and social policy. Her work explores organizational and individual-level dynamics in public service, including volunteer management strategies, public service motivation, and gender equity in public workplaces. Her influential book Volunteer Management: A Strategic Approach (2024) won the 2025 Academy of Management Public and Nonprofit Division Book Award, addressing contingency-based volunteer management frameworks.

Her professional experience includes roles at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Corporation for National and Community Service (now AmeriCorps). She has published extensively on topics like accountability in government contracting, prosocial behavior, and intersectionality in leadership. Her research bridges theory and practice, providing actionable insights for nonprofit administrators and public sector leaders.