PhD - Public Affairs
University of Colorado Denver's School of Public Affairs - 2017
Professional Preparation
MA - Political Science
University of Colorado Denver - 2009
University of Colorado Denver - 2009
BAs - History, Political Science, & Psychology
Colorado State University - 2007
Colorado State University - 2007
Research Areas
Public Administration and Public Management: Societal narratives; identities and positionalities; fairness and justice; organizational dynamics; emotional labor; life and work satisfaction and meaning.Publications
Research & Publication Awards and Fellowships
Public Research Projects
Scholarly Book Series
Edited Books and Instructor Manuals
Scholarly Journal Special Issues Guest Edited
Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals
Scholarly Peer-Reviewed Publications (Reprinted)
Scholarly Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters
Scholarly Peer-Reviewed Teaching Cases
Scholarly Book Reviews
Mass Market Publications
PA Times Articles and Columns
Other Discipline-Related Publications
Podcasts
Book Indexing Experience
- (2022-2023). University of Illinois System: Public Voices Fellowship Recipient.
- (2022). Public Integrity: Editorial of the Year, “Introduction to the special issue: Popular culture, social equity, and public administration.” American Society for Public Administration. With N.R. Elias.
- (2021). University of Illinois System: University Scholars Award (System’s highest research award).
Public Research Projects
- (2021). Equity consultant: Commonwealth of Virginia COVID-19 health and vaccine distribution equity project. L. Douglas Wilder School (Virginia Commonwealth University), Research Institute for Social Equity. Project Leads: S.T. Gooden & N. Douglas-Glenn. Affiliate Faculty Status here: https://wilder.vcu.edu/research-and-outreach/research-institute-for-social-equity-rise/
- (2021). Equity consultant: Commonwealth of Virginia language access and equity project. L. Douglas Wilder School (Virginia Commonwealth University), Research Institute for Social Equity. Project Leads: S.T. Gooden & N. Douglas-Glenn.
Scholarly Book Series
- Zavattaro, Z., McCandless, S.A., Blessett, B., & Santis, E. (Eds.). (2021-present). Social justice for public service: A liberatory perspective. New York: Routledge.
Edited Books and Instructor Manuals
- McCandless, & Gooden, S.T. (Eds.). (In progress). Teaching social equity: A cross-curricular perspective. New York: Routledge.
- Sabharwal, M., McCandless, S.A., & Viswanath, S. (Eds.). (In progress). Elgar Handbook of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Public Administration. Edward Elgar Publishing.
- Guy, M.E., & McCandless, S.A. (Eds.).(Under contract). Achieving social equity: From problems to solutions (2nd ed.). Irvine, CA: Melvin & Leigh.
- Guy, M.E., & McCandless, S.A. (Eds.).(2020). Achieving social equity: From problems to solutions (1st ed.). Irvine, CA: Melvin & Leigh.
- Guy, M.E., McCandless, S.A., & Croft, A. (2020). Achieving social equity: From problems to solutions: Instructor manual. Irvine, CA: Melvin & Leigh.
Scholarly Journal Special Issues Guest Edited
- Barbera, C., Ferry, L., Hyndman, N., Liguori, M., McCandless, S., & Midgley, H. (Forthcoming). Governance and accountability in reshaping public services: Open challenges and wicked problems of the 21st Century. Public Administration.
- Blessett, B., & McCandless, S.A. (Eds.). (2022). Dismantling white supremacy in public service organizations and society. Administrative Theory & Praxis, 44 (2).
- Meyer, S., Johnson, R.G., & McCandless, S. (Eds.). (2022). The new 4Es: Fostering engagement, empathy, equity, and ethics in an era of uncertainty (Part 1). Public Integrity, 24(4-5).
- Meyer, S., Johnson, R.G., & McCandless, S. (Eds.). (2022). The new 4Es: Fostering engagement, empathy, equity, and ethics in an era of uncertainty (Part 2). Public Integrity, 24(4-5).
- McCandless, S.A., & Elias, N.R. (2021). Popular culture and social equity: Lessons for public administration. Public Integrity, 23(1).
- McCandless, S.A., & Zavattaro, S. (2020). COVID-19 Dialogues special issue (Part 2). Administrative Theory & Praxis, 42(3).
- Zavattaro, S., & McCandless, S.A. (2020). COVID-19 Dialogues special issue (Part 1). Administrative Theory & Praxis, 42(2).
Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals
- Zavattaro, S., McCandless, S.A., Knox, C.C., Medina, P., & Santis, E. (Accepted). The Myth of expertise. Journal of Public Management and Social Policy.
- Bishu, S.G., & McCandless, S.A. (2023). Tracing and teaching gender across core public affairs curriculum. Journal of Public Affairs Education [Volume/Issue pending]. https://doi.org/10.1080/15236803.2023.2216396
- Gooden, S.T., Johnson, R.G., McCandless, S.A., & Berry-James, R. (2023). The Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration: From Vision to Victory. Journal of Social Equity & Public Administration, 1(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.24926/jsepa.v1i1.4770
- Meyer, S., Johnson, R.G., & McCandless, S.A. (2022). Meet The New Es: Empathy, Engagement, Equity, and Ethics in Public Administration. Public Integrity, 24(4-5), 353-363. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2022.2074764
- Meyer, S., Johnson, R.G., & McCandless, S.A. (2022). Moving the Field Forward with Empathy, Engagement, Equity, and Ethics. Public Integrity, 24(4-5), 422-431. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2022.2089476
- Rinfret, S., McCandless, S.A., & Muehlbauer, B. (2022). Expanding the discussion of “Emotional labor & COVID-19: MPA Program Director Perspectives.” Journal of Public Affairs Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/15236803.2022.2070096
- Rinfret, S., McCandless, S.A., & Grewell, C. (2022). Emotional Labor & COVID-19: MPA Program Director Perspectives. Journal of Public Affairs Education 28(3), 251-268. https://doi.org/10.1080/15236803.2022.2035888.
- McCandless, S.A., Bishu, S.G., Gomez Hernandez, M., Pardes, E., Sabharwal, M., Santis, E., & Yates, S. (2022). A long road: Global prospects for diversity, equity, and inclusion in public administration. Public Administration, 100(1), 129-148. https://doi.org/10.1111/padm.12830
- McCandless, S.A. & Blessett, B. (2022). Dismantling racism and white supremacy in public service organizations and society. Administrative Theory & Praxis, 44(2), 91-104. https://doi.org/10.1080/10841806.2022.2043071
- Berry-James, R., Blessett, B., Emas, R., McCandless, S.A., Nickels, A., Norman-Major, K., & Vinzant, P. (2021). Stepping up to the plate: Making social equity a priority in public administration’s troubled times. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 27(1), 5-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/15236803.2020.1820289
- McCandless, S.A. (2021). The rule of law. Public Integrity, 23(1), 107-109. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2020.1832383
- McCandless, S.A., & Elias, N.R. (2021). Introduction to the special issue: Popular culture, social equity, and public administration. Public Integrity, 23(3), 217-219. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2020.1837506
- McCandless, S.A., & Elias, N. (2021). Popular culture informing public administration: Messages and prospects for social equity. Public Integrity, 23(3), 220-234. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2020.1837505
- McCandless, S.A., & Elias, N.R (2021). Taking stock of Bostock: Implications for theory and praxis. Administrative Theory & Praxis, 43(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/10841806.2020.1840903
- Bishu, S., McCandless, S., & Elias, N. (2020). Gender in emergency services: Foundations for greater equity in professional codes of ethics. Public Integrity [OnlineFirst release]. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2020.1825179
- Johnson III, R.G., McCandless, S.A., & Renderos, H. (2020). Transgender Inmate Populations in Latin America: An Exploratory Exploration of Experiences. Public Integrity, 22(4), 330-343. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2018.1557027
- McCandless, S.A., & Ronquillo, J. (2020). Social equity in professional codes of ethics. Public Integrity, 22(5), 470-484. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2019.1619442
- McCandless, S.A., & Vogler, G.M. (2020). “Habermasville”: Police-community intersections and communicative rationality. Administrative Theory & Praxis 42(4), 443-458. https://doi.org/10.1080/10841806.2019.1678350
- McCandless, S.A., & Zavattaro, S. (2020). Editor’s introduction: Since last We spoke... Administrative Theory & Praxis, 42(3), 357-363. https://doi.org/10.1080/10841806.2020.1799665
- Zavattaro, S., & McCandless, S.A. (2020). Editor’s introduction: Our public service manifesto during pandemic. Administrative Theory & Praxis, 42(2), 233-239. https://doi.org/10.1080/10841806.2020.1752593
- McCandless, S.A. (2018). LGBT homeless youth and policing. Public Integrity, 20(6), 558-570. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2017.1402738
- McCandless, S.A. (2018). Improving community relations: How police strategies to improve accountability for social equity affect citizen perceptions. Public Integrity, 20(4), 370-385. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2017.1416880
- McCandless, S.A., & Larson, S.J. (2018). Prioritizing social equity in MPA curricula: A cross-program analysis and a case study. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 24(3), 361-379. https://doi.org/10.1080/15236803.2018.1426429
- Lee, J., & McCandless, S. (2016). Local charter school service delivery: The explanatory power of interest groups. The Social Science Journal, 53(1), 49-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2015.11.005
- McCandless, S.A., & Guy, M.E. (2013). One more time: What did Woodrow Wilson really mean about politics and administration? Administration & Praxis, 35(3), 356-377. https://doi.org/10.2753/ATP1084-1806350302
- Guy, M.E., & McCandless, S.A. (2012)—Social equity: Its legacy, its promise. Public Administration Review, 72, s5-s13. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2012.02635.x
Scholarly Peer-Reviewed Publications (Reprinted)
- Berry-James, R., Blessett, B., Emas, R., McCandless, S.A., Nickels, A., Norman-Major, K., & Vinzant, P. (2021). Stepping up to the plate: Making social equity a priority in public administration’s troubled times. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 27(1), 5-15. Reprinted in: Abott, M.E., McDonald, B.D., & Hatcher, W. (Eds)(2023). Social equity in the public administration classroom (1st ed.)(Chapter 1). New York: Routledge.
- McCandless, S.A., & Larson, S.J. (2018). Prioritizing social equity in MPA curricula: A cross-program analysis and a case study. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 24(3), 361-379. Reprinted in: Abott, M.E., McDonald, B.D., & Hatcher, W. (Eds)(2023). Social equity in the public administration classroom (1st ed.)(Chapter 7). New York: Routledge.
Scholarly Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters
- McCandless, S.A. (Accepted). Policing and LGBTQ Homeless youth. In R. Colvin, A. Dwyer, & Giwa, S (Eds.)., Policing and LGBTQ Youth. Rutgers University Press.
- Diggs, S.N., Castillo Krewson, R., & McCandless, S.A. (Accepted). Intersectional disparities during crisis: Improving social equity through public and nonprofit management. In H. Knepper, M. Evans, & T. Henley (Eds.), Intersectionality and crisis. Routledge.
- McCandless, S.A. (2023). Policies, procedures, and structures. In S. Dolamore & A. Kline (Eds.), Organizational culture and social equity: An experiential guide (Chapter 2). New York, NY: Routledge.
- McCandless, S.A. (2022). Unseen but irreplaceable: The role of air traffic controllers. In S. Zavattaro, J. Sowa, A. Henderson, & L.H. Edwards (Eds.), Serving in silence: The unheard stories of essential public servants. New York: SUNY Press.
- McCandless, S.A. (2022). #MeToo and public administration HR. In P. Shields & N. Elias (Eds.), The Elgar handbook of gender in public administration (Pagination pending). Elgar Publishing.
- McCandless, S.A. (2022). Social equity in policing: An exploration of four dimensions. In D.W. Jackson III (ed.), Key Issues Confronting the Black Community in Denver, CO: A Community in Transition (pp. 16-40). Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
- McDonald, B.D., & McCandless, S.A. (2022). Incorporating social equity. In B.D. McDonald & M.M. Jordan (eds.), Teaching public budgeting and finance: A practical guide (pp. 236-256). New York: Routledge.
- McCandless, S.A. (2021). Social equity. In R. Brinkmann (ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Global Sustainability (pp. 1-13). London: Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38948-2_71-1
- Guy, M.E., & McCandless, S.A. (2020). In pursuit of social equity. In M.E. Guy & S.A. McCandless (eds.), Achieving social equity: From problems to solutions (pp. 172-182). Irvine, CA: Melvin & Leigh.
- Mackey, J., & McCandless, S.A. (2020). Social equity in public administration: A primer. In D. Slagle and A. Williams (Eds.), Practicum in Public Administration (pp. 157-188). San Diego, CA: Birkdale Publishers.
- McCandless, S.A., & Kline, A. (2020). Islamophobia in France: Intersectoral collaborations to advance social equity. In S. Gooden (Ed.), Global equity in administration (pp. 255-280). New York, NY: Routledge.
- McCandless, S.A., & Guy, M.E. (2020). The social equity imperative. In M.E. Guy & S.A. McCandless (eds.), Achieving social equity: From problems to solutions (pp. 1-12). Irvine, CA: Melvin & Leigh.
- McCandless, S.A. (2019). Follett in the squad car. In M. Stout (Ed.), The future of progressivism: Applying Follettian thinking too contemporary issues (pp. 219-248). Anoka, MN: Process Century Press.
- McCandless, S.A., & Vogler, G.M. (2018). Managing police organizations. In A. Farazmand (Ed.), The Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31816-5_3023-1
- McCandless, S.A., & Hooker, J. (2018). Ally training: A model for collaboration. In W. Swan (Ed), The Routledge Handbook of LGBTQIA Administration and Policy (pp. 390-398). New York, NY: Routledge.
- McCandless, S.A. (2017). Accountability for social equity: An examination of local law enforcement agencies. In R.G. Johnson III (ed.), Social Equity in a Time of Change: A Critical 21st Century Social Movement (pp. 115-138). San Francisco: Birkdale Publishers.
- Taylor, T., & McCandless, S.A. (2016). Juvenile violence: Interventions, policies, and future directions [Chapter 14]. In C.A. Cuevas and C.M. Rennison (eds.), Wiley- Blackwell handbook on the psychology of violence (pp. 247-276). Malden, MA: Wiley Blackwell.
Scholarly Peer-Reviewed Teaching Cases
- Elias, R., McCandless, S.A., & Chordiya, R. (2019). Administrative decision-making amid competing public sector values: Confederate statue removal in Baltimore, Maryland. Journal of Public Affairs Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/15236803.2019.1601328
Scholarly Book Reviews
- McCandless, S. (2021). Ethics for bureaucrats: Navigating constitutional crossroads [Book review]. Public Integrity. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2021.1886754
- McCandless, S. (2020). Morgen Johansen (Ed.), Social equity in the Asia-Pacific Region: Conceptualizations and realities [Book review]. Public Administration Review, 80(6), 1145-1147.
Mass Market Publications
- McCandless, S.A., McDonald, B., & Rinfret, S. (2023, August 21). Walking back from the faculty cliff. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/08/21/institutions-must-take-faculty-burnout-seriously-opinion#
PA Times Articles and Columns
- Roman, I., Blessett, B., & McCandless, S.A. (2020). DSJ Part 3: Fostering equitable law enforcement in troubled times. PA Times Online. Access here: https://patimes.org/dsj-part-3-fostering-equitable-law-enforcement-in-troubled-times/
- Merritt, B., & McCandless, S.A. (2020). DSJ Part II: Community engagement’s potential to address social inequities—Lessons from CRISP. PA Times Online. Access here: https://patimes.org/dsj-part-ii-community-engagements-potential-to-address-social-inequities-lessons-from-crisp/
- Blessett, B., & McCandless, S.A. (2020). DSJ: Social equity across the academy. PA Times Online. Access here: https://patimes.org/dsj-social-equity-across-the-academy/
- Caraballo, A., McCandless, S.A., & Zavattaro, S. (2019). Advancing social equity: The roles of ASPA sections. PA Times 5(3), 2-3.
- McCandless, S.A. (2019). Section spotlight: The Section on Democracy and Social Justice. PA Times 5(3), 33, 36.
- McCandless, S.A., & Chordiya. R. (2018). Job market strategies. PA Times, 4(3), 42-43.
- McCandless, S.A. (2016). Accountability for social equity in policing. PA Times Online. Access here: http://patimes.org/accountability-social-equity-policing/
Other Discipline-Related Publications
- (2021, December 1). Accountability for social equity [Blog post]. The Capitol Connection blog: https://blogs.uofi.uis.edu/view/8598/1300981388
- (2020, July 2). Taking stock of Bostock [Blog post]. The Capitol Connection blog: https://blogs.illinois.edu/view/8598/1143284754
- (2019, March 27). #MeToo, the Academy and Responsibilities [Blog post]. Retrieved from the blog of Public Administration Review: https://www.publicadministrationreview.com/2019/03/27/wps-mccandless/
- (2017, June). Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité—Old and New Challenges. Social Justice Bulletin [Newsletter of ASPA’s Democracy and Social Justice section].
- (2017, February). Social justice for Muslim communities. Social Justice Bulletin [Newsletter of ASPA’s Democracy and Social Justice section].
Podcasts
- Voice of Islam. (2023). Democracy [Podcast]. Access by clicking here.
- Growing Democracy. (2020). Dr. Brandi Blessett & Dr. Sean McCandless, #PAScholarStrike [Podcast]. Retrieved from: https://www.stitcher.com/show/growing-democracy-podcast/episode/series-2-episode-7-dr-brandi-blessett-dr-sean-mccandless-pascholarstrike-78519037
Book Indexing Experience
- Guy, M.E., & Rubin, M.M. (2015). Public administration evolving: From foundations to the future. New York, NY: Routledge.