Michael Kern

Michael Kern is an Adjunct Professor at Seattle University’s Institute of Public Service, an Affiliate Associate Professor at the University of Washington (UW) Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Extension at Washington State University (WSU). He serves as Principal of Michael Kern Consulting, LLC and Director of Special Projects for UW’s Center for Urban Waters and Puget Sound Institute. Previously, he directed the William D. Ruckelshaus Center, a joint initiative of WSU and UW addressing public policy challenges in the Pacific Northwest.

Education:

• Master of Public Administration (MPA), UW Evans School

Research Interests: Collaborative governance, public policy conflict resolution, and innovative solutions to complex policy challenges, particularly in natural resources (e.g., environmental cleanup, water management, salmon restoration) and other domains like land use, health policy, transportation, and economic development. His fine arts background informs creative problem-solving approaches.

Scientific Awards: None explicitly mentioned.

Advising & Grants: No specific grants or advisees listed, but his consulting and leadership roles imply extensive collaboration on public policy projects. Key affiliations include the Ruckelshaus Center and UW’s Center for Urban Waters.

Labs/Teams: William D. Ruckelshaus Center (public policy collaboration hub), UW Center for Urban Waters (environmental research), and Puget Sound Institute (applied science).