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Public Administration Scholar and Educator

Leading research in public management, organizational performance, and representative bureaucracy with a focus on innovative methodologies and practical applications. Committed to advancing knowledge through rigorous academic inquiry and mentoring the next generation of public administration scholars.

Research

Policy Reports

About

Dr. Amanda Rutherford is a distinguished researcher and educator in the field of Public Administration, with over 10 years of experience in academia. Her work focuses on managerial values and decision making, performance accountability policies, organization theory, and representative bureaucracy, contributing significant insights to both theoretical understanding and practical applications.

Currently serving as Associate Professor and Chair of Governance and Management Faculty at the Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Rutherford has published extensively in top-tier journals including Public Administration Review, American Journal of Political Science, and Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. Her research has been funded by organizations including the Indiana University Public Policy Institute and various federal agencies.

Beyond research, Rutherford is deeply committed to mentoring graduate students and fostering the next generation of scholars. She has supervised over 25 PhD dissertations and numerous master's theses, many of which have received recognition for their excellence. She also serves on multiple editorial boards and has received prestigious teaching awards.

Download CV

Education

Ph.D. in Political Science

Texas A&M University

Fields: Public Administration and Public Policy, Race and Ethnic Politics

M.P.A.

University of Oklahoma

B.A. Journalism: Advertising

University of Oklahoma

B.B.A. Marketing and Supply Chain Management

University of Oklahoma

Current Position

Associate Professor & Chair

Governance and Management Faculty Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs Indiana University - Bloomington

Courses

Management of Public Problems and Solutions

Public Management

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Research Design and Methods in Public Affairs

Research Areas

Managerial Values and Decision Making

Investigating how managerial characteristics and values influence organizational decision-making processes in public organizations. This work contributes to understanding the human element in public administration.

Leadership, Public Management, Decision Theory

Performance Accountability Policies

Developing novel approaches to understanding how performance-based policies affect organizational behavior and outcomes. This research addresses gaps in accountability literature and practice.

Performance, Accountability, Policy Analysis

Representative Bureaucracy

Examining the relationship between bureaucratic representation and policy outcomes, particularly focusing on diversity and equity in public organizations. The findings have implications for organizational composition and democratic governance.

Representation, Equity, Diversity

Current Projects

School Safety for All or for Some?

Funded by Racial Justice Research Fund, Indiana University | $14,832

Examining the competing roles of School Resource Officers as law enforcement, teachers, and mentors, with particular attention to equity and justice implications for diverse student populations.

Understanding City-County Council Effectiveness

Partnership with Indiana University Public Policy Institute | $100,000

Comprehensive analysis of Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council operations, examining governance structures and effectiveness in local government administration.

Honors and Awards

Trustees Teaching Award, 2022
Graduate Teaching Award, O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, 2019, 2021, 2024
Emerging Education Policy Scholars, Thomas B. Fordham Institute and American Enterprise Institute, 2020
Prominent Public Affairs Scholar Award, Ph.D. Student Assocation, School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado-Denver, 2019
Leader for the Greater Good Award, Graduate Student Choice Awards, O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, 2018
Donald A. Gatzke Dissertation Award for "Politics, Perceptions, and Performance in Higher Education, 2017
George W. Kunze Endowed Graduate Fellowship for Outstanding Graduating Ph.D. Student, Texas A&M University, 2015
Scholar Award Dissertation Fellowship, P.E.O. International, 2014-15
Paul A. Volcker Endowment for Public Service Research and Education, Junior Scholar Research Grant, 2014

Student Testimonials

“I felt challenged and motivated to truly learn the material. This was one of my most academically rigorous and fundamentally useful courses of the semester.”

“Professor Rutherford is one of my favorite professors that I have ever had. She has a masterful grasp of the material and maintains high expectations for the class. She facilitates class discussions well. I enjoyed the course's content and felt like I learned the most from this class out of all the core courses.”
“Most of my classes within this pandemic learning environment felt extremely superficial, a waste of time and money, and more like an awkward participatory passing grade for minimal understanding and effort, but I believe this course was worthwhile and Dr. Rutherford used the class time and assignment selection fairly and graded in a fair manner as well.”
“Dr. Rutherford explained concepts with great detail and tied in real–world examples often to help us better understand the material. The information was a lot to digest at times, but the structure of the class helped break it down so we understood the material. Dr. Rutherford was a wonderful lecturer.”
“Professor Rutherford challenged us to do our best work and to do more than just regurgitate topics, she wanted us to engage with them and think through them through our own lens. I learned a lot and it helped tie together the other core classes.”
“Professor Rutherford was probably the nicest instructor I have had so far at IU and wanted the best out of us.” “I liked how Professor Rutherford provided different means of learning either through video, PPT, lectures or readings. She also covered a wide range of topics which were super interesting and beneficial.”
“I really liked the way she questions her students throughout the lecture and how she challenges your ideas to see the pros and cons. She has a great way of teaching with examples that make understanding the governments and bureaucracy a lot easier than other professors. Thank you!”
“Professor Rutherford is very knowledgeable about the subject she teaches and provides help where it is needed. She is easy to talk to has assignments and exams that make sense for what we are learning in the course– nothing seems unnecessary.”
“Dr. Rutherford is amazing. Her expectations are clear and absolutely realistic. She explains concepts very well and is always available for questions and responds to emails in a very timely manner. I would recommend this course to anyone. Love her.”
“I felt challenged and motivated to truly learn the material. This was one of my most academically rigorous and fundamentally useful courses of the semester.”