Justin Marlowe is the Endowed Professor of Public Finance and Civic Engagement at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington. He has published four books – including the first open-access textbook on public financial management – and more than 50 articles on infrastructure finance, state and local tax policy, governmental accounting, public-private partnerships, and many other topics. He has served on advisory boards for dozens of public agencies and research institutions and maintains a robust extensive expert witness and consulting practice that serves clients across the public and private sectors. He is also lead author of Governing's popular Guide to Financial Literacy series for public officials, and he currently writes a periodic column for Government Finance Review. As an academic administrator, he has developed and delivered executive training programs for thousands of public officials around the globe, including the International Program for Public Health Leadership, a Gates Foundation-funded initiative to develop leadership capacity in African Ministries of Health. Prior to academia he worked in local government in Michigan. He is a Certified Government Financial Manager, and he holds a Ph.D. in political science and public administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Here is a recent interview with Justin:
- How did you get involved in public service?
My mother was a public school teacher. I learned the value of public service early in life.
- Looking at the present and into the future, what do you think a public administration “Grand Challenge” is or might be?
Given my background, I think "Advance Fiscal Health" is especially important. Without sound finances, we won't have the resources needed to address all the other Grand Challenges.
- What inspires you?
The wonderful public servants I collaborate with every day, and the students I'm able to shepherd into their own public service careers.
- What was the last book you read?
"Tools & Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age" by Brad Smith (President of Microsoft). An excellent treatment of the public policy challenges that surround technological change.
- What was your first job?
Delivering newspapers. A tough job during Wisconsin winters!
