Robert Wonnett

Robert Wonnett is a Scholar in Residence in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). With over 36 years of public service, he has held roles ranging from police officer at the University of Colorado Boulder to Vice Chancellor of Student Success at UCCS. He teaches in the College of Public Service and previously contributed to the Freshman Seminar Program and the College of Education's Student Affairs in Higher Education Program.

Dr. Wonnett holds a B.S. and M.Ed from the University of Colorado Boulder, a J.D. from the University of Denver, and an M.P.A. and Ph.D. (Architecture and Planning) from the University of Colorado Denver.

His research focuses on the constitutional intersection of civil liberties and public administration, particularly the interplay between First Amendment rights and governance. He examines judicial interpretations of public space regulation, combining place-typing assessments with public forum analysis. His work explores tensions between public safety concerns and individual expression rights.

Dr. Wonnett has extensive public management experience in Colorado’s Department of Corrections, Department of Human Services, and other state agencies, overseeing public safety, emergency planning, and policy development. He has advised state commissions and engaged with diverse stakeholders to shape public policies.