Are We Having Fun Yet? Exploring the Motivations of MPA and MPP Program Directors in the United States

The typical role of the graduate program director in higher education combines the responsibilities of both academic faculty and staff. This study uses survey data to investigate the motivations, expectations, and levels of satisfaction of Master of Public Administration and Master of Public Policy program directors in the United States. We explore the job characteristics that are primary motivators and look at what characteristics program directors expect and assign importance to. We also glean estimates of job satisfaction from the survey data. This study is preliminary, a first step in understanding the motivations, expectations, and job satisfaction of program directors.