David Swindell

David Swindell is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University’s School of Public Affairs, Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions, where he also serves as Director of the Center for Urban Innovation. He is additionally affiliated with the Center on Technology, Data and Society and the Global Sport Institute. His academic work bridges urban policy, public administration, and economic development, with a strong focus on collaborative governance and performance measurement in local government.

• Ph.D. in Public Policy, Indiana University
• Former Director, Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Public Policy, University of North Carolina
• Former MPA Director, UNC-Charlotte and Clemson University

Swindell’s research centers on community and economic development, particularly the public financing of sports facilities and their urban economic impacts, collaborative service delivery among public, private, and nonprofit sectors, and citizen satisfaction in public management. His work emphasizes practical, evidence-based solutions to urban challenges and has been published in leading journals such as Public Administration Review, Urban Affairs Review, and Economic Development Quarterly.

His recent publications and research projects show a consistent focus on urban benchmarking, public school enrollment forecasting, veteran hiring in local government, and alternative policing models. These works reflect a broader trend toward data-driven governance, municipal innovation, and inclusive public service delivery across diverse urban contexts.

Swindell has received significant research funding from agencies including the National Science Foundation, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Major grants include the $13.2 million Legacy Corps for Veterans and Military Families and the $5 million Center for Understanding Future Travel Behavior and Demand.

He has advised numerous graduate students, many of whom are co-authors on his publications. He leads collaborative research teams and has been involved in shaping public policy through testimony and advisory roles. His service includes leadership in professional organizations such as the Alliance for Innovation and organizing major academic conferences.

Swindell is actively engaged in urban innovation through the Center for Urban Innovation, where he leads initiatives that connect academic research with real-world municipal challenges. His work supports a metropolitan mission focused on leveraging university resources to solve pressing urban problems.