I joined UNO’s College of Public Affairs and Community Service as the director of the Center for Public Affairs Research in August 2018 because of their national reputation for public scholarship on public policy topics in their community, state, and region. I manage a stellar team that includes five full-time professionals and several student and part-time workers. CPAR’s current portfolio of projects totals over $1 million per year. My personal, project portfolio ranges with several smaller engaged research projects working collaboratively with a community partner as well as some high profile research like our work with the Planning Committee of the Nebraska State Legislature.
Education and Credentials
Ph.D., Public Affairs, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2012)
M.P.A., Appalachian State University (2007)
B.A., Communications, Appalachian State University (2005)
Selected Recent Grant and Contract Projects
- Research and analysis as part of the "6 Regions, One Nebraska" initiative
- Review of demographics, workforce, and housing in Omaha neighborhoods
- Collaboration with UNMC to analyze the status and future of the healthcare workforce
- Fellowship from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank and Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Institutions to study the economic impact of anchor institutions
- Grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to study inclusive entrepreneurship
Peer Reviewed Publications
- Sampson, Carrie, Overholser, Amber & Schafer, Gatti Josephine (2019) “A Critical Paradox: The Politics of an Urban Community-Based Nonprofit In Expanding Educational Opportunities to Underserved Youth.” Leadership and Policy Studies. 18.2.
- Schafer Gatti, Josephine (2019)“A Systematic Review of the Public Administration Literature to Identify How to Increase Public Engagement and Participation with Local Governance.” Journal of Public Affairs. 19.2.e1873.
- Schafer Gatti, Josephine and Zhang, Zhiwei (2018) “Who is Engaged and Why? Testing an Instrumental Perspective on Stakeholder Engagement.” Journal of Public and Non-Profit Affairs. 5.2.
- Zhang, Zhiwei, Gibson, Bryan and Schafer Gatti, Josephine (2017). “Reexamining the Relationship Between Fiscal Stress and Outsourcing.” Public Performance and Management Review. 41, 1.
- Schafer Gatti, Josephine and Gallemore, Caleb (2016). “Biases in Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis: The case of Environmental Planning in Southern Nevada.” Environment and Planning C: Governance and Policy. 34, 8.
- Schafer Gatti, Josephine and Zhang, Zhiwei (2016). “The Role of Stakeholders in Municipal Contracting Out.” Public Administration Quarterly. 40,4 pg. 789-813.
- Schafer Gatti, Josephine (2016). “The Mandate to Coordinate: The Case of the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act.” Public Performance & Management Review. 40, 1.
- Schafer Gatti, Josephine (2015). “Making Role Playing Real.” Teaching Public Administration. 34, 2.