Public Interest – What’s New in Fall 2022
Welcome!
Hello Boise State community. My name is Angie Bos and I am the new Dean of the School of Public Service. In this, my first time communicating with you through Public Interest, I am pleased to share some of the new ways SPS is serving the people of Boise and beyond.
In this issue we’ll introduce you to our new endowed chairs: Dr. Emily Wakild, the Cecil D. Andrus Endowed Chair for Environment and Public Lands; and Stephanie “Sam” Martin, the Frank and Bethine Church Endowed Chair of Public Affairs. We’ll also introduce you to Monica Carol Church, the new Executive Director of the Frank Church Institute. We’ll also share some other exciting developments in SPS.
A special note to SPS alumni: It was great to meet so many of you at the tailgate! One of our priorities is to work to create a strong alumni community with connections back to SPS. We plan to continue to hold alumni events, to highlight your careers stories to current and prospective students so they can see the pathways they might take with an SPS degree, and to call on you to engage with and mentor our current students. This spring we will host our inaugural SPS Alumni Networking Day! Boise State has launched a new platform, BroncoLink, for alumni to connect with each other and with faculty and current students. We hope you will sign up and join the SPS group within the platform! We are so proud of everything you are doing in public service, and we look forward to strengthening our connection with all of you!
Thanks for reading,
Angela Bos
Dean, School of Public Service
Boise State University
School of Public Service welcomes Dean Angela Bos
Boise State has named Angela Bos as the new dean of the School of Public Service.
“I am excited to support the mission of the School of Public Service to empower students as leaders in public service and to create high-quality research to address important public problems,” Bos said. “I will bring to the school my experience in supporting and expanding experiential learning opportunities that help students connect theory to practice in meaningful ways that help improve our communities.”
Prior to her arrival at Boise State, Bos was a professor of political science at the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, where she also served as associate dean for Experiential Learning and as chair of the political science department. In 15 years at the College of Wooster, her career centered on creating transformative experiences for students and helping prepare them for careers in public service.
“I am excited to welcome Dr. Bos to Boise State University. I am confident that her leadership experience will help move the School of Public Service forward in serving our students, the university and the people of Idaho,” said John Buckwalter, provost. “I would also like to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Giacomazzi for his service and steady leadership as interim dean.”
Andy Giacomazzi has served as interim dean of the School of Public Service since July 2019.
Read more in Boise State NewsSupport Student Success
The School of Public Service gratefully recognizes those donors who support our people, places and programs. If you would like to make a contribution to scholarships, internships, or one of the Endowed Chair funds, please contact Jennifer Neil at jenniferneil1@boisestate.edu
Dr. Emily Wakild Named Cecil D. Andrus Endowed Chair for Environment and Public Lands
The Andrus Center announced Emily Wakild is the Cecil D. Andrus Endowed Chair for Environment and Public Lands.
Wakild joined the Boise State Department of History in 2012 as a historian of Latin America. Her interest and research into environmental issues led to her take over the Environmental Studies program in 2018. Wakild is a historian of social and ecological change in the Americas, including the American West. She specializes in history of conservation, animal history, as well as pedagogy on the environment.
“I’m honored and excited for this opportunity to amplify and reinforce the mission of the Andrus Center and promote the legacy of environmental and public lands stewardship. I’m eager to get started developing research and collaborating with the Board and community partners,” Wakild said.
Stephanie “Sam” Martin named Frank and Bethine Church Endowed Chair of Public Affairs
Stephanie “Sam” Martin has been selected as the next Frank and Bethine Church Endowed Chair of Public Affairs in the School of Public Service.
Martin specializes in American democracy and also researches the relationship between freedom of speech and freedom of religion in the public sphere. Martin’s latest book “Decoding the Digital Church: Megachurch Storytelling and the Election of Donald J. Trump,” was named 2021 Book of the Year by Word & Way.
Martin grew up in Boise and received her undergraduate degree from Boise State University. “Frank Church’s life and legacy animated my graduate work,” said Martin. “Part of what drew me to studying conservative voters was my wish to understand how the politics of my home state had changed so much.”
Martin will begin her role as associate professor in the School of Public Service and Frank and Bethine Church Endowed Chair of Public Affairs in August.
Frank Church Institute Welcomes Monica Carol Church
Monica Carol Church is the incoming Executive Director of the Frank Church Institute. Monica is a long-time educator and advocate for youth voices, democratic values, and the environment. Monica spent the last decade teaching US and Comparative Government and concurrent research courses at Boise High School. She is a member of the boards of both the Frank Church Institute and the Andrus Center at Boise State.
Monica is also a member of the Sawtooth Society Board and the United States Global Leadership Coalition Idaho Delegation. As well, she is an Ethics Commissioner for the City of Boise where she lives with her husband Chad and their daughter Casey.
Monica and her family are avid cyclists and skiers. As the granddaughter of Frank and Bethine Church and Cecil and Carol Andrus, Monica is passionate and committed to the Great State of Idaho.
Students tackle wildland fire management challenges at Andrus Center-hosted event
KIVI-TV reports that “Wildfire season is growing longer and more intense and at the same time, the firefighting industry is seeing staffing challenges.”
Despite difficulties, students at the recent bi-annual “Student Congress” hosted by the Andrus Center for Public Policy gathered in Boise to apply their problem-solving skills to current challenges in wildland fire management.
BroncoLink
BroncoLink is Boise State’s alumni mentoring and career networking system designed to provide current students opportunities to connect with our alumni for quick questions, informational interview/job shadowing, or mentoring.
BroncoLink also provides alumni with the opportunity to connect to other Boise State alumni, faculty/staff, and friends of Boise State who have registered to be mentors. Alumni are invited to take some time to see who is on the platform and build your own network.
School of Public Service Hosts Alumni Tailgate Event
Scenes from the School of Public Service Football Game Tailgate on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. A fun time was had by all. And the Broncos defeated Colorado State!
Blue Review Launches New Series on Higher Education for Inmates
Most individuals who are currently incarcerated will eventually be released. In the first part of a new The Blue Review series. Boise State University’s Sara Winstead Fry and Georgann Kurtz-Shaw take a look at higher education for individuals in Idaho’s prisons.
Read the first article of this series in The Blue Review