Julia Carboni

Julia Carboni is a Professor at Washington State University (WSU) and Director of the William D. Ruckelshaus Center, a joint initiative between WSU and the University of Washington. She also holds a Distinguished Scholar appointment at the University of Washington. With a Ph.D. in Management from the University of Arizona, Dr. Carboni has held faculty positions at Syracuse University and Indiana University, focusing on collaborative governance and civic engagement.

Her research explores governance innovation, public policy design, and nonprofit management, emphasizing depolarization strategies and civic collaboration. Key initiatives include the Project for Civic Health, aiming to reduce political polarization, and the Washington Collaborative Elected Leaders Institute, which has trained over 300 elected officials in collaborative leadership. Her work is supported by grants from organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the IBM Center for the Business of Government.

Dr. Carboni co-founded the Indy Food Council, demonstrating her commitment to community-driven solutions. Her academic contributions span network analysis methodologies, public-private partnerships, and stakeholder engagement strategies. Current projects focus on enhancing democratic processes through evidence-based governance frameworks.

Her advisory and grant activities include leading the Ruckelshaus Center’s policy innovation programs and collaborating with foundations on civic media strategies. She actively participates in professional networks like ARNOVA (Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action).