Richard C. Hula

Richard C. Hula is professor and chair of the department. Prior to becoming chair in 2001 he served as the director of the department’s Program in Public Policy and Administration (1991-96), and Associate Director of MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Research (1991-1998).

Hula joined the faculty at Michigan State in 1991. Prior to that he taught the University of Texas at Dallas, and the University of Maryland. He received his PhD from Northwestern University in 1975.

Hula was selected as a University of Maryland Scholar Teacher in 1986. During 1997-98 he served as president of the Policy Studies Organization. In 2000 he shared the American Political Science Association Urban Section Award for best book with Jeffrey Henig, Marion Orr and Desiree Pedescleaux for The Color of School Reform (Princeton Press, 1999). In 2002 he and Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore were awarded the Jeffrey Pressman Award by the Policy Studies Organization for best article to appear in volume 18 of Review of Policy Research.

Hula research and teaching interests focus on urban politics and policy. He currently has projects exploring state/local environmental policy, the impact of faith-based organizations of social service delivery, and state level interventions into local policy arenas such as education. In the last several years he has taught graduate courses in urban politics and environmental policy, and an undergraduate course in urban politics.