2026 Deil S. Wright Symposium
Elysian Park, Loews Hollywood
Welcome & Symposium Overview
8:30AM-8:45AM
IGR implications for resiliency, sustainability, and recovery
8:45AM-10:15AM
Moderator: Suzanne Leland (UNC-Charlotte)
How States Matter in Disaster Recovery: Hurricane Helene and Cross-Border Comparison of County Response
Eric Zeemering (University of Georgia)
Uneven Disclosure? How Administrative Layers Shape the Impact of Information Disclosure in Oil and Gas Enforcement
Steve McKnight (Missouri State University)
David P. Adams (California State University–Fullerton)
Jonathan M. Fisk (University of Utah)
Matthew Jarvis (California State University–Fullerton)
Intergovernmental Alignment and Local Capacity in Sustainability Policy Delivery: Evidence from Parks Districts
Thomas Skuzinski (Northern Illinois University)
From Funds to Impact: Understanding the Role of Federal Grants in Local Sustainability Performance
Xiaoou Cheng (Texas Tech University)
Sung-Wook Kwon (Texas Tech University)
Break
10:15AM-10:30AM
Intergovernmental Innovation: Local-Tribal Collaboration in Practice
10:30-12:00
Moderator: Colt Jensen (UNC-Chapel Hill)
The relationship between tribal and non-tribal governments in the United States and the institutions that support them continues to evolve with new federal court rulings, executive orders, and statues arriving year after year. In the midst of this dynamic policy ecosystem, Local–Tribal relations have emerged as one of the most innovative frontiers of intergovernmental management in the United States. This session examines how collaboration between tribal governments and their municipal and county government neighbors is producing innovative solutions to some of the most important emerging public sector Grand Challenges.
Participants
- Luke Jones (Society of American Indian Government Employees)
- Mitchell R. Berg (Indiana University)
- Colt Jensen (UNC-Chapel Hill)
- Cheryl Ellenwood (Washington State University)
- Catherine Retana (Tribal Law and Policy Institute)
Lunch Break
12:00PM-1:15PM
Roundtable: 14 Months in: Are We Facing a New IGR Field?
1:15PM-2:30PM
Moderator: Kimberly Nelson (UNC-Chapel Hill)
The past 14 months tied to the first year of the second Trump Administration has seen enormous changes and upheavals touching almost every aspect of the national government. These changes from Doge, OMB, DHS and so forth have triggered significant changes in the intergovernmental landscape, including significant reductions in state and local government federal aid. In response, there have been shifts in state and local relations as well. This roundtable brings several perspectives together to highlight some of these changes and to discuss whether they represent a fundamental shift in IGR, a temporary disequilibrium, or simply another chapter in the ever-evolving nature of the IGR system in the US federal structure. Panelists and the audience will also be invited to engage on how educators can or should prepare the next generation of public servants for careers in this environment: what is core IGR knowledge for public administration students today?
Break
2:30PM-2:45PM
Government Policy Implementation and Operations in Today's IGR Environment
2:45PM-4:00PM
Moderator: Jayce Farmer (UNLV)
Evolving Federal–State Fiscal Relations in Crisis: State Governments' Response to Federal COVID-19 Aid
Huiyuan Wu (Arizona State University)
A Modern Research Agenda for Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Jay Rickabaugh (North Carolina State University)
Graham Ambrose (North Carolina State University)
Ritwick Ghosh (North Carolina State University)
Shwetha Delanthemajalu (North Carolina State University)
Andrew Laughter (North Carolina State University)
Will Cowan (California State University–Pomona)
Digital Self-Governance: A New Paradigm for Politics and Administration in an Era of Decentralization
Xin Han (Montana State University)
SIAM Business Meeting
4:00PM-5:00PM