Reubin O’D. Askew Eminent Scholar and Frank Sherwood Professor of Public Administration Francis Berry, Ph.D., will retire at the end of the Spring 2024 term after 34 years of service to Florida State University.
Since joining the Reubin O’D. Askew School in an educational capacity, Dr. Berry has risen in rank to fill several honorable roles, including the Master of Public Administration Program Director and Askew School Director.
In her various positions, Dr. Berry has contributed to leadership education for hundreds of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students.
Additionally, Dr. Berry has long served as an astute mentor for students of the Askew School. In her residence at the School, Dr. Berry has chaired or co-chaired 30 Ph.D. students’ dissertation committees and further been a member of an additional 50 committees.
Through her commitment to educating the next generations of Public Administrators, Dr. Berry has been subject to the receipt of a multitude of field-specific awards for teaching excellence and public administration leadership, such as the Distinguished Research Award (2014), State Partner Award (2004), and the University Teaching Incentive Program (TIP) Award (1994).
Beyond her educational endeavors, Dr. Berry has made a significant impact on the field of Public Administration through her various journal publications, professional organization and fellowship appearances, and outside involvements. Within the Florida State University community, Dr. Berry has shared her insights through a number of campus advisory and policy committees.
During and briefly after completing her Ph.D., awarded by the University of Minnesota in 1988, Dr. Berry worked in many state and county public administration positions before joining Florida State University in 1990.
Throughout her career, Dr. Berry impacted a number of local communities from Kentucky to Tawain, focusing on subjects from Policy Innovation and Diffusion to Program Evaluation and Strategic Management.
Dr. Berry has also contributed significantly to Public Administration research initiatives. In addition to her various paper publications, presentations, and symposia, she has served as an editor or editorial board member for 23 peer-reviewed journals.
Although Dr. Berry is leaving Florida State, her legacy of research and mentorship remains a strong example for emerging career professionals.
Her career and contributions were honored at a reception on Sunday, April 14th, 2024, in Minnesota with national leaders in the field. Her retirement will be further celebrated at Askew School Spring Awards & Graduate Recognition on Saturday, April 27, at 5:30 pm in the Oglesby Union Ballroom where she will be surrounded by her colleagues and students.
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