Mary Feeney

Mary Feeney is a Professor and the Frank and June Sackton Chair at the School of Public Affairs, part of the Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions at Arizona State University. She holds additional affiliations as a Senior Global Futures Scientist, a Fellow at the Center for Organization Research and Design (CORD), and affiliated faculty with the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and the Center on Technology, Data and Society. Her work bridges public administration, nonprofit management, and science and technology policy.

• Ph.D., Public Administration and Policy, University of Georgia
• M.P.P., Rutgers University
• B.S., Political Science, University of Wyoming

Her research centers on public management, with a focus on e-government, public sector innovation, gender equity in science, and the intersection of technology and governance. She has published extensively in top-tier journals and authored two influential books. Her scholarship often employs empirical methods to address policy-relevant questions in public and nonprofit organizations.

The 15 most recent articles highlight a strong trend in digital governance, cybersecurity in local governments, gender disparities in academia, and the role of administrative culture in technology adoption. Her work increasingly integrates data science and policy analysis, reflecting a commitment to interdisciplinary and impactful research.

She is recognized with the honor of Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, a testament to her national impact on the field.

Feeney has held significant editorial leadership, including serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Public Administration Research & Theory (2019–2024), and currently serves on the editorial boards of several major journals. She previously served as Program Director for the Science of Science program at the National Science Foundation (2021–2024), where she shaped national research priorities. Her professional service includes roles in the Public Management Research Association and the Digital Government Society.

She is actively involved in research centers and initiatives focused on the future of innovation, technology, and public service, contributing to interdisciplinary teams and shaping the direction of public affairs scholarship.