Maria P. Aristigueta

Maria P. Aristigueta is the Charles P. Messick Chair of Public Administration and an Assistant Professor at the Joseph R. Biden Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Delaware. She also serves as a Senior Policy Fellow at the IPA and SNF Ithaca Senior Advisor. Her research focuses on public performance management, organizational behavior, and governance reforms in Latin America and beyond.

Education:

• DPA in Public Administration, University of Southern California (1997)
• MPA in Public Administration, University of South Florida (1980)
• BSW in Social Work, University of South Florida (1977)

Research Interests: Dr. Aristigueta investigates organizational behavior in public and nonprofit sectors, performance measurement systems, and democratic governance. Her work emphasizes cross-national comparisons, particularly in Latin America, and explores strategies to enhance accountability and efficiency in public institutions.

Key Themes in Articles: Recent publications address democratic challenges in the U.S., data science applications in performance management, and governance reforms in transitioning economies. Her work often bridges theory and practice, offering actionable insights for policymakers.

Awards/Honors:

• Fulbright Scholar (University of Salerno, Italy)
• Past President, American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)
• Fellow, National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA)

Grants/Advising: While specific grants are not detailed, her leadership roles and research indicate extensive engagement with public sector innovation and capacity-building initiatives. She has advised on performance management systems and community-driven development projects.

Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the SNF Ithaca Initiative and the Institute for Public Administration, she collaborates on projects addressing urban governance, democratic resilience, and international policy exchange.