Riccucci-O’Leary Award

The 2023 Riccucci-O’Leary award goes to Shilpa Viswanath, Assistant Professor, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and Aritree Samanta, Assistant Professor, San Francisco State University School of Public Affairs and Civic Engagement, for their article, “Gender Ramifications of a Weberian Bureaucracy: A Feminist Appraisal of the United States Department of Agriculture,” Perspectives on Public Management and Governance, 5,(2), 97-110.

The awards committee noted that this article generated knowledge that is both practically and theoretically relevant for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) research in the field of public administration. By critically examining the gender ramifications of Weberian bureaucracy, specifically within the context of the United States Department of Agriculture, the authors shed light on an important aspect of DEI in the public sector. The article’s strength also lies in its logical, concise, and clear writing style. The arguments and findings were effectively communicated, making it accessible to a wide range of readers. Furthermore, the article not only deepened our understanding of gender dynamics within Weberian bureaucracy but also provided insights into new avenues to advance DEI in the public sector and public management. By intermeshing critical perspectives, feminist phenomenology, and feminist standpoint theory, the authors crafted a feminist model for appraising the agricultural bureaucracy. This innovative approach opens doors for further research and exploration in the field of DEI.

The Riccucci-O’Leary Award is given annually for the best article on diversity, broadly defined, published in JPART or PPMG.

Past Recipients:

2022 – Rachel Augustine Potter and Craig Volden for their article, “A Female Policy Premium? Agency Context and Women’s Leadership in the US Federal Bureaucracy.” Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 31,(1), 91-107.

2021 – Katie Vinopal