James Harrington

PhD - Public Affairs
University of Missouri, Truman School of Government and Public Affairs - 2013

MPA - Public Affairs
University of Missouri, Truman School of Government and Public Affairs - 2009

BA - Psychology
Truman State University - 2005

Implications of the Social Security Opt-In: A Case Study from Public School Districts in Texas 2026 - Journal Article

Pension Reform and Labor Supply: Retention and Productivity under a Pension Cut 2025 - Report

Rule-of-X and the retirement timing of public school teachers 2025 - Journal Article

The incidence of Social Security taxes on teacher wages and employment 2025 - Journal Article

Texas Public Pensions: A Common Pool Resource Perspective 2024 - Journal Article

Tax incentive and household saving strategy: A regression discontinuity approach to catch-up contributions 2023 - Journal Article

Antitrust Policy and Blockchain Technology: An Exploration from the Complex Systems Perspective 2022 - Journal Article

A Willingness to Learn 2021 - Journal Article

Best Paper IJPSM - International Journal of Public Sector Management [2022]

Graduate Teaching Award - Public and Nonprofit Management [2018]

Comet Teaching Award - Economics, Political, and Policy Sciences (EPPS) [2016]

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Prize for Best Academic Paper on the Intersection of Education and Labor Market Outcomes - The Association of Education Finance and Policy [2016]

Outstanding Teaching Comet Award - Economics, Political, and Policy Sciences (EPPS) [2015]

Stanley L. Botner Award - University of Missouri [2009]

Doug and Hope Kiel Professor in Public and Nonprofit Management
The University of Texas at Dallas [2026–Present]

Professor
The University of Texas at Dallas [2026–Present]

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, EPPS
The University of Texas at Dallas [2025–Present]
-Leads undergraduate strategy (retention, graduation, enrollment) for EPPS -Oversees advising operations and process improvement -Aligns curriculum, scheduling, and delivery with workforce readiness and student demand -Uses data to drive decision-making and track outcomes -Expands experiential learning (internships, research, community projects) to support career readiness -Coordinates across units to advance student success and workforce alignment

Program Head - Public and Nonprofit Management
The University of Texas at Dallas [2022–2025]

Director of Graduate Studies
The University of Texas at Dallas [2019–2022]

Associate Professor
The University of Texas at Dallas [2019–2026]

Assistant Professor
The University of Texas at Dallas [2013–2019]

Benavides, Ted, James R. Harrington, John McCaskill, and Jeff Moshier. (2023) “Residential and Commercial Building Permit Fee Study”

Benavides, Ted, James R. Harrington, John McCaskill, and Jeff Moshier. (2019) “Residential Building Permit Fee Study”

Kiel, Doug, Ted Benavides, James R. Harrington, John McCaskill, and Tim Bray. (2019) “McKinney Thrives Progress Report”

Benavides, Ted, James R. Harrington, Doug Goodman, John McCaskill, and Jeff Moshier. (2018) “Evaluation of Royse City’s Development Services Department and Processes”

Harrington. J. (2025, November). Reconstructing Governance Boundaries – Local–Global Policy Coordination. International Conference on Public Governance and Practice Forum - Presented at National Chung Hsing University.

Bio

James R. Harrington, PhD, is the Doug and Hope Kiel Professor in Public and Nonprofit Management and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas. He previously served as Program Head of Public and Nonprofit Management from 2022 to 2025 and Director of Graduate Studies from 2019 to 2022. His research focuses on performance management, program evaluation, education policy and governance, public pensions and labor economics, public health, and technology policy, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital governance.

His scholarship has appeared in journals including Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, The Journal of Higher Education, Research in Higher Education, and the International Journal of Public Sector Management. His research has received recognition including the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Prize and the International Journal of Public Sector Management’s 2022 Best Paper Award. He specializes in multilevel evaluation and research design, teaches graduate courses in program evaluation and research design, and collaborates with local governments and nonprofit organizations on applied policy and evaluation projects throughout the Dallas region.

Teaching

University of Texas at Dallas·       Taught 60 evaluated course sections at the undergraduate—including honors— master's, and doctoral levels (2013-2026), representing 1,255 students and 463 submitted course evaluations.

·       Response-weighted overall instructor rating: 4.77/5.00. Fifty-six of 60 sections received ratings of at least 4.50; every section received at least 4.00.

·       Response-weighted ratings include 4.79 for preparation, 4.78 for encouraging questions and expression of ideas, 4.78 for genuine interest in teaching, and 4.75 for fair evaluation of students.

Analysis: How did Universal Pick Frisco for its New Theme Park?

Universal is building its newest theme park in Frisco, as part of a burgeoning development that will include PGA of America headquarters, two golf courses, and thousands of homes. In an interview with KRLD Radio, James Harrington, associate professor of public and nonprofit management, said the new micro park will have a huge economic impact for the area.

North Texas Wants to Know: What's behind the tech boom in Sherman?

Texas Instruments has had a presence in Sherman for decades, while Taiwan-based GlobalWafers will open a new plant in 2025. Host Baylee Friday is joined by Hefton, Sherman Economic Development Corporation President Kent Sharp, and University of Texas at Dallas professor Dr. James Harrington to examine Sherman's tech boom.

Affiliate Faculty

Program in Political Science, Public Policy and Political Economy (2023 – Present)