University of South Alabama Press Release | USA News

University of South Alabama, Office of Public Relations

April 27, 2007
Contact: Jennifer Z. Ekman, (251) 460-6360

Dr. Harvey White Elected President of American Society for Public Administration

University of South Alabama Center for Healthy Communities Founder and Director Dr. Harvey White has been elected president of the American Society for Public Administration, a national association based in Washington, D.C.

"The public is better served if people better understand the role that public servants play," White said.

His priorities as president will include a dialogue with political candidates on the vital role that public servants play to the federal government.

"For the last 30 years, politicians have run against bureaucracy. They've run against public service," he said. "That makes it more difficult for us to attract public servants."

He said America enjoys the best public servants in the world. "They have made wonderful and meaningful contributions to our society through productivity and creativity."

Dr. Harvey White

Dr. Harvey White

White leads the USA Center for Healthy Communities, which coordinates community education, research, public service and health activities to help eliminate health disparities, foster access to health care for underserved populations and enhance the capacity of individuals to better participate in decision making about their health.

American Society for Public Administration

Since 1939, ASPA has been the nation's most respected society representing all forums in the public service arena. The group's 9,500 members -- academics, practitioners and students -- serve as advocates for greater effectiveness in government. The members are agents of goodwill and professionalism, publishers of democratic journalism at its very best, purveyors of progressive theory and practice, and providers of global citizenship. They believe that by embracing new ideas, addressing key public service issues, and promoting change at both the local and international levels, they can enhance the quality of lives worldwide.