David Blanding

Faculty Director of the Master of Public Affairs Program, Associate Professor of the Practice of International and Public Affairs
111 Thayer Street, Room 210
Areas of Expertise Race, Identity & Ethnicity
Areas of Interest Race and Public Policy, Civil Rights

Biography

David Blanding is the faculty director of the Master of Public Affairs (MPA) program. In this capacity, he provides high-level strategic direction to the MPA program, leading curricular development and other efforts to strengthen the program's impact and visibility. As faculty director, Blanding also chairs the MPA program's Faculty Committee, serves as a faculty advisor in the program, and represents the program at national conferences. In his dual role as an associate professor of the practice, he teaches both core and elective courses in the MPA program. He is currently working on a public policy textbook and conducting research on policing in the United States. 

Blanding joined the MPA program from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), a nonpartisan agency that conducts research on federal policies and programs for Congress. He started as a senior methodologist in GAO's Applied Research and Methods mission team before becoming the Director of Leadership and Executive Development Programs in the Learning Center. He has also taught political science, public policy and constitutional law at American University, McDaniel College, and Brown University, and published research on U.S. voting rights, economic development and social welfare policies. Earlier in his career, he supported racial justice advocacy at the American Civil Liberties Union.

Blanding earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from Brown University and was awarded a dissertation fellowship from the Ford Foundation/National Research Council. He also received an undergraduate degree in political science from Boston University. Outside of his work in government and academia, he has been active in not-for-profit organizations focused on educational equity, mentoring and workforce development. 

 

Research

The Voting Rights Act
School Desegregation 

Teaching

MPA 2226: Race and Public Policy
MPA 2229: Principles and Practices of Stakeholder Engagement
MPA 2800: Policy In Action Course

Recent News

News from Watson

Alumni Spotlight: Laura Cianciolo ’24 MPA

Laura Cianciolo, who earned her Master of Public Affairs at the Watson Institute in 2024, credits her Watson-acquired expertise in statistics, econometrics, data visualization, problem-solving skills and interdisciplinary problem-solving with empowering her to conduct more sophisticated and meaningful research.
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News from Watson

MPA Program welcomes diverse new student cohort

Brown University’s Master of Public Affairs Program recently welcomed its latest class to its rigorous one-year program. The new students bring their diverse life experiences and interests to a vibrant and dynamic learning community, where they will apply their learning to address pressing societal challenges, preparing them to be global leaders in public affairs.
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At this year's Master of Public Affairs Policy in Action Symposium, graduating MPA students presented on a wide range of policy issues from a variety of perspectives, in each case informed by the hands-on experience they gained working with an external organization.
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Three Watson Master of Public Affairs students and one alumna were named finalists for the prestigious Presidential Management Fellows class of 2024. They are now eligible to apply for positions as fellows in the federal workforce where they hope to make an impact on a variety of public policy issues.
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News from Watson

Student Spotlight: Gulsima Young ’24 MPA

Gulsima Young, who believes good policy-making must include kindness, appreciates the community and collegial environment Brown's Master of Public Affairs program provides.
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