Melissa A. Walker, Ph.D.

九色堂 Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs

Associate Professor

Full Vitae

Dr. Melissa Walker arrived at the Hugo Wall School with 20 years of fundraising, strategic planning and program evaluation experience. Since joining the faculty in 2006, she has played a leading role in the integration of nonprofit content in the MPA. Her primary teaching responsibilities include the capstone course, human resource management as well as fundraising and financial management in nonprofit organizations. Dr. Walker's policy research explores the intersection of the public and nonprofit sectors; in particular, how funding arrangements affect service delivery. Dr. Walker has evaluated services for uninsured individuals who have diabetes, services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities funded by Medicaid and, most recently, a drug court.

Primary Teaching Areas

Decision Making in Public and Nonprofit Organizations (capstone); Human Resources; Strategic Planning; Fundraising and Financial Management

Experience

  • Associate Professor, 九色堂, 2006-present

  • Lecturer, University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, (Financial Management of Nonprofit Organizations, Evaluation of Social Programs and Social Policy, Organization Design and Strategy), 2001-2006

  • Visiting Assistant Professor, Roosevelt University Department of Political Science and Public Administration, (Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations, Introduction to Public Service in the United States, Research Methods, Practicum and Thesis), 1994 - 2006

Degrees

  • Ph.D., Public Policy, University of Chicago, 2005
    • Dissertation: "Substance Abuse Treatment: An Organizational Perspective"
  • M.P.A., Harvard University, 1992
  • B.A., Sociology, Northwestern University, 1976

Publications

Walker, Melissa A. Payment and Delivery of Case Management for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities. December 2014.

Walker, Melissa A. & Sipult, Linsey F. Nonprofit Sales Tax Exemption: Where Do States Draw the Line? Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly. December 2011.

Walker, Melissa A. & Osterhaus, Jason E. Medicaid Fee for Service Reimbursement and the Delivery of Human Services for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities or Severe Mental Illness: Negotiating Cost. Journal of Health and Human Service Administration. Spring 2010.

Walker, Melissa A. Program Characteristics and the Length of Time Clients are in Substance Abuse Treatment. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research. June 2008.

Research

Principal Investigator: Wichita Transit. Report on results of rider survey and rider observation. February 2016.

Principal Investigator: Drug Court Evaluation. Report on results of evaluation of drug court program involving community corrections, judicial district court and substance abuse treatment providers. October 2015.

Principal Investigator: Food Bank Donor Analysis. Presentation to organization based on analysis of five years of contributions data and comparison to peer food banks. February 2015.

Principal Investigator: Sales Tax Exemption in the 50 States. Compiled and analyzed national data on sales tax exemption of nonprofits. Article published in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly December 2011. Paper presented at annual conference of ARNOVA (Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action) November 2008.

Principal Investigator: Donated Medical Care for Uninsured Patients with Diabetes. Presentation to organization based on analysis of diabetes care for patients served during a ten year period. December 2010.

Significant Practitioner Experience

Organizational Development
Provided program evaluation, strategic planning, financial analysis, and performance appraisal assistance to agencies serving the homeless (1989-1998). Interviewed and surveyed grantees of the Crossroads Fund (1996). Evaluated pilot technical assistance project for the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (1995). Advised the development of youth service networks funded by the Chicago Community Trust (1994).

Fundraising
Developed and implemented first foundation fundraising campaign for Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (1987-1991). Planned and executed capital campaign for domestic violence shelter (1989-1990).

Marketing
Developed marketing and distribution strategy for educational videotapes made by youth trained by Community Television Network (1990-1991).

Academic and Professional Activities:

Papers
鈥淪ales Tax Exemption in the 50 States.鈥� Paper presented at annual conference of the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (November, 2008).
鈥淐ommunity-based Delivery of Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services.鈥� Paper presented at annual conference of Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management (November, 2007).

鈥淣onprofit Organizations in Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas.鈥� Presented to joint session of Hugo Wall School and Nonprofit Chamber of Service (November, 2007).
鈥淩esource Dependence and Substance Abuse Treatment.鈥� Paper presented at annual conference of Academy of Management (August, 2004).

Reviewer
Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research (2007-Present)
Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly (2008-Present)

Member
Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management
Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action

Public Service Activities

Member

Task Force to End Chronic Homelessness (2008-2014). Appointed by Wichita City Manager and Sedgwick County Manager to advise city and county officials on the implementation of Housing First to house chronically homeless adults.

Presentations
Drug Court Evaluation, Hugo Wall Day (2015)
KanCare: Where are we Now? Hugo Wall Day (2014)
Medicaid Fee for Service: Targeted Case Management and Developmental Disabilities, InterHab Annual Conference (2008)
Strategic Planning, Mini-MPA, Hugo Wall School (2007-Present)
How to Survive in an Era of Contracting, Hugo Wall School (2006)

Consulting Activities

Wichita Transit, Hugo Wall School (2015-2016). Report on Results of Rider Interviews and Observation.

Drug Court Evaluation, Hugo Wall School (2014-2015). Report on Evaluation of Drug Court.

Exploration Place, Hugo Wall School (2009-2010). Report on Organizational Assessment. Report on Results of Visitor Survey.

Cultural Arts Plan, Center for Urban Studies, Hugo Wall School (2007-2008). Assisted in assessment of cultural arts organizations for the City of Wichita.