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University of Central Florida Graduate Student,

 Nonprofit Financial Management

"Dr. Thomas is the first professor I've had who genuinely cares about his students. Contrary to most other courses where online assignments are "busy work,' every assignment in his course was useful. He provided personalized feedback, encouraged us every week, and even made changes to the syllabus to help us succeed. Before taking this class, I thought that nonprofit financial management was boring and difficult. Thanks to Dr. Thomas, now I like financial management and want to keep learning about it. I cannot thank the professor enough for making such a positive impact on my life and the lives of my classmates."

Florida State University

Graduate Student,

Public Marketing & Branding

"I am a President & CEO of a medium sized chamber of commerce. I was able to use this course to build a Strategic Marketing Plan for the chamber. This course was directly applicable to my position and has proven valuable to my organization. I appreciate that Dr. Thomas uses timely information in his lectures to engage his students and his passion, for whatever he is teaching, comes through. This is the third course I've had the pleasure of having with him and it did NOT disappoint."

Western Kentucky University Undergraduate Student, Public Administration

"Dr. Thomas has been one of the most exciting professors in my time at WKU. He takes the time to make sure students are doing well outside of his classroom because he cares about us as people not just as students. For example, my coach here at Western passed away unexpectedly in the middle of our season. Dr. Thomas took the time to send me a message to check on me and support me, as well as, made it known that he had my back if I needed him. I think this same passion and care he showed me he brought to the classroom everyday, which set up an environment that made me excited to learn, a feeling I haven't had since elementary school. Dare I say I looked forward to class? One assignment in particular—the civic engagement assignment—challenged me in a way I didn’t expect. It wasn't challenging in the way I stressed over nonsense fluff to add to my paper, but it challenged me in a meaningful and fulfilling way., it took me out of my comfort zone and made me do something I’ll always appreciate and remember."

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TEACHING

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Dr. Thomas is an award-winning educator whose teaching philosophy bridges foundational theory with contemporary practice. His classrooms intentionally connect public administration and political science concepts to real-world application, drawing on examples from public policy, sport, pop culture, and social movements to demonstrate how abstract ideas actively shape today’s governance and decision-making. This applied approach equips students to think critically across disciplines and contexts.

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A proven teaching generalist, Dr. Thomas has taught more than 37 distinct courses across public administration and political science through the 2025–26 academic year. He brings extensive experience delivering content in a wide range of instructional formats, including in-person, hybrid, and online modalities, allowing him to adapt seamlessly to diverse institutional needs and student populations. In addition to his extensive teaching portfolio, he has served on nearly a dozen doctoral committees, reflecting his sustained engagement in graduate mentorship and scholarly development.

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At the core of Dr. Thomas’s pedagogy is a deeply student-centered philosophy, captured in the principle he consistently shares with his classes: “I care about you more as a person than as a letter grade.” He employs a holistic teaching approach that integrates structured personal reflection at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, enabling him to understand students as individuals while fostering an inclusive, supportive learning environment. This intentional relationship-building cultivates trust, encourages meaningful dialogue, and consistently results in high levels of engagement, critical discussion, and personal application of course content.

GRADUATE COURSE OFFERINGS

  • Budget and Finance in Nonprofit Organization

  • Cross-Sector Collaboration and Conflict

  • Fundraising and Fund Developmen

  • Governmental Budgeting and Finance

  • Health Policy

  • Human Resource Management

  • Independent Study

  • Nonprofit 48-Hour Charette

  • Non-Profit Management

  • Performance Analysis for Government and Non-Government Organizations

  • Policy Development and Administration

  • (The) Profession of Public Administration

  • Program Evaluation

  • Public Administrators in the Governance Process

  • Public Management

  • Public Marketing and Branding

  • Public Organizations

  • Public Sector Theory

  • Nonprofit Marketing and Branding

  • Strategic Management

  • Survey and Needs Assessment

TEACHING INTERESTS

  • Financial Management and Budgeting

  • Health Policy

  • Nonprofit Management

  • Organizational Theory 

  • Policy Evaluation

  • Public Administration

  • Public Management

  • Public Organizations

  • Public Marketing & Branding

  • Profession of Public Administration

  • Qualitative Methods

  • Sport Policy

UNDERGRADUATE COURSE OFFERINGS

  • (The) Administration of Public Policy

  • American Government

  • Community & Economic Development

  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security

  • Introduction to American Government

  • Introduction to Political Science

  • Introduction to Public Administration

  • Introduction to Public Policy

  • Issues in Urban Administration

  • Political Science Research and Writing

  • Politics of Sport

  • Professional Administrative Writing in the Public Sector

  • Program Evaluation for Nonprofit Organizations

  • Public Finance Administration

  • Public Sector Project Management,

  • Urban and Regional Planning

TEACHING GRANTS

  • 2024-2025: AI Research Grant, Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning, WKU ($1,000)

  • 2019: Summer Faculty Development Conference Grant, Karen L. Smith Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, UCF ($800)

  • 2018: Winter Faculty Development Conference Grant, Karen L. Smith Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, UCF ($500) 

  • 2017:Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Program of Instructional Excellence, FSU ($750)

  • 2015-2016: Program of Instructional Excellence Teaching Associate, FSU ($3,500)

AI TEACHING POLICY PHILOSOPHY

Artificial intelligence (AI) should be leveraged to augment human potential rather than replace it. When used appropriately and contextually, AI supports, enhances, and expands our learning and teaching experiences. Given that the public sector is leaning in towards its usage, it is my responsibility as an instructor to expose students to and nurture their skill development of AI related tasks in both academic and professional settings.

TEACHING HONORS

  • 2025-2026: Nominee, CITL Teaching Honors

  • 2024-2025: Nominee, CITL Teaching Honors

  • 2023: Nominee, PPPM Instructor of the Year

  • 2021: Nominee, Experiential Learning Faculty Ambassadors

  • 2015-2017: Nominated (3x), Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Program of Instructional Excellence

MENTORSHIP

  • 2022-2023: Midwest Political Science Association

  • Mentoring Program

  • 2021-2022: Midwest Political Science Association Mentoring Program

  • 2021: Thomas, M.B. Conference Mentor: Behavior, Methodology or Formal Theory, Public Policy and Public Administration, Midwest Political Science Association 

  • 2020-2021: 3 Minute Thesis Advisor (Mirakal Jackson, Winner "The Glass v. Concrete Ceiling”) 

  • 2016-2017:  Mentor, Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), Center for Undergraduate Research & Academic Engagement, FSU

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