RESEARCH PROFILE
RESEARCH FOCUS
Dr. Thomas’s research examines how citizens, organizations, and institutions interact to shape governance outcomes, with particular attention to strategic management, administrative values, and citizen engagement. Much of his recent work explores sport as a governing arena, analyzing how athletes and sport organizations function as “super citizens” who influence advocacy, public discourse, and administrative change. His scholarship also engages emerging issues in public administration, including public sector branding and the implications of artificial intelligence for administrative practice and education. His work is featured in several of the field's leading journals including the International Journal of Public Administration, Public Administration Review and Public Performance & Management Review.
LATEST PEER REVIEW PUBLICATIONS
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Thomas, M.B. & Larson, S.E. From Colleagues to Conferences: Where Public Administration Instructors Learn About AI. Teaching Public Administration, Forthcoming.
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Thomas, M.B. & Levine Daniel, J. Public Spaces and Third Bases: Publicly Funded Stadiums as Modern Third Places in Public Administration. Public Integrity, Forthcoming
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Wright, J., Thomas, M.B. & Yu, H. Changing the Narrative: Establishing a Framework for the Administrative Impact of the Professional Athlete. Administrative Theory & Praxis, Forthcoming.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
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Public Administration
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Citizen Engagement
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Strategic Management,
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Citizen Protest
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Nonprofit engagement
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Sport Impact
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Teaching Pedagogy
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Artificial Intelligence (AI)
PEER-REVIEW JOURNAL EDITORSHIP
Dr. Thomas values the impact that research has in creating meaningful conversation and change. He serves as Managing Editor for Public Integrity and is an Associate Editor and Media Critiques and Reviews Editor Administrative Theory & Praxis. Dr. Thomas also serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Public Administration and the Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration
SELECTED INVITED TALKS
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Speaker, “In King LeBron's Court: Does Protest Impact Public Administration” WKU Department of Political Science P4 Speaker Series
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Speaker, “We Can’t Just Shut Up and Play: How the NBA and WNBA are Helping Dismantle Systemic Racism,” Institute for Policy Research and Engagement (IPRE) Seminar Series, University of Oregon
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Academic Panelist, Worlds of Sport: Portland Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR
SELECTED MEDIA APPEARANCES
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Canzano, J. (Producer). (2022, June 9). BFT Interview: Dr. Blair Thomas. The Bald-Faced Truth with John Canzano. Portland, OR: Alpha Media Broadcasting.