First State Insights

Filip Hrůza speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about the thirteen-year partnership between their institutions, the adaptation of the "Delaware Model" of public service education (https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/biden-school/) to the Czech context, and the creation of "MuniLab" to engage students with practice....

Professors Calin Hintea and Maria Aristigueta speak with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about challenges facing democracy in Central and Eastern Europe and the United States, the importance and evolution of relationships among countries in this region and the U.S., and potential roles for engaged universities and public admin...

Talla Cissé and Dr. Saloum Cissé, co-founders of the Foundation for a Healthier Senegal (FOHSEN), speak with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about their efforts to enhance maternal and child health outcomes in rural Senegal through local health initiatives and fundraising. This interview covers their motives for founding FOHSE...

Tom DeWire, Founder and Principal Consultant of EdScale, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about his 2023 book, "How To Implement (just about) Anything: Lessons from 25 years in public education." This interview covers Tom's perspectives on the importance of and challenges associated with implementation, along with h...

Alison Cusack, Founder and Principal Lawyer of Cusack & Co, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about everything from maritime law and how she started in the industry to her new book, A Short History of Maritime, and her firm's digital comic book series, Container Jack, which mixes a dose of entertainment with educatio...

James Pethokoukis, senior fellow and DeWitt Wallace Chair at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), speaks with Troy Mix, associate director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about his 2023 book, The Conservative Futurist: How to Create the Sci-Fi World We Were Promised (https://www.aei.org/research-products/book/the-conservative-futurist/). In this book, Mr. P...

Doug Motley, Managing Principal at Jack Lingo Asset Management and current Vice Chair of the State of Delaware's Council on Housing, speaks with Sean O'Neill, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about developing housing in Delaware. Topics covered during this interview include Doug's background, the development work he has been involved with over t...

Scott Schuster, Delaware's Farm to School Coordinator, speaks with Julia O’Hanlon, policy scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about his role in supporting community access to local foods and Delaware's agricultural providers. Topics covered during this interview include Delaware's Farm to School program and the Farm to Community pilot program, the role of...

Ed O'Donnell, Senior Fellow at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), joins his IPA colleague Julia O'Hanlon to share insights on changes to Delaware's landscapes and demographics observed over a decades-long career focused on land use and infrastructure issues. As a retired, part-time staff member with IPA, Ed offers his perspectives on what makes Delaware an attr...

Jonathan Knopf, Executive Director for Programs at Housing Forward Virginia, speaks with Sean O'Neill, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about developing and leading affordable housing efforts in Virginia. This conversation covers the motivation for and history behind the founding of Housing Forward Virginia and the steps the organization h...

Archie Campbell, Mayor of the City of Milford, Delaware, speaks with Julia O’Hanlon, policy scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about the challenges and opportunities that led to his Delaware residency, a public service calling, and plans to retire in Milford. This interview covers Mayor Campbell’s personal and professional background and his perspectives...

Andy Molanes, founder and CEO of Argentek, LLC, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about his journey as an entrepreneur, including the challenges and rewards of operating an export business, the small business support services Argentek has benefited from, and the positive impacts Andy and Argentek have made and hope t...

Allison Taylor Levine, president and founder of the Local Journalism Initiative of Delaware and vice president for marketing and communications at the Delaware Community Foundation, speaks with Troy Mix, associate director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about the importance of local news and information for our communities and efforts Allison is orchestrating...

Tim Shaffer, Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Chair of Civil Discourse at the University of Delaware’s Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, speaks with Troy Mix, associate director at the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration, about the history, dimensions, and future of engaged universities in the United States. Topics covered in this interview...

Dan Shortridge, the author of DIY Public Relations, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about how communications professionals and organizations should tell their stories and generate publicity for their work. Dan Shortridge is a communications and marketing consultant and author with more than 20 years of experience in loca...

Tim Gibbs and Dr. Omar Khan of the Delaware Academy of Medicine/Delaware Public Health Association (https://delamed.org/) speak about connections among health, housing, and place with Julia O’Hanlon and Sean O’Neill, Policy Scientists at the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration. Topics covered in this August 22, 2022 conversation include the function of housing and place as...

Jenny McMillan, the President of JennyGems, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about her path to entrepreneurship and the challenges she's tackled since launching the business. JennyGems is a Delaware-based business focused on designing, making, and selling original wooden signs and other home décor items. Before officially...

Sierra RyanWallick, a serial social entrepreneur, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about her passion for catalyzing positive change. Topics covered in this April 11, 2022 interview include Sierra's reflections on her past, present, and future as a social entrepreneur; the origins and growth of her startup UP Cycle Design...

Mo Mahmood, a leader and organizer of the regional startup ecosystem, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about his initiation to the startup world and his thoughts on opportunities to enhance the ecosystem in Delaware and the Greater Philadelphia region. Topics covered in this March 17, 2022 interview include Mo's orientati...

Gabby Leri, Elise Hance, and Ruth Crump speak with Julia O'Hanlon, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about their shared experiences through Lori's Hands. This May 24, 2022 interview addresses students' career interests and what they've learned by volunteering with Lori's Hands; intergenerational learning and relationship-building opportunities; a...

Maggie Ratnayake, Executive Director of Lori’s Hands, speaks with Julia O'Hanlon, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about service-learning models to support older adults and promote mutually beneficial experiences. This May 6, 2022 interview addresses the history and mission of Lori’s Hands, the value and impacts of intergenerational service-lear...

Professors Allison Karpyn and Elizabeth Orsega-Smith speak with Julia O'Hanlon, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about the interdisciplinary partnerships supporting older Delawareans. This April 29, 2022 interview addresses the role of intergenerational programming and the need for interdisciplinary expertise in designing and evaluating programs...

Sal Mercogliano, host of the Youtube show "What’s Going On With Shipping?”, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about the state of maritime shipping as we navigate our way out of both the pandemic and a supply chain crisis. Topics covered in this April 21, 2022 interview include major takeaways from the recent groundin...

Lisa St. Clair, the President and CEO of Tail Bangers, and Michelle Harris, the District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Delaware Office, speak with Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, as part of National Small Business Week. This May 2, 2022 conversation focused on the growth of Tail Bangers and the personal...

Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce leaders Ayanna Khan and Andre Dixon speak with Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about current activities and plans for the Chamber. Established in 2020, the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce supports small businesses by helping them connect with larger companies and one another; providing business...