Rick Morse is an associate professor at the School of Government where he has been on the faculty since 2006. His research, teaching, and consulting focus on public leadership, collaborative governance, and civic engagement. He is the author of numerous articles and book chapters. Morse currently serves as Director of the LGFCU Fellows Program, which develops local government leaders in North Carolina. He teaches in a variety of the School’s continuing education programs for local government officials as well as a leadership course in the School’s MPA program. Morse holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public policy from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. in public administration from Virginia Tech.
Selected Publications
Morse, Ricardo S., Sabrina M. Willard, and Michelle Y. Holder. 2017. The Citizens Academy Handbook: Local Government Building Capacity for Civic Engagement. Chapel Hill, N.C.: UNC School of Government.
Morse, Ricardo S., and Charles R. Abernathy. 2015. Towards a Typology of Shared Services Arrangements. In Municipal Shared Services: A Public Solutions Handbook, ed. Alexander C. Henderson, 143-160. New York: Routledge.
Getha-Taylor, Heather, and Ricardo S. Morse. 2013. Collaborative Leadership Development for Local Government Officials: Exploring Competencies and Program Impact. Public Administration Quarterly 37 (1): 71-102.
Morse, Ricardo S. 2012. Citizens Academies: Local Governments Building Capacity for Citizen Engagement. Public Performance and Management Review 36(1): 79-101.
Heather Getha-Taylor, Maja Husar Holmes, Willow S. Jacobson, Ricardo S. Morse, and Jessica E. Sowa. 2010. Focusing the Public Leadership Lens: Research Propositions and Questions in the Minnowbrook Tradition. Journal of Public Administration Research & Theory 21(Supplement 1): i83-i98.
Ricardo S. Morse. 2010. Bill Gibson and the Art of Leading Across Boundaries. Public Administration Review 70(3): 434-442.
Ricardo S. Morse. 2010. Integrative Public Leadership: Catalyzing Collaboration to Create Public Value. The Leadership Quarterly 21(2): 231-245.
Morse, Ricardo S., and Terry F. Buss, eds. 2008.Innovations in Public Leadership Development. Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe. 372 pages.
Morse, Ricardo S., Terry F. Buss, and C. Morgan Kinghorn, eds. 2007. Transforming Public Leadership for the 21st Century. Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe. 375 pages.
Additional Publications
ARTICLES
Getha-Taylor, Heather, and Ricardo S. Morse. 2013. Collaborative Leadership Development for Local Government Officials: Exploring Competencies and Program Impact. Public Administration Quarterly 37 (1): 71-102.
Morse, Ricardo S. 2012. Citizens Academies: Local Governments Building Capacity for Citizen Engagement. Public Performance and Management Review 36(1): 79-101.
Morse, Ricardo S., and John B. Stephens. 2012. Teaching Collaborative Governance: Phases, Competencies, and Case-Based Learning. Journal of Public Affairs Education. 37 (1): 71-102.
Berner, Maureen M., Justin M. Amos, and Ricardo S. Morse. 2011. What Constitutes Effective Citizen Participation in Local Government? Views from City Stakeholders. Public Administration Quarterly 35(1): 128-162.
Bushouse, Brenda K., Willow S. Jacobson, Kristina T. Lambright, Jared J. Llorens, Ricardo S. Morse, and Ora-orn Poocharoen. 2010. Crossing the Divide: Building Bridges Between Public Administration Practitioners and Scholars. Journal of Public Administration Research & Theory 21(Supplement 1): i99-i112.
Getha-Taylor, Heather, Maja Husar Holmes, Willow S. Jacobson, Ricardo S. Morse, and Jessica E. Sowa. 2010. Focusing the Public Leadership Lens: Research Propositions and Questions in the Minnowbrook Tradition. Journal of Public Administration Research & Theory 21(Supplement 1): i83-i98.
Altman, Lydian, and Ricardo S. Morse. 2008. Creating Their Own Futures: Community Visioning and North Carolina Local Governments. Popular Government 73(2): 20-35.
Morton, Lois W., Yu-Che Chen, and Ricardo S. Morse. 2008. Small Town Civic Structure and Interlocal Collaboration for Public Services. City and Community 7(1): 45-60.
Dudley, Larkin S., Ricardo S. Morse, and James P. Armstrong. 2008. Comparing Content of Two NIF Forum Formats: Face-to-Face Group versus Online. International Journal of Public Participation 2(1): 84-86.
Morse, Ricardo S. 2007. Mary Follett, Prophet of Participation. International Journal of Public Participation 1(1): 1-17.
Morse, Ricardo S., Jeanne Warning, and Paul W. Brown. 2006. Catalytic Leadership: Reconsidering the Nature of Extension’s Leadership Role. Journal of Extension 44(2): 1-10.
Morse, Ricardo S. 2006. Prophet of Participation: Mary Follett and Public Participation in Public Administration. Administrative Theory and Praxis 28(1): 1-32.
Morse, Ricardo S., Larkin S. Dudley, James Armstrong, and Dong Won Kim. 2005. Learning and Teaching about Deliberative Democracy: On Campus and in the Field. Journal of Public Affairs Education 11(4): 325-336.
BOOK CHAPTERS
Morse, Ricardo S. 2014 (forthcoming). “Interlocal Cooperation, Shared Services, and Regional Councils.” In County and Municipal Government in North Carolina, ed. Frayda S. Bluestein, 12 pgs. Chapel Hill, N.C.: UNC School of Government.
Morse, Ricardo S. 2012. Bill Gibson and the Art of Leading Across Boundaries. In Serving the Public Interest: Profiles of Successful and Innovative Public Servants, ed. Norma M. Riccucci, 160-172. Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe.
Morse, Ricardo S., and Terry F. Buss. 2008. Introduction. In Innovations in Public Leadership Development, eds. Ricardo S. Morse and Terry F. Buss, 3-18. Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe.
Morse, Ricardo S. 2008. Developing Public Leaders in an Age of Collaborative Governance. In Innovations in Public Leadership Development, eds. Ricardo S. Morse and Terry F. Buss, 79-100. Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe.
Dudley, Larkin S., and Ricardo S. Morse. 2008. Learning about Deliberative Democracy in Public Affairs Programs. In Deliberation and the Work of Higher Education: Innovations for the Classroom, the Campus, and the Community, eds. John Dedrick, Harris Dienstfrey, and Laura Grattan, 165-190. Dayton, Ohio: Kettering Foundation Press.
Morse, Ricardo S., and Terry F. Buss. 2007. The Transformation of Public Leadership. In Transforming Public Leadership for the 21st Century, eds. Ricardo S. Morse, Terry F. Buss, and C. Morgan Kinghorn, 3-19. Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe.
Morse, Ricardo S. 2006. Community Learning: The Process and Structure of Collaborative Engagement. In Modernizing Democracy: Innovations in Citizen Participation, eds. Terry F. Buss, F. Stevens Redburn, and Kristina Guo, 49-77. Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe.
Morse, Ricardo S. 2006. Community Learning in Practice: Insights from an Action Research Project in Southwest Virginia. In Modernizing Democracy: Innovations in Citizen Participation, eds. Terry F. Buss, F. Stevens Redburn, and Kristina Guo, 78-103. Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe.
BOOK REVIEWS
Morse, Ricardo S. 2011. Review essay titled “The Practice of Collaborative Governance,” reviewing Leading Across Boundaries: Creating Collaborative Agencies in a Networked, by Russell M. Linden and Working Across Boundaries: People, Nature, and Regions, by Matthew J. McKinney and Shawn Johnson. In Public Administration Review. 71(6): 953-957.
Morse, Ricardo S. 2011. Review of Investing in Democracy: Engaging Citizens in Collaborative Governance, by Carmen Sirianni. In American Review of Public Administration. 41(6): 724-726.
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL MONOGRAPHS AND REPORTS
Stenberg, Carl W., and Ricardo S. Morse. 2014. Leveraging Local Change: The States’ Role. A Policy Issue White Paper prepared on behalf of the ICMA Governmental Affairs and Policy Committee.
Stephens, John R., Ricardo S. Morse, and Kelley T. O’Brien. 2011. Public Outreach and Participation. Monograph part of the Local Government Board Builders Series, ed. Vaughn Mamlin Upshaw. Chapel Hill, NC: UNC School of Government. 47 pages.
Westbrook, Andrew, Jeff Hughes, Rick Morse, and Lydian Altman. 2010. Interlocal Water Partnerships in Surry County, North Carolina. A report to the Local Governments of Dobson, Elkin, Mount Airy, Pilot Mountain and Surry County from the School of Government. School of Government, 30 March, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 30 pages.
Morse, Ricardo S., and collaborators. 2007. Wilson 20/20 Community Vision: Report and Recommendations. School of Government, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 114 pages.
Morse, Ricardo S. 2005. The Olive Tree Project: Preliminary Findings and Results. Prepared for the Iowa Department of Management, Ames, Iowa.
Morse, Ricardo S., and collaborators. 2003. Wytheville-Wythe Horizons: A Community Vision. Institute for Policy Outreach, Blacksburg, Virginia.
MULTIMEDIA PROJECTS
Citizens Academies website (created Summer 2011). Resource for local government practitioners. Seehttps://www.sog.unc.edu/programs/citizensacademies/
Rothman, Erica (producer, director), Ricardo S. Morse (executive producer), and Donna Warner (executive producer). 2011 (June). The Whittier Sewer Project: Creating Public Value Through Collaboration. Short documentary film (12 minutes). Chapel Hill, NC: UNC School of Government and Nightlight Productions. Available at https://www.youtube.com/user/uncsog
Rothman, Erica (producer, director), Ricardo S. Morse (executive producer), and Donna Warner (executive producer). 2011 (January). The Wayne County Development Alliance. Short documentary film (9 minutes). Chapel Hill, NC: UNC School of Government and Nightlight Productions. Available at https://www.youtube.com/user/uncsog
Rothman, Erica (producer, director), Ricardo S. Morse (executive producer), and Donna Warner (executive producer). 2011 (January). Creating a Culture of Collaboration: Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro, NC. Short documentary film (10 minutes). Chapel Hill, NC: UNC School of Government and Nightlight Productions. Available at https://www.youtube.com/user/uncsog
Community and Economic Development in North Carolina and Beyond (School of Government Blog maintained by Tyler Mulligan). Regular contributor since November, 2009. See https://ced.sog.unc.edu/author/ctmullig/
John Stephens joined the School of Government in 1996. Previously, he was research director of the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management. His publications include Guidebook to Public Dispute Resolution in North Carolina and Public Management Bulletin: Using a Mediator in Public Disputes. He is co-author of Reaching for Higher Ground: Tools for Powerful Groups and Communities and School Funding Disputes: Mediate, Don’t Litigate. He serves on the steering committee of the University Network for Collaborative Governance. Stephens earned a BA from Earlham College, a Master of Philosophy from The City University, London, and a PhD from George Mason University’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution.
Selected Publications
John B. Stephens and Berner, M. (2011). “Learning from Your Neighbor: The Value of Public Participation Evaluation for Public Policy Dispute Resolution,” Journal of Public Deliberation. 22 pages.
R.S. Morse and Stephens, John B. (2012). Teaching Collaborative Governance: Phases, Competencies, and Case-Based Learning, Journal of Public Affairs Education. 30 pages.
John B. Stephens. (2007). Consensus Building and Leadership. In Transforming Public Leadership for the 21st Century, Ricardo S. Morse, Terry F. Buss, and C. Morgan Kinghorn, (eds.), Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe. 22 pages.
Additional Publications
Books and Book Chapters
Stephens, John B.; Morse, R.S.; O’Brien, K. 2011. Public Outreach and Participation. School of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 47 pages.
Stephens, John B. 2008. Citizen Outreach by North Carolina Judicial Branch Officials: Comparison of Three Projects. Public Management Bulletin #3. Chapel Hill: School of Government. 13 pages.
Stephens, John B. 2008. Energy – Governor-Elect Perdue’s Transition Advisory Group (report based on Energy Issue Group consultation, December 2008 – One of 14 issue papers prepared by various SOG editors). 12 pages.
Stephens. 2007. Consensus Building and Leadership. In Transforming Public Leadership for the 21st Century, Ricardo S. Morse, Terry F. Buss, and C. Morgan Kinghorn, (eds.), Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe. 22 pages.
Stephens and Maureen Berner. 2006. Citizens’ Involvement. County and Municipal Government in NC (Article 9). Chapel Hill: School of Government. 15 pages. 50% contribution.
Stephens.2003.A Guidebook to Public Dispute Resolution in North Carolina. Chapel Hill: School of Government. 184 pages.
Kirk Emerson, Tina Nabatchi, Rosemary O’Leary and John B. Stephens. 2003. The Challenge of Environmental Conflict Resolution, in The Promise and the Performance of Environmental Conflict Resolution, Lisa Bingham and Rosemary O’Leary (eds.) Washington, DC: Resources for the Future. 24 pages. 25% contribution.
E. Franklin Dukes, Marina A. Piscolish, and John B. Stephens. 2000. Reaching for Higher Ground in Conflict Resolution: Tools for Powerful Groups and Communities. 256 pages, collaborative authorship. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. 33% contribution.
William O. Stephens, John B. Stephens, and E. Franklin Dukes. 1995. The Ethics of Environmental Mediation, in Environmental Mediation: Theory and Practice, J. Walton Blackburn and Willa Marie Bruce (eds.) Westport, CT: Quorum Books. 18 pages. 35% contribution.
Stephens. 1994. ‘Gender Conflict’: Connecting Feminist Theory and Conflict Resolution Theory and Practice, in Conflict and Gender, Anita Taylor and Judi Beinstein Miller (eds.). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, Inc. 19 pages.
Stephens. 1988. Acceptance of Mediation Initiatives: A Preliminary Framework, in New Approaches to International Mediation, C.R. Mitchell and K. Webb (eds.). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. 22 pages.
Refereed Papers and Articles
Ricardo S. Morse and Stephens, John B. (2012). Teaching Collaborative Governance: Phases, Competencies, and Case-Based Learning, Journal of Public Affairs Education. 18:3, 565-583.
https://www.naspaa.org/JPAEMessenger/Article/VOL18-3/JPAE%2018_03final.pdf
John B. Stephens and Berner, M. (2011). “Learning from Your Neighbor: The Value of Public Participation Evaluation for Public Policy Dispute Resolution,” Journal of Public Deliberation. Vol. 7: No. 1, Article 10. 22 pages.
https://services.bepress.com/jpd/vol7/iss1/art10/
Christine Carlson and John B. Stephens. 2004. Governance and Institutionalization; Sustaining Consensus-based Processes for Improved Stakeholder Collaboration on Public Issues. In Environmental Dispute Resolution for the 21st Century. S. Senecah (ed.). Washington, D.C: Association of Conflict Resolution. 13 pages. 50% contribution.
Meredith Miller and John B. Stephens. 1998. A Partnership Paradigm: A Case Study in Research Assistant and Faculty Interaction. Journal of Staff, Professional and Organization Development, Vol. 15, No. 3, 9 pages. 50% contribution.
Monographs, Bulletins, and Other Works
Stephens, John B and colleagues 2012. Chapel Hill 2020: An Assessment of Public Participation – Analysis and Recommendations for Near- and Longer-term Public Involvement. Chapel Hill, NC: School of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 62 pages. Client: Town of Chapel Hill, NC.
Stephens, John B. 2011. SOG offers help with engaging citizens in budgeting process, County Lines, Volume 37, No. 6 (June) , Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. Pages: 1.
Stephens, John B. 2011, Creating Effective Citizen Participation in Local Government Budgeting: Practical Tips and Examples for Elected Officials and Budget Administrators, Public Management Bulletin #06, Chapel Hill, NC: School of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 37 pages.
Stephens, John B. 2008. Citizen Outreach by North Carolina Judicial Branch Officials: Comparison of Three Projects. Public Management Bulletin #3. Chapel Hill: School of Government. 13 pages.
Stephens, John B. (ed.). 2007. Hands on the Pulse, Eyes on the Future. Popular Government, Vol. 72, No. 3. School of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 8 pages.
Stephens, John B., 2007. Consensus Building and Leadership: The Contributions of Public Conflict Resolution Practitioners. ACR Environment and Public Policy Section Quarterly (Summer). 7 pages.
Stephens, John B., [reprint] 2007. Do it Yourself Citizen Participation. ACR Environment and Public Policy Section Quarterly(Summer). 2 pages.
Stephens, John B., 2007. “Do it Yourself Citizen Participation?” PA Times 30:2 (February). 1 page.
StephanieCoplinand John B. Stephens. 2005. School Budget Mediation: Three Cases from 2004, School Law Bulletin. Vol. 36, No. 2. 7 pages. 40% contribution.
Stephens, John B.. 2003. Alternative dispute resolution, Arbitration and Mediation. [three entries]. For David Schultz (ed.),Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy, New York: Facts on File, Inc., 2003. 3 pages.
Stephens, John B.. 2001. Achieving Better Group Performance, Popular Government, Vol. 66, No. 4. Institute of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 8 pages.
Stephens, John B., [book review]. 2001. The Making of a Mediator: Developing Artistry in Practice by Michael D. Lang and Alison Taylor. International Journal of Conflict Management, Vol. 12, No. 2. Center for Advanced Studies in Management, Bowling Green, KY: Winter 2001. 4 pages.
Stephens, John B., [article reprinted online, January 2001]. Using a Mediator in Public Disputes. Public Management Bulletin No. 2. Available, as of November 28, 2007: https://www.mediate.com/articles/stephensJ.cfm
Debra Henzey, John B. Stephens and Patrick Liedtka. 1999. Listening to Citizens: County Commissioners on the Road, Popular Government, Vol. 64, No. 3. Institute of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 12 pages. 40% contribution.
Stephens, John B.. 1998. Using a Mediator in Public Disputes. Public Management Bulletin No. 2. Institute of Government, University of North Carolina and Chapel Hill. 6 pages.
Stephens, John B.. 1998. Perspectives on Public Participation. National Civic Review, Vol. 87, No. 3. National Civic League, Washington, D.C. 8 pages.
Stephens. 1998. [book review]. Public Participation: Review of Three Resources. Popular Government, Vol. 63, No. 4 Institute of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 4 pages.
Stephens, John B.. 1998. Public Dispute Resolvers Lack Consensus on ‘Consensus.’ SPIDR News, Vol. 22, No. 2, Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution, Washington, D.C. 3 pages.
Stephens, John B.. 1998. When Boards Clash, Mediation Can Help. CountyLines, Vol. 24, No.11, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, Raleigh, NC. 3 pages.
Stephens, John B.. 1998. Mediation of Budget Disputes between School Boards and County Commissioners, Dispute Resolution Vol. 5, No. 4. North Carolina Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section, Cary, NC. 6 pages.
John B. Stephens and Matthew J. Michel. 1998. School Funding Disputes: Mediate, Don’t Litigate, School Law Bulletin, Vol. 29, No. 2. Institute of Government, University of North Carolina and Chapel Hill. 14 pages. 70% contribution.
Stephens, John B. [book review]. 1998. Public Participation in Public Decisions: New Skills and Strategies for Public Managers by John Clayton Thomas, in Participation Quarterly, International Association for Public Participation, Alexandria, VA. (First Quarter, 1998). 2 pages.
Stephens, John B., 1998. Liberal-Conservative Dialogue in the United Methodist Church. Conflict Resolution Notes, Vol. 15, No. 3. Conflict Resolution Center International, Pittsburgh, PA: January 1998. 2 pages.
John B. Stephens, and A. Fleming Bell, II. 1997. Public Comment at Business Meetings of Local Government Boards, Part One: Guidelines for Good Practices. Popular Government, Vol. 62, No. 4. Institute of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 13 pages. 60% contribution.
A. Fleming Bell, II, John Stephens, and Christopher Bass. 1997. Public Comment at Business Meetings of Local Government Boards, Part Two: Common Practices and Legal Standards. Popular Government, Vol. 63, No. 1. Institute of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 10 pages. 30% contribution.
Stephens, John B., [book review]. 1997. Review of Making Community Meetings Work: Ten Tips for Successful Public Events, by Debra Stein in The Alternative Newsletter, March 1997. 1 page.
Stephens, John B., [dissertation]. 1997. Conflicts over Homosexuality in the United Methodist Church: Testing Theories of Conflict Analysis and Resolution. University of Michigan Microforms. 396 pages.
Stephens, John B., 1995. Peace/Conflict Resolution Electronic Resources. Conciliation Quarterly, Vol. 14, No. 2. Mennonite Central Committee: Spring 1995. 1 page.
Stephens, John B., [book review]. 1995. Review of A Consumer Guide to Selecting a Mediator. NAFCM News. National Association for Community Mediation, Washington, D.C. (Autumn). 1 page.
Stephens, John B., [book review]. 1995. Review of Community Mediation: A Handbook for Practitioners and Researchers, edited by Karen Grover Duffy, James W. Grosch, and Paul V. Olczak. in International Journal of Conflict Management, Vol. 6 No. 1. International Association for Conflict Management, Bowling Green, Kentucky: Winter 1995. 5 pages.
Richard E. Rubenstein, E. Franklin Dukes, John B. Stephens and Johannes Botes. 1994. Frameworks for Interpreting Conflict: A Handbook for Journalists. Fairfax, VA: Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University. 85 pages. 15% contribution.
Stephens, John B., 1993. Exploring Conflict over Sexual Orientation, Conflict Resolution Notes, Vol. 10, No. 4. Conflict Resolution Center International: Pittsburgh, PA. (April). 2 pages.
Resource Websites
Public Dispute Resolution Program, 1997-present. Content provider and manager https://www.sog.unc.edu/node/93
Citizen Participation, 2006-present. Initiated and designed content, coordinated material from six colleagues. https://www.sog.unc.edu/programs/participation
Local Government Citizen Surveys, 2010-present. Co-developed with Maureen Berner. https://www.sog.unc.edu/node/522
Retreats for Local Government Elected Boards– https://www.sog.unc.edu/node/99 (Co-designer and content provider, with Lydian Altman and Vaughn Upshaw).
Blog Posts
Local Government Actions to Promote Sustainability: 2010 National Survey Results – https://ced.sog.unc.edu/local-government-actions-to-promote-sustainability-2010-national-survey-results/
Emily B. McCartha serves as a Senior Program Evaluator for the North Carolina General Assembly in the program evaluation division, a non-partisan research group. She has led evaluations related to public education, public health, and organizational structure, and has been a team member on other evaluations. She earned her doctorate in public administration from North Carolina State University in 2019 and her master of public affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas in 2011. She also earned her BA in urban studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2009.
Selected Publications
Fleming, C. J., McCartha, E. B., & Steelman, T. A. (2015). Conflict and collaboration in wildfire management: the role of mission alignment. Public Administration Review, 75(3), 445-454.
Velez, A. L. K., & McCartha, E. B. (2019). A framework for understanding how nonprofits shape our physical environment: Identifying allies in making spaces. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 29(3), 419-435.