Sarah Larson

Sarah Larson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Miami University, affiliated with the Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs. Her work bridges public administration, fiscal policy, and data-driven governance, with a focus on local government finance and policy responses to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Education:

• Ph.D., Joint Degree in Public Policy, School of Public and Environmental Affairs & Department of Political Science, Indiana University
• M.S., Statistical Science, Department of Statistics, Indiana University
• M.P.A., Public Affairs, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University
• B.A. (Honors), Department of Political Science, Miami University

Dr. Larson's research centers on public budgeting, taxation, and fiscal health, particularly in state and local governments. Her work explores how policy design affects revenue generation, citizen choice, and service delivery, especially during economic disruptions. She integrates statistical and machine learning methods into public finance forecasting, reflecting a growing trend toward data-informed governance.

Her recent publications span topics including property taxation, assisted living facility regulation, trust in government during crises, and the use of big data in public service delivery. Collectively, her articles reveal a strong commitment to improving fiscal transparency, equity in public service, and resilience in municipal finance.

Professional Service and Editorial Roles:

• Social Media Editor, Public Finance Journal (2022–Present)
• Social Media Editor, Public Administration (2021–Present)
• Executive Committee, Association for Budgeting and Financial Management (2021–Present)
• Conference Sponsorship Chair, Association for Budgeting and Financial Management (2019–2022)
• Section Coordinator, Western Social Science Conference (2018–2021)
• Social Media Editor, Journal of Public and Nonprofit Affairs (2017–2020)

Dr. Larson actively contributes to academic discourse through editorial work, conference leadership, and collaborative research. While no formal list of advisees is provided, her role as a tenured associate professor suggests involvement in mentoring graduate students. She has contributed to policy reports on tax parity and business improvement districts, indicating engagement with real-world governance challenges. Her ongoing work on machine learning in revenue forecasting points to future research at the intersection of data science and public administration.

Labs and Research Teams: Dr. Larson collaborates on interdisciplinary projects, often with scholars in public administration, statistics, and health policy. Her work on Florida’s fiscal health and assisted living facilities suggests team-based research involving policy analysts and data scientists, though no formal lab is mentioned.