Jennifer Littlefield is the director of undergraduate studies in the School of Public Policy. She previously served as the director of the College Park Scholars Public Leadership Program and associate director of the Do Good Institute. Littlefield was involved with the Public Leadership Program from 2007 - 2017, serving as both assistant and associate directors prior to her appointment as Director. Her career began in the area of fundraising and program development for nonprofits and universities. Prior to coming to the University of Maryland, she served as the assistant director of the Institute for Leadership Advancement (ILA) in the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. In this role, Littlefield assisted with all areas of the Institute, including working with their two undergraduate leadership programs, planning and coordinating a study abroad program to Tanzania, Africa and working with various corporate and community partners of the ILA. She assisted in the planning and implementation of the Georgia Leadership Institute, a leadership development program for high-level executives in state government. Littlefield has also been heavily involved in civic engagement and service-learning initiatives at both the University of Maryland and the University of Georgia. Littlefield has taught numerous courses in the area of public policy, ethics, leadership, philanthropy and career development. For four years Littlefield served as a research consultant for the Annie E. Casey Foundation. She has also conducted extensive research in the area of cross-sector collaboration and effective grant making. She has authored numerous articles and presented in various conferences on this topic. Jennifer earned a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the University of Georgia, as well as a PhD from the School of Public Policy.
This course will broaden students’ understanding of the moral dimensions of public policy as well as their own individual moral perspective. Discussions will include the ideal of a just society, and the place of liberty and equality in it, while focusing on contemporary theories of ethics and justice. It will develop students’ appreciation of the ethical challenges unique to the public service sector while building their skills in ethical analysis and decision-making. We will explore the increasing ethical challenges in a world in which technology, global risks, and societal developments are accelerating faster than our understanding can keep pace. A framework for ethical decision making underpins the course.
Schedule of Classes
Advanced special topics focusing on an interdisciplinary topic related to Public Policy. Permission Required
Schedule of Classes
Public policy students will take the skills and knowledge gained through their curriculum and apply them through their senior capstone course. Students will work in teams on problems and issues presented by outside clients, with guidance from faculty facilitators and interaction with the clients. Each team will work with the client to address a particular problem and produce a mutually agreed upon outcome. These hands on projects will advance students' understanding of the analytical, leadership, communication and problem solving skills necessary to address today's policy problems while allowing them to gain professional level experience that could contribute to their success in their post UMD endeavors. The course will conclude with an event that allows all teams to present their findings and outcomes to their client while being evaluated by faculty and public policy professionals. Restricted to students who have earned a minimum of 90 credits. Permission required.
Schedule of Classes
