معرفی
Kurt M. Thurmaier is a Professor in the Department of Public Administration at Northern Illinois University (NIU) and serves as Faculty Head for the Public Service Leadership Degree Completion Program at the School of Public & Global Affairs. He was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration in 2018 and remains active in intergovernmental research and education.
- Ph.D., Syracuse University
- M.P.P.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
- B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Thurmaier's research focuses on local and state budgetary decision-making, fiscal federalism, citizen engagement, and intergovernmental collaboration. His work includes the development of the Engaged Budgeting Model in Kenya and participatory budgeting studies in the U.S. using the Balancing Act simulation. He explores interlocal collaboration, city-county consolidations, and budget transparency mechanisms.
Current research projects examine:
- Citizen participation in Kenyan county budgeting (2016–present)
- U.S. participatory budgeting trends via experimental simulations
- Midwestern township capacities during the pandemic
- Networked governance accountability frameworks
His recent articles highlight:
- 2024: Social media's role in Kenyan budget transparency (Public Administration and Development)
- 2024: PhD training in public budgeting (Journal of Public Affairs Education)
- 2023: Illinois township caseload management during COVID (Public Organization Review)
- 2022: Forgotten Midwestern township responsibilities (State and Local Government Review)
- 2021: Participatory transparency in Kenya (Public Administration Review)
Scientific awards include:
- National Academy of Public Administration Fellow (2018)
- Lifetime membership in ASPA
- Leadership roles in professional organizations like ABFM and Phi Beta Delta
Advising and grants:
- Collaboration with doctoral students on participatory budgeting and Kenyan fiscal systems
- Fulbright-Hays funding for Tanzania/Kenya study abroad programs
- Government Finance Officers Association grants for moral foundations of budgeting research
Labs and teams:
- Co-leader of the Balancing Act simulation enhancement consortium
- Director of the Public Service Leadership Degree Completion Program
- Active in the Standing Panels on Intergovernmental Systems and International Affairs
