First State Insights

Rachel Premack, senior investigations reporter at Business Insider, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about her ongoing coverage of the freight sector and supply chain trends. Topics covered in this June 2, 2021 interview include recent supply chain disruptions, technology trends impacting the freight sector, and ong...

Two professionals from Utah State University Extension join Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), to talk about empowering rural communities through remote work. Dr. Paul Hill is an Extension Professor and Director of the Rural Online Initiative (ROI) program, which develops and delivers remote work certificate programs. Marta Niels...

Phil McGinnis, Managing Broker of McGinnis Commercial, speaks with Sean O'Neill, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about real estate trends impacting Kent County and the state overall. During this March 2, 2021 interview, Phil discusses how the pandemic has impacted his business, his views on the Kent County market, and what he sees moving...

Richard Hall, General Manager of the New Castle County Department of Land Use, speaks with Sean O'Neill, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about the County's ongoing comprehensive plan update, planning implications resulting from real estate trends, and the future of land development and transportation in New Castle County. During this Febr...

Preston Schell, co-founder and President of the Ocean Atlantic Companies, speaks with Sean O'Neill, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about the housing market in southern Delaware. During this February 10, 2021 interview, Preston recounts his start in the real estate industry while offering insights on the current and future demand for and...

Daniel Bromberg and Étienne Charbonneau speak about their co-authored book, Calibrating Public Accountability, with Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration. Sub-titled “The Fragile Relationship between Police Departments and Civilians in an Age of Video Surveillance,” the book examines the implementation of Body-Worn Cameras and the expectat...

Vikram Krishnamurthy, Executive Director of the Delaware Center for Horticulture (DCH), speaks with Madison Matera (MPA ‘22), Public Administration Fellow at the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about DCH’s Branches to Chances program, which is a horticulture job training program for unemployed, underemployed, and/or previously incarcerated individuals. This epis...

Three colleagues at the University of Delaware's Biden School of Public Policy & Administration consider: what will it be like when more and more of us find our way back to the office? This discussion explored the personal, team, and organizational dynamics that leaders should consider as their remote teams transition back to in-person work. Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delawa...

Chris Bason, Executive Director of the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, speaks to Jillian Cullen, Public Administration Fellow at the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about the different types of green infrastructure projects the Center for the Inland Bays has been involved with and how cooperative partnerships have helped them along the way. This episode is...

Chris Hauser, Associate Director of the Delaware Sea Grant, speaks with Abigail Armstrong, Public Administration Fellow at the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about green infrastructure. Topics covered in this February 25, 2021 interview include the benefits and challenges of green infrastructure, and Delaware Sea Grant’s efforts and partnerships towards further...

Dr. Adam Ozimek, Chief Economist at Upwork, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about the economics of remote work. Topics covered in this February 16, 2021 interview include the current and forecasted prevalence of remote work, the costs and benefits of remote work for companies and individuals, and what more remote w...

Ryan Conner, Principal with Tactix Real Estate Advisors, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about how increased levels of remote work may impact the demand for office space. Topics covered in this October 29, 2020 interview include how companies and organizations are reconsidering their space needs in light of remote...

Sarah Ruffcorn, President of Trinity Logistics, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about her team’s ongoing adjustment to the remote work environment. Topics covered in this November 12, 2020 interview include strategies Sarah and her team have used to maintain a workplace culture, efforts to enhance internal and exte...

Mary Ellen Gray, AICP, Director of Planning and Development in Newark, Delaware, joins Sean O'Neill, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), to talk about her journey as a planner and development activity in Newark. The conversation covered Mary Ellen's personal and professional background (0:50); current development projects and planning activit...

Leann Moore, Assistant Policy Scientist with the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), speaks with Danielle Mapp-Purcell, NiQue Traylor, and Janet Powell to answer the question, “What is a Municipal Clerk?” Danielle is an Administrative Assistant/Paralegal in the City of Newark, NiQue is a Legislative Aide for New Castle County Council, and Janet is a Clerk for the To...

Linda Parkowski, Executive Director of the Kent Economic Partnership, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about encouraging economic development in Central Delaware. The Kent Economic Partnership is a public-private organization that aims to spur economic development in Central Delaware. Under Linda’s leadership, the P...

Entrepreneurship policy experts and leaders from Delaware's innovation ecosystem join Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), to review the current policy landscape for science and innovation; consider how 2020 election results may impact this landscape; and discuss short- and long-term implications and opportunities for entrepreneurs...

Paul Page, Editor of The Wall Street Journal's Logistics Report, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about trends in the freight and logistics sector. Topics covered in this November 20, 2020 interview include the increased economic importance of logistics and supply chain management, the evolving physical and digital...

Fintech founder Kasai Guthrie speaks about his entrepreneurial journey with Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration. Kasai is the founder of Neggster, which aims to offer mobile banking for the underrated and underbanked. In this interview recorded on October 23rd, 2020, Kasai recounts lessons learned from early and ongoing ventures while ex...

Dr. Jalaal Hayes, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about his entrepreneurial journey. Dr. Hayes is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Lincoln University, a Visiting Assistant Professor at Delaware State University, and the founder of Elyte Universe, LLC—a company focused on innovating the approach to and outcomes from...

Terry Tieman, Town Manager of Fenwick Island, speaks to Sean O'Neill, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about how she became a town manager, unique issues towns are facing as a result of COVID-19, and her experience as a woman in leadership positions in local government. This interview was recorded on October 14, 2020. To learn more about t...

Mike Powell, Shoreline and Waterway Program Administrator with DNREC's Division of Watershed Stewardship, speaks to Philip Barnes, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA) about the different types of flood risk in Delaware, where to go to get reliable information on flooding, and the best practices for state and local governments to help mitigate...

Dr. Bill Provine, President and CEO of the Delaware Innovation Space, joins Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), and Cara Gannon, a Public Administration Fellow at IPA, to discuss the ongoing partnership of DuPont, the State of Delaware, and the University of Delaware in developing the Delaware Innovation Space as an entrepreneuria...

Michelle Taylor, President and CEO of United Way of Delaware, and Dr. Henry Smith III, Chair of the Wilmington Community Advisory Council, speak with Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about Delaware's ongoing COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. Topics covered include the impacts of the pandemic on households and communities in Del...

Bill Swiatek, Principal Planner at WILMAPCO, speaks to Sean O'Neill, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA) about WILMAPCO's role as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for northern Delaware and Cecil County, as well as some of the recent projects and studies that WILMAPCO has underway. Bill shares his personal and professional background as w...