Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration

Advancing JSEPA’s Social Equity Charge

Michelle D. Evans

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3795-0168

Hillary J. Knepper

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5727-6302

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/jsepa.v3i2.6828

Keywords: Mission and Scope, Unity, Social Equity, Social Justice, public administration

---

Abstract

The Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration (JSEPA) reiterates our mission, aims and scope to support original research and discussions aimed at illuminating inequities, advancing justice and reducing disparity within the public service sphere. The co-editors-in-chief briefly discuss the current environment for JSEPA, some new opportunities for scholarship, introduce new members of the JSEPA family, and highlight recently departed and solely missed colleagues.

---

Author Biographies

Michelle D. Evans, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Michelle D. Evans (she/hers) (michelle-evans@utc.edu) is an associate professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She worked for more than 20 years for Special Olympics focusing on volunteer management and sports governance. Her research focuses on social equity, intersectionality, pedagogy, volunteer motivation, and whistleblowing. Her work has appeared in the Journal of Public Affairs Education, Review of Public Personnel Administration, Human Resource Management Review, and Administrative Theory & Praxis.

Hillary J. Knepper

Hillary J. Knepper (she/hers) (hknepper@pace.edu) is a full professor in the Department of Public Administration at Pace University. Previously, she was an administrator in nonprofit and public organizations and brings this strong practitioner perspective to her research on social equity with an emphasis on marginalized and vulnerable populations. Her recent work can be found in Administrative Theory & Praxis, Public Administration Review, Journal of Public Affairs Education, and Public Integrity.

---

References

Bender, Michael C., Zolan Kanno-Youngs, and Zach Montague. 2025. “Trump to Sign Order Aimed at Dismantling the Education Department.” New York Times. March. Accessed April 24, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/us/politics/trump-education-department.html?smid=url-share

Briceno-Mosquera, Andrea and Sharon Mastracci. 2025. “Gauging the Gap: Inequality of Time Use When Seeking Government Services.” Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration 3 (2): 262–281.

Broadwater, Luke. 2025. “Trump’s Threats Force Institutions to Choose: Cut a Deal or Fight Back.” April. New York Times. Accessed April 16, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/us/politics/trump-universitieslaw-firms-deals.html

Butz, Adam, and Christopher Tyler Burks. 2025. “Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor.” Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration 3 (2): 328–332.

Callahan, Richard, and Tim A. Mau. 2024. “Reconceptualizing the Politics-Administration Dichotomy to Better Understand Public Leadership in the Twenty-First Century: A Multilateral Actors Model.” American Review of Public Administration 54 (3): 229–241. https://doi.org/10.1177/02750740231213407

Estorcien, Vernice, and Andrea M. Headley. 2025. “Police-Youth Programs as Citizen-State Interactions: A Case Study of Police and Underrepresented Youth Perceptions.” Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration 3 (2): 242–261.

Georgiou, Ion. 2014. “Seeing the Forest for the Trees: An Atlas of the Politics–Administration Dichotomy.” Public Administration Review 74 (2): 156–175. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.12163

Greenblatt, Alan. 2025. “The Democrats Leading the Opposition Against Trump.” Governing. Accessed April 24, 2025. https://www.governing.com/politics/the-democrats-leading-the-opposition-against-trump

Guy, Mary E. 2025. “Has Public Administration Education Failed?” Journal of Public Affairs Education: 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1080/15236803.2025.2484131

Guy, Mary E. and Brian N. Williams. 2025. “Passing the Baton.” Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration 3 (1): 1–3. https://jsepajournal.org/index.php/jsepa/article/view/6351

Hazelton-Boyle, Josephine K. 2025. “Intersectionality in Practice: How Public Transit Agencies Understand and Apply Intersectionality in the Pursuit of Gender Equity.” Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration 3 (2): 293–308.

Irizarry, José Luis, RaJade M. Berry-James, Duchess D. Humphrey, Rachel Emas, Bruce D. McDonald III, James Nordin, Michael Lee, Lindsey L. Evans, Anthony M. Starke Jr., and Jay M. Grosflam. 2025. “Threats to Democracy: A Danger to Social Justice For All.” Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration 3 (2): 309–319.

JSEPA. n.d. “About the Journal.” Accessed April 26, 2025. https://jsepajournal.org/index.php/jsepa/about

Katz, Jonathan, and Eric Urby. 2025. “Dangerous Cracks in US Democracy Pillars.” Brookings. Accessed April 24, 2025. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/dangerouscracks-in-us-democracy-pillars/

Knepper, Hillary J. and Michelle D. Evans. 2025. “Carrying the Torch Forward, Meeting the Future, and Advancing the Charge.” Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration 3 (1): 4–8. https://doi.org/10.24926/jsepa.v3i1.6411

Knutson, Jacob. 2025. “Courts Handed Trump a Slew of Legal Losses This Week.” Democracy Docket. Accessed April 26, 2025. https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/president-trump-federal-court-losses-rulings/

Langfitt, Frank. 2025. “Hundreds of Scholars Say U.S. Is Swiftly Heading Toward Authoritarianism.” Heard on “All Things Considered,” NPR. Accessed April 24, 2025. https://www.npr.org/2025/04/22/nx-s1-5340753/trump-democracy-authoritarianism-competive-survey-political-scientist

McCandless, Sean A., and Mary E. Guy. 2013. “One More Time: What Did Woodrow Wilson Really Mean About Politics and Administration?” Administrative Theory & Praxis 35 (3): 356–377. https://doi.org/10.2753/ATP1084-1806350302

McFarling, Usha Lee, Angus Chen, and Sarah Owermohle. 2025. “Growing Number of Federal Health Agencies Are Combing Grants for Taboo Words, Unnerving Researchers.” Accessed April 26, 2025. https://www.statnews.com/2025/02/13/trump-dei-ban-bannedwords-list-scrambles-research-nih-veterans-affairs/

Mullin, Benjamin. 2025. “Bezos Orders Washington Post Opinion Section to Embrace ‘Personal Liberties and Free Markets.’” February. New York Times. Accessed April 24, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/business/media/washington-post-bezos-shipley.html

Nickels, Ashley E. and Camille Tinnin. 2025. “Radical Hope as a Transformative Praxis in the Face of Hate and Intolerance.” Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration 3 (2): 320–327.

Pazmino, Gloria and Caroll Alvarado. 2025. “A Palestinian Student Arrested at US Citizenship Interview Will Stay in Detention for Now, Ahead of a Hearing Next Week.” CNN. Accessed April 24, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/23/us/mohsen-mahdawipalestinian-student-detained/index.html

Pearson, Jake, and Anjeanette Damon. 2025. “The Courts Blocked Trump’s Federal Funding Freeze. Agencies Are Withholding Money Anyway.” ProPublica. Accessed April 24, 2025. https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-administration-funding-freeze-workarounds

Rinfret, Sara R., and Eric Wise. 2025. “From the Street Level: Perspectives from Women in Public Administration.” Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration 3 (2): 282–292.

Svara, James H. 1998. “The Politics-Administration Dichotomy Model as Aberration.” Public Administration Review 58 (1): 51–58. https://doi.org/10.2307/976889

Taylor, Melissa A., Larra Rucker, Valerie H. Hunt, and Brinck Kerr. 2025. “Intersectional Representation Among Employees in U.S. School Districts.” Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration 3 (2): 217–241.

Tharoor, Ishaan. 2025. “In the Age of Trump, Global Authoritarianism Continues Its Advance.” Accessed April 26, 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/02/28/authoritarianism-trump-freedom-house-democracy/

UnitedweStand.com. 2023. “History of the Motto.” Accessed April 26, 2025. https://www.unitedwestand.com/motto/

The White House Executive Order 13985. 2025a. “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.” Accessed April 24, 2025. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-and-wasteful-government-deiprograms-and-preferencing/

The White House. 2025b. “Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Signs Landmark Order to Restore Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy.” Accessed April 26, 2025. https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donaldj-trump-signs-landmark-order-to-restore-equality-ofopportunity-and-meritocracy/

Yourish, Karen, Annie Daniel, Saurabh Datar, Isaac White, and Lazaro Gamio. 2025. “These Words Are Disappearing in the New Trump Administration.” New York Times. March. Accessed April 26, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/07/us/trump-federalagencies-websites-words-dei.html

Zeraatpisheh, Abdollah and Jyoti Aggarwal. 2025. “Managing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Public Service Organizations: A Liberatory Justice Approach by Chordiya, and Sabharwal.” Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration 3 (2): 333–336.