School of Government Welcomes Four New Faculty Members in 2020
The School of Government has been pleased to welcome four new faculty members into its ranks in 2020: Connor Crews, James Joyce, Obed Pasha, and Brittany Williams. In their new roles, these four will work to share their expertise in the purchasing and contracting, planning and development regulation, performance management, and criminal law fields respectively.
Connor Crews
Crews joined the School as an assistant professor of public law and government, specializing in local government contracting, procurement, and ethics. Following faculty member Norma Houston’s temporary leave of absence from the School, Crews has taken over advising responsibilities related to local government contracting and purchasing queries.
Since joining the School in February 2020, daily life at home in North Carolina and around the world has changed considerably in the wake of the global Covid-19 pandemic. For Crews, what has not changed—but rather been magnified by circumstance—is the importance of the work he and his colleagues undertake daily to help the state’s communities navigate these crises.
“I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to serve public officials across North Carolina, and to collaborate with faculty and staff who think creatively about the problems that those public officials face,” said Crews.
“Now more than ever, ensuring that our local governments can function effectively and efficiently is so critical. It’s been so rewarding to have a role in helping local governments serve their communities.”
Read more about Crews’ work at the School, his legal experience, and education here.
James Joyce
The newest faculty member at the School, Joyce joined the law and finance division in September 2020. Working alongside Adam Lovelady, Joyce will provide his expertise to clients in the field of land use law and planning. Prior to joining the School, Joyce worked in private practice in the fields of environmental and land use law.
In this new role, Joyce said he is most looking forward to seeing how his scholarship can produce tangible results that will improve communities across the state.
“During my time as a student and in private practice, I was often torn between scholarship and pragmatism,” said Joyce. “Research, writing, and sharing knowledge are activities I enjoy greatly, but I also gain the greatest rewards from seeing a practical effect or outcome from my work.”
At this intersection of practice and policy, Joyce is most fulfilled. Having joined a faculty similarly driven by this ideal, he said he is looking forward to seeing how sustained collaboration will make a difference in North Carolina.
“I’m excited to participate in work that can really improve the work of government in the state, and to collaborate with the exceptional faculty of the School.”
Learn more about Joyce here.
Obed Pasha
Pasha became a School faculty member in June 2020, joining the management, administration, and leadership division. As an assistant professor, Pasha instructs in the Master of Public Administration program and works in the performance management area of public management. Before joining the School, Pasha served as an assistant professor in the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University.
With a research and scholarship interest in public management, performance management, and policy evaluation, Pasha was drawn to the School’s commitment to allowing faculty to channel their expertise into creating lasting change in the state.
“I was excited by the practitioner-oriented scholarship of the School,” said Pasha. “This is a rare place that allows academics to work together with practitioners to make a real difference.”
For Pasha, the prospect of turning ideas into action for a greater good is an exciting one.
“I am most excited about applying theoretical ideas and best practices in local and state governments to improve the lives of all North Carolinians.”
Read more about Pasha, his education, and drive to improve the field of performance management here.
Brittany Williams
Williams joined the School’s courts division in July 2020. In her new position, she is working with colleagues to identify areas of greatest need in the field of criminal law. She is a newly inducted member of the North Carolina State Bar and a May 2020 graduate (summa cum laude) of the North Carolina Central University School of Law.
For Williams, joining the School’s criminal law faculty was a natural next step in an education and career dedicated to bringing vital information and resources to populations who may lack access to them.
“The mission of the School directly aligned with the work I was interested in doing. I knew that in my role I would be able to provide access to information to the public to help make their lives easier,” said Williams.
“To me, public service means bridging a gap by finding resources and providing said resources to those without access to them. What most people realize is that access to resources doesn’t always have to be an issue of finances—it can mean access to services, information, and technology.”
Williams will continue to work to bridge this gap as she identifies areas of need for the School’s judicial clients. To read more about Williams, please click here.
The School is pleased to welcome each of these four faculty members and looks forward to seeing how their work will strengthen the mission to improve the lives of North Carolinians.