Ric Kolenda

Faculty Bio

Ric teaches graduate-level public policy and public administration as a Clinical Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Public Administration. Ric Kolenda’s scholarship focuses on public affairs pedagogy, urban policy, nonprofit entrepreneurship, and technology, with an emphasis on the “gig economy” and the role of innovation on the economic development of cities.

He is also an experienced technology and nonprofit entrepreneur with the strong analytical skills developed as a Ph.D. in public policy.

Awards and Honors

• Department of Public Administration, 2023, Faculty Member of the Year, 2022-23
• Helene and Grant Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship, 2020, Faculty Fellowship, 2020-21

BS, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI
Economics

PhD, Georgia State University/Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Public Policy

MA, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Urban Studies

Research Interest

Public affairs pedagogy & civic engagement; the economic geography of creative industries; urban inequality, equality of opportunity & socio-economic mobility; and twenty-first century employment structures.

Grants, Sponsored Research and Contracts

The City and the Sea: A planning grant for a NYC undergraduate fellowship in civics and public service
Tekula, R., Scutelnicu, G., Bolton, M. & Kolenda, R. February 2024 - February 2025. The Teagle Foundation, Private. Funded. To develop an undergraduate fellowship program in public service, a two course sequence and summer placement, with the aim to support and empower Pace University’s diverse trove of first generation students to become the future civic leaders of New York City. https://www.teaglefoundation.org/Newsroom/News/Articles/Teagle-in-the-News/Pace-University-Receives-$25,000-Teagle-Foundation

Past Courses

PAA 101: Public Admin & Its Environment
PAA 102: Organizational Planning
PAA 602: Organization Theory & Mgmt
PAA 603: Eco of Govt, Health, Nonprofit
PAA 606: Research Design for Admins.
PAA 607: Applied Data Analysis
PAA 615: Program Planning & Evaluation
PAA 616: Prjct Dvlpmnt & Grant Writing
PAA 632: Policy Studies
PAA 641: Municipal Management
PAA 642: Regional Planning
PAA 699: Capstone Project Seminar

Publications

Are Central Cities More Creative? the Intrametropolitan Geography of Creative Industries
Kolenda, R. & Liu, C. Y. (2012). Journal of Urban Affairs. Vol 34 (Issue 5) , pages 487-512. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9906.2011.00593.x
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Counting and Understanding the Contingent Workforce
Liu, C. Y. & Kolenda, R. (2012). Urban Studies. Vol 49 (Issue 5) , pages 1003-1025. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098011408139
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Re-Creating New Orleans: Driving Development Through Creativity
Liu, C. Y., Kolenda, R., Fitzpatrick, G. & Todd, T. N. (2010). Economic Development Quarterly. Vol 24 (Issue 3) , pages 261-275. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891242410364217
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Presentations

Gigging in a Post-Pandemic World: Lessons on the Future of Work from a Late-Pandemic Survey of Gig Workers
Kolenda, R. (2021). 43rd Annual Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Conference. Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management,

Professional Memberships

• American Society for Public Administration
• American Society for Public Administration NY Metropolitan Chapter [President & President-Elect]

Professional Service

American Society for Public Administration New York Metropolitan Chapter [Officer, President/Elect/Past]