Faculty

Al Bavon is Professor of Public Administration at the Clinton School of Public Service, teaching courses in Program Planning and Development, Data Analysis, and Program Evaluation.

Victoria DeFrancesco Soto is Dean of the Clinton School of Public Service.

Nichola Driver is the Assistant Dean of Impact, Executive Director for the Office of Field Service and an Associate Professor at the Clinton School of Public Service. Driver teaches Field Research Methods and oversees the Practicum and IPSP experiences.

Dr. Meagan M. Jordan joined the Clinton School of Public Service as a member of its faculty in June 2025.

Songkhun (Sunny) Nillasithanukroh is an Assistant Professor at the Clinton School of Public Service. He teaches Field Research Methods and Data Analysis.

Robert C. Richards, Jr. is an Associate Professor at the Clinton School of Public Service. Richards teaches Communication Processes and Social (Ex)Change and Ethical and Legal Dimensions of Public Service.

Andreas Darmega Sihotang is an Assistant Professor at the Clinton School of Public Service. He teaches Program Planning and Development.

Dr. Ophelia Akoto is a Postdoctoral Lecturer at the Clinton School of Public Service. Her research focuses on women’s economic and labor force development, STEM education policy, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity policy, and livelihood security.

Chul Hyun Park is a Senior Research Fellow and the Co-director of the Open Governance Lab at the Clinton School of Public Service.

Megan Kurten is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Clinton School of Public Service, where she works on research projects with the Open Governance Lab.

Dr. Michael Layton serves as the W.K. Kellogg Community Philanthropy Chair at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University. This is the first endowed chair position in the U.S. dedicated to advancing community philanthropy.

Esperanza Massana-Crane serves as the Director of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce focused on attracting high-paying jobs, expanding local economies, and fostering growth across the Natural State.

Dr. David F. Puyana is a seasoned diplomat, legal scholar, and international negotiator with 20 years of experience in peacebuilding, human rights, and multilateral governance. He serves as the Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the UN-mandated University for Peace (UPEACE) to the United Nations in Geneva and Vienna, as well as Permanent Observer to UNESCO in Paris.

Kent Broughton II served as the former Acting Director for the Center on Community Philanthropy at the Clinton School of Public Service. Since joining the Center in 2017, he was instrumental in leading key initiatives, previously serving as Assistant Director and Senior Community Relations Manager.

Rogelio Garcia-Contreras is a teaching faculty leading social innovation initiatives at the Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Venture Innovation Department of the UAF Sam M. Walton College of Business.