We Welcome our School's New Director: Dr. Yu-Che Chen
OMAHA, Neb. — The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Yu-Che Chen, Ph.D., as the new Director of the School of Public Administration (SPA), effective July 1. This appointment marks a significant milestone in the School’s continued legacy of academic and professional excellence. A scholar of international renown, Dr. Chen brings with him a distinguished career in public administration, deep research expertise, and proven leadership.
Dr. Gaylene Armstrong, Dean of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service, expressed strong support for the appointment. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Chen serve as Director,” she said. “The support of our faculty was instrumental in this decision. Dr. Chen’s leadership, expertise, and commitment to excellence will continue to elevate the School of Public Administration.”
Dr. Chen has served as Interim Director for the past year and has been a longstanding faculty member and leader within the School. He was recently named the inaugural Kathleen D. Seline Professor of Public Administration, an honor made possible by donors committed to advancing effective governance and supporting top faculty within UNO’s College of Public Affairs and Community Service.
He also holds the title of Isaacson Professor and serves as Director of the Digital Governance and Analytics Lab. His research focuses on the governance of artificial intelligence and digital transformation, and he has been awarded over $3.5 million in external grants from the National Science Foundation, state government agencies, and research centers.
A respected leader in the field of digital governance, Dr. Chen currently serves as President-Elect of the international Digital Government Society. He is also Associate Editor of Government Information Quarterly and Digital Government: Research and Practice. He will co-chair the International Digital Government Research Conference in 2024 and 2025 and will bring the conference to UNO in 2026. He served as the two-term Chair of the Section on Science and Technology in Government for the American Society for Public Administration.
Dr. Chen earned his Ph.D. in Public Policy and a Master of Public Affairs (MPA) from Indiana University-Bloomington. His scholarly contributions include more than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and management reports in digital government and governance. He has authored and edited four books with the most recent titled the Oxford Handbook of AI Governance. His work underscores his contribution and impact in digital governance and public administration.
“Dr. Chen is exceptionally well-positioned to advance the School of Public Administration into a new era of academic excellence, global engagement, and innovative public service leadership, building upon its strong institutional foundation. ” ~~ Dr. Gaylene Armstrong, Dean, CPACS
