Michelle Dennis

Michele Dennis is a Lecturer at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, specializing in public finance and budgeting. She holds a Ph.D. (All but Dissertation) from USC and M.P.A. and B.A. degrees from UCLA. Her career spans over 38 years in public service, including roles as Director of Finance/City Controller for Santa Monica and leadership in organizations like the League of California Cities and the Utility Users Tax Technical Task Force (UUTTTF). She was awarded the Helen Putnam Award in 2002 for her work in intergovernmental relations.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. (All but Dissertation) in Urban Administration, Public Finance, Administrative Behavior, and Administrative Theory, University of Southern California
  • M.P.A. in Public Administration, UCLA
  • B.A. in Political Science (Honors), UCLA
• Research Interests: Public budgeting, finance, urban planning, administrative theory, and intergovernmental policy coordination.

Her scholarly contributions include publications in Administration & Society, the National Tax Journal, and international collaborations. She has taught at UCLA Luskin (2004–2013), USC, and Brazil’s Universidade Federal De Santa Catarina. Her work emphasizes collaborative governance and innovative fiscal practices, reflected in her recent budgetary analyses for Santa Monica and contributions to the UUTTTF’s Utility Users Tax guidelines.

• Awards: Helen Putnam Award (2002), Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) certification (2001).
• Professional Service: Leadership roles in CSMFO, GFOA, and UUTTTF; international conference presentations on public finance and governance.

Michelle Dennis has advised on municipal fiscal policies and collaborated on cross-sector initiatives, blending academic rigor with practical public administration expertise.