P. Edward French

Dr. P. Edward French is a Full Professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Mississippi State University and a Public Service Fellow at the Stennis Institute of Government. He previously served as Department Head, Executive Director of the Stennis Institute, and Graduate Coordinator. Dr. French is also a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and holds key editorial positions with leading journals including Public Administration Review.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration, Mississippi State University
• Master's in Education Administration, University of Virginia
• Master's in City Management, East Tennessee State University
• B.A. in Political Science, University of Tennessee

Research Focus: Dr. French specializes in three interconnected areas: human resource management in the public sector (including workforce policies and civil service systems), local government administration (focusing on municipal management and service delivery), and comparative public administration (analyzing governance models across different political systems).

Awards & Honors:

• Louis Brownlow Award (ASPA, 2021)
• Outstanding Scholarship Award (ASPA Section on Personnel and Labor Relations, 2017)
• Senator Peter B. Boorsma Award (SECOPA)
• Pugliese Award (SECOPA)
• Francis Liddell Award (Mississippi ASPA)
• MSU Dean's Eminent Scholar Award
• President’s Faculty Diversity Award
• Arts and Sciences Researcher of the Year/Month
• 4× Outstanding Graduate Professor (2009–2016)

Professional Service: Dr. French has advised graduate students as Coordinator and received repeated teaching accolades. His extensive editorial work shapes scholarship in public administration globally, and his leadership in ASPA and SECOPA has advanced the field. Prior to academia, he managed local governments in Virginia, grounding his expertise in practical administration.