Everyone has a “hot take” these days from the talking heads at ESPN to political pundits filling the air on cable. ELGL cannot (and will not) be left out. We are asking new members to give us their hot takes on an array of issues.
Dr. Lauren Edwards
University of Maryland, Baltimore County – Assistant Professor, Public Policy
Connect: Twitter
Write the headline for your life story.
Assistant Pracademic Extraordinaire
What three things would you change about local government?
First, to be more wary of all new management trends. Not everything is worth implementing and some do not need to be implemented wholesale. Second, to understand the wealth of knowledge within local governments and less on consultants. Third, thinking more strategic management as a learning process and taking time to learn and do analysis. The processes can be more important than the product.
If ELGL gave you $10 million right now, what would you do?
First, go on an awesome sabbatical to travel. Second, use the rest to fund research on best practices for improving race relations in local governments. There are places where this happening and we need a deeper understanding of what works.
Is summer overrated?
Not as an academic!
What’s the one skill that you wish you had?
We talk about bridging academic research and practice all of the time. I wish I actually knew how to do that.
Supplemental Reading
Lauren Hamilton Edwards – School of Public Policy – UMBC
Series at library seeks to answer this year’s election questions
Public Policy welcomes Dr. Lauren Edwards
Previously
The Hottest Takes Ever with Lisa Henty, City of Durham, NC
The Hottest Takes Ever with Stephen Hawryluk, City of Winston-Salem
The Hottest Takes Ever with Stephanie Scafa, City of Eugene, OR
The Hottest Takes Ever with Matt Lorenzen
The Hottest Takes Ever with Ryan Krueger, City of Troutdale, OR
The Hottest Takes Ever with Justin Amos, City of Charlotte, NC