Francis J. Leazes Jr., M.P.A., Ph.D.

Professor and Director of Public Administration Program Gaige Hall 253 (401) 456-8718 (401) 456-4726 (fax) fleazes@ric.edu

Curriculum Vitae

View Dr. Leazes's CV ​​​

Educational Background

Ph.D. University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. 1984 Political Science

M.P.A. University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. 1981 Public Affairs

MA University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Ma. 1974 History

BA College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Ma. 1971 History

Professional Memberships

Phi Beta Kappa
Pi Sigma Alpha
Fellow, Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce
American Society for Public Administration
American Political Science Association

Teaching Experience and Courses Taught

Rhode Island College, 1984-present. Professor. (Undergraduate) American Government (SB); Current Political Controversy (Writing Seminar); Foundations of Public Administration; State and Local Government; Bureaucratic Politics, The American Presidency; Field Experiences; State Internship Seminar; Politics of Public Management; Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations; Public Sector Contracting.

University of Rhode Island, 1990-2012. Adjunct Graduate Professor. Seminar Budgetary Politics.

Worcester State University 1982-2015. Adjunct Visiting Professor. (Graduate) Financial Management for Government and Nonprofit Organizations; Organizational Theory.

Publications: Books

Providence: The Renaissance City. (Northeastern University Press, June 2004), with Mark T. Motte.

Accountability and the Business State: The Structure of Federal Corporations. (Praeger, 1987)      Cited in Lebron v.Amtrak, United States Supreme Court, October Term, 1994, No.93-
1525.

Publications: Articles

“Arts and Culture Report: The Creative and Cultural Economy Initiative” (with Dr. Stacey Springs, Brown University, Center for Evidence Based Medicine and Dr. William Ziwiak, Mathematics and Statistcs, Bryant University) (www.collaborativeri.org) (published April 2018). Report available at http://www.collaborativeri.org/research/arts-culture-report-the-creative-and-cultural-economy-initiative

“Higher Education’s Role in Shaping a Workforce in Rhode Island” (with Rhode Island College Associate Professor Mikaila Mariel Lemonik Arthur) (www.collaborativeri.org)
Report available at http://www.collaborativeri.org/research/how-higher-education-shapes-the-workforce (published Summer 2016).

“Measuring Successful Arts and Culture Strategies”  in Arts and Culture Economy 2014. The Collaborative (www.collaborativeri.org) and Footnote1 (www.footnote1.com) with Deborah Johnson; Also “Should States Invest in the Arts as a Tool for Economic Growth”, May 6, 2014, available at http://footnote1.com/should-states-invest-in-the-arts-as-a-tool-for-economic-growth/  published as part of the Rhode Island College and University Collaborative.

“A Not Unapt Illustration of New England Heroism: Albert Martin’s Journey from Rhode Island to the Alamo.” Rhode Island History, 70 (Winter/Spring 2012).

“21st Century Urban Regeneration in Providence, Rhode Island,” Proceedings Journal of the New England and St. Lawrence Valley Geographical Society. V. XXXII (2003): 22-28.

“Renaissance City: By Accident or Design?,” Proceedings Journal of the International Society for the Study of European Ideas. (8th International Congress, July 22-27,2002) with Mark T.  Motte

Public Accountability- Is It a Private Responsibility?” Administration & Society. 29 (September, 1997). Cited in Johnston and Romzek, “Contracting and Accountability” PAR, Sept/Oct            1999; Also in P. Teatser, “When the State Takes Over a Life: The Public Guardian as Public Administrator, PAR, July 2003.

“My Sister’s Keeper: A Case in Ethical Decision-Making”, in Ethical Decisionmaking in Public Administration (Praeger 1996) eds. Pasquerrella, Killilea & Vocino. With Sherry Campanelli, MPA.

“Pay Now or Pay Later: Training and Torts in Public Sector Human Service.” Public Personnel Management. 24 (Summer 1995).

“Budget Policy and Fiscal Crisis: A Political Matrix.” The New England Journal of Public Policy. 10 (Fall/Winter 1994). With Robert A. Sieczkiewicz, Ph.D.

“The Federal Courts and Nonprofit Administration: Is It Purely a Private Affair?” Administration & Society. 25 (August 1993).

“Staff Training Policies in Nonprofit Human Services Corporations.” New England Journal of  Human Services. 10 (Issue 2, 1991). With Audrey J. Laforge MS.

Proceedings of The Rhode Island Constitutional Convention, 1986. Report #12 “Rhode Island Independent Authorities and the Governor as Chief Executive”; Report #15; “The Four Year Term for Governor and General Officers”; Report #19; “Overview of the Development of Executive Power”.

“Evaluating Government Profit-seeking Corporations: An Administrative Model.” Southeastern Political Review. 14 (Fall 1986). With Mark Daniels Ph.D.

“Now You See It, Now You Don’t: A Case Study of Inflation Measures and Their Political Significance for Local Government.” In A Casebook on Public Budgeting and Financial Management. (Prentice-Hall, 1984). eds. Carol W. Lewis and A Grayson Walker III.

Multi-Media Projects

Documentary, Producer, Director and Writer, “A  Road to the Alamo” A Documentary film broadcast, January-March,  2017, RI PBS.

Project Director, “Unearthing the North Burial Ground of Providence, Rhode Island: An Interdisciplinary, Humanities Based Study of Providence’s Oldest Burying Ground to produce on-line walking tours of the North Burial Ground. Major Grant. Rhode Island Council for the Humanities and the Rhode Island Faculty Research Grant Program. (2013-Ongoing).  

Selected Papers

“Public Accountability, Public Higher Education, and Public Law.” Paper presented at the New England Political Science Association, Newport RI April 22-24, 2010, with Timothy Hennessey

“Effective Practices for Promoting Discussion and Collaborative Problem Solving Resulting in Institutional Improvements”, Presentation at the New England Educational Assessment Network Annual Conference, Holy Cross College, November 9, 2009, with Patricia Thomas

“Six Lessons in Urban Redevelopment Policy: The Case of Providence, Rhode Island” Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the New England and St. Lawrence Valley Geographical Society, Portland Maine, October 16, 2004

“What Is An Urban Renaissance and How do We Know When We are Getting There?” Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the New England Political Science Association, Portsmouth New Hampshire, May 13, 2004

“Providence The Renaissance City: Opportunities, Projects, Policy” Paper presented at the Northeastern Political Science Association Annual Meeting, November 7, 2002 Providence, Rhode Island

“A Renaissance City: By Accident or by Design? Paper presented at the International Society for the Study of European Ideas Conference, Aberystwyth, Wales, July 25, 2002 w Mark T. Motte, Ph.D.

“State Fiscal Health, Political Culture and Agency Reorganization: The Rhode Island Experience, 1984-1996.” Paper presented at the American Society for Public Administration Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pa. July 26- 29, 1997.

“The Public Accountability of Nonprofit Administrators.” Paper presented at the New England Political Science Association Annual Conference, Portland, Me. May 5-6, 1995.

“Public Accountability-- Is It A Private Responsibility?” Paper presented at the Northeast Political Science Association Annual Conference, Providence, RI, November 9-11, 1994.

“An Ethical Decision-Making Matrix for Hard Choices.” Paper presented at the American Society for Public Administration Region I/II Annual Conference, Burlington, Vt. October 16-18, 1994.

“Nonprofit Administration: Tales from the Twilight Zone.” Paper presented at the American Society for Public Administration Region I/II Annual Conference, Albany, NY, October 25-27, 1993.

“Recession in the Northeast: The Rhode Island State Government Strategies for Survival.” Paper presented at the American Society for Public Administration Region I/II Annual   Conference, Portland, Maine September 26-28, 1990.

“Constitutional Law and the Twilight Zone of Public Administration.” Paper presented at the American Society for Public Administration Region I/II Annual Conference, Atlantic City, NJ September 17-21, 1989.

“State Public Authorities: The Rhode Island Experience.” Paper presented at the American Society for Public Administration Region I/II Annual Conference, Albany, NY October 19-21, 1986.

“The Courts, the Constitution and Federal Corporations.” Paper presented at the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans, La. September, 1985.

“Making Public Administration Private: The Structure of Government Corporations.” Paper presented at the New England Political Science Association Annual Conference, Durham, NH April 1985.

Media Appearances

Chanel 10, Interview with Bill Rappleye, 2006
Chanel 36, The 13th State, Interview, Paul Zangari, 2005
Chanel 12, Newsmaker Interview, Jack White, 2004
Chanel 36, The 13th State, Interview, Paul Zangari, 2004
WNRI, Interview with Tom Kogut, June 2004
WBRU, Interview with Arlene Violet, June 204

Panels, Keynotes, Forums, Lectures, and Training

Panelist & Speaker, “Rhode Island’s Creative and Cultural Economy”,   R.I Statewide Historic Preservation Conference: The Economics of Historic Preservation, April 29, 2017. 

Moderator, Rhode Island House of Representatives, “Economic Conference”, Sapinsley Hall, Rhode Island College, January 17, 2013

Guest Speaker, “Downtown Providence Revitalization”, The Research Bureau, forum on Downtown Revitalization: What Works, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Worcester, Massachusetts,  May 2, 2012.

Keynote Address, “Politics and Planning: The Puzzlemaking of the Providence Renaissance”,  The Providence Preservation Society Symposium, “Make No Little Plans: A Symposium on Visions for the City of Providence”, September 15-17 2011.

Forum Panelist,  “Trans-Atlantic Relationships: Sharing Experiences on the Political and Economic Trajectories of the Azores and Rhode Island” The Institute for Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies at Rhode Island College in collaboration with the European Youth Parliament – Azores, September 15-17, 2010, Rhode Island College.

Keynote Address, “How We Got from Roger Williams to Bill Warner”, the Royal Society for the Arts Conference, Transforming Urban Communities: Lessons from Providence, Rhode Island, and Liverpool, England , Providence, Rhode Island, June 5-7 2005. Chaired Roundtable: “Driving a New Urban Agenda”; Also member of the Conference Program Planning Committee.

Keynote Address, “Successful Urban Renaissance Projects: Six Lessons from the Providence Rhode Island Experience”, the “Free the Blackstone” Summit, Union Station, Worcester Massachusetts, February 18, 2005

“Alternative Revenue Sources”. Training Workshop for the New England States Government Finance Officers Association 10th Annual Spring Training Seminar. May 2d, 2002. Worcester, Massachusetts.
“The Rhode Island Constitution: A 19th Century View.” Amicus Brief. Filed with the Rhode Island Supreme Judicial Court in Easton’s Beach, 1986; Amended and re-filed, April, 1995 in Arrigan v. Judicial Board of Discipline.

“Public Higher Education and the Movement to Reinvent Government.” Lecture. Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Rhode Island College. February 28, 1995 

“Legislative Oversight in Rhode Island.” Expert testimony presented to the House Rules Committee, Rhode Island General Assembly, February 10, 1994.

“The Administration of Mental Health Services.” Lectures and Workshops for the RI Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals and Not for Profit Providers, State of Rhode Island, 1991-1993.

“The Three Pillars of Good Government in Rhode Island.” Editorial. Providence Journal Bulletin. (1992)

“The Impact of the Federal Budget on Local Government.” Lecture. University of Rhode Island International Forum for South Korean Government Officials. Summer, 1991.

“The Organization of the Energy Function for Rhode Island Department of Administration.” Report to Director of the Department of Administration. Spring, 1991.  

“Training and Supervision Practices, City of Providence, RI. Report for the Director  Department of Administration, City of Providence, 1989.

“Financial Management for Public Library Systems.” 3 day Training Workshop. Central   Massachusetts Regional Library System. October 1985.

“Meals & Money:  Human Services in the 80’s.” Lecture. Annual Conference of the Massachusetts Association of Elderly Nutrition Programs, Framingham, MA. September 1984.

Administrative Activities

Director, BA Public administration Program, Rhode Island College, 1991-present
Director Master of Public Administration: A cooperative degree program of Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island: 1993-2012
Internship Coordinator, Department of Political Science Rhode Island College 2017- present. 
Organizer Political Science Alumni Day April 25, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Coordinator Political Science Program Review and Geography Program Review, 2011-2012
Chair, Standard 9 Financial Standards, NEASC Accreditation Preparation, Rhode Island College, 2009-2010; 1999-2000.
Chair, Political Science Department Rhode Island College, Curriculum Revision Committee, 2009-2011.
Search Committee: Vice President Academic Affairs, Rhode Island College 2007-2008
Executive Committee, AFT- Local, Rhode Island College 2006- current.
Assessment Coordinator, Department of Political Science, 2005-current
AFT-Local Financial Audit Committee, 2006, 2009
Rhode Island College, President’s Budget Task Force: 2002- 2009
Chair, Department of Political Science, Rhode Island College 1994-2002.
Assorted Dean and presidential committees on Social Science Education at the elementary and secondary level
Assorted Rhode Island College American Federation of Teacher committees

Selected Professional Activities

Presenter, Rhode Island Heritage and Preservation Commission Annual Conference, “The Economics of Historic Preservation”, April 2017.

Guest Speaker, Providence Preservation Society, March 16, 2014, “Providence Redevelopment: Moving the Rivers”, Discussion with Cornell University Urban Landscape class, at PPS Meeting Street School and walk.

Facilitator, 14th Annual Faculty Development Workshop. “Group Projects: Students Writing Together”, January 20, 2010.

Guest Speaker. Assessment Plans for Political Science Departments, Workshop conducted for University of Rhode Island Political Science Department, August 2009

Project Evaluation Team, Hope VI, Newport Housing Authority, RIC Bureau of Government Research, 2007-2009  

Member, Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) , Cities Count Project: Urban Indicators Subcommittee, 2002-2003

Member, RIPEC, Municipal Fiscal Health Task Force, 2002-2003

Transition Team. Congressman Elect James Langevin, 2d Congressional District, Fall 2000.

Program Chair, American Society for Public Administration Region I/II Annual Conference Newport RI, October 1998.

Commission Member, Providence City Council Commission to Restructure City Finances, 1996-1998.

Transition Team Member, Secretary of State, James Langevin, Fall, 1994.

Past President and Executive Committee member, Rhode Island Chapter, American Society for   Public Administration, 1984-1998.

Advisory Committees: the United Way of Southeastern New England, “Needs for the 90”, 1994; Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, “Re-Thinking Government”, 1993-1994; Rhode Island Public

Expenditure Council, Developing an Urban Strategy Task Force, 1996-2000.

Program Chair, American Society for Public Administration Region I/II Annual Conference, Newport, RI November, 1988.

Council Member, Rhode Island College Council, 1984-1988.

Commission Member, Rhode Island Statewide Planning Council: Human Service A-95 Review. 1985-1987.

Project Director, Master of Human Services NEASC Review Committee, Worcester State College, 1988.

Member, Board of Director: Rhode Island Common Cause, 1992-1993; Daybreak Inc., Worcester, Ma. 1983-1984; Notre Dame Academy, Worcester, Ma. 1975-1977.

Founding Board Member and Project Director, Student Program for Urban Development (SPUD), Worcester, Ma. 1968-1971. 

Grants

Rhode Island Collaborative, Research Grant, Rhode Island Arts and Culture Economic Policy, 2016-2017, Research Associate
Rhode Island Collaborative, Research Grant, “Higher Education Policy in Rhode Island”, 2015-2016, Co-Principal Investigator
The Grassroots Environmental Fund, Community Grant, “Establishing a Friends of the North Burial Ground”, Providence, RI. 2015, Project Director
Rhode Island Collaborative, Research Grant, “Arts and Culture Policy in Rhode Island”, 2013-2014, Co-Principal Investigator
Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, Major Grant, Unearthing the North Burial Ground, 2012. Project Director
Rhode Island College, Faculty Research Grant, “Unearthing the North Burial Ground” 2011, 2014. 
Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, Grant, Albert Martin’s Providence, 2011
Rhode Island College, Faculty Research Grant, “The Providence Place Mall” 1998. 
Rhode Island College, Faculty Research Grant, “Public Accountability Nonprofit Agencies”,1993.
University of Rhode Island, Special Project Grant. “On Establishing a Nonprofit Management     Institute, 1993.

Awards

Rhode Island College Faculty Alumni Award, 2008
Paul Maixner Distinguished Teaching Award, 2007
Rhode Island College, Nominee, Thorp Professorship, 2005, 2006, 2009
Rhode Island College nominee for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Award for Teaching Professor of the Year 2004.
RIASPA, Outstanding Chapter Member, 1993, 1987.
Governor’s Citation, Service to Rhode Island, 1987.
University of Connecticut, Michael A. Dunphy Award for Social Science Research, 1984.

Related Work Experience​

Consultant. Cim-Val Corporation, Worcester, Ma., 1979-1985.
Asst. Executive Director: Management/Planning. The Key Program, Inc. Framingham, Ma. 1977-1980.
Chair, Social Studies Department, Notre Dame Academy, Worcester, Ma. 1973-1977.
Outreach Caseworker, Youth Resources Bureau, Fitchburg/Leominster, Ma. 1972-1973.
Youth Development Coordinator/Summer Program Director, Green Island Opportunity Center, 1967-1971; Friendly House, Inc., Worcester, Ma. 1973-1977.