News Posts

Research summarized on Police Research Hub highlights that facial traits strongly influence who gets promoted in policing, raising concerns about the meritocracy of promotion systems. A two‑phase experiment using archival police academy photos found that respondents consistently judged perceived leadership ability based on facial characteristics, and those perceptions accurately predicted real‑world promotional outcomes at rates well above chance (AUC ≈ .70). The study shows that attributes such as perceived trustworthiness and dominance shape who is seen as leadership material, despite having no relationship to actual job performance, suggesting that extra‑legal, appearance‑based biases may meaningfully shape career advancement in law enforcement agencies. The study was co-authored by University of Utah Public Affairs and Political Science alumni Professors Ian Adams and Scott Mourtgos (University of South Carolina); SPA Professor Chris Simon, and Regents Professor Emeritus Nicholas Lovrich, Washington State University.

Congratulations to Tanner Anderson, Anna Ontiveros, Rachel Paulsen, and Samy Estrada (all cc'd) for taking first place at the 2026 Utah City/County Management Association MPA Case Competition.

Meet the new board for the Division of Public Affairs' PAGE Student Association

Division adjunct faculty member Stephen Nelson, Ph.D. J.D., was appointed to the Third District Court judgeship in November 2023 by Governor Cox. Judge Nelson has taught for the University of Utah's Master of Public Administration (MPA) program since 2010, predominantly covering Administrative Theory or Public Administration and Law. We're proud to have Judge Nelson as a valued Division faculty member.

Joins us in welcoming our new Division of Public Affairs faculty members! Dr. Jonathan Fisk joins us as an associate professor from the Master of Public Administration program at Auburn University. Dr. Ju Won Park joins us as a recent graduate of the University of Georgia.