Academic Biography

Dr. Cullen C. Merritt, an award-winning researcher and teacher, is an associate professor and research director of the Institute for Public Leadership (IPL) in the School of Public Policy (SPP) at the University of Maryland, College Park.
 
His research explores how managers across industries drive organizational performance to achieve public impact.  His current work includes a book project examining how organizational norms can undermine the missions of public organizations, with a particular focus on public higher education. Dr. Merritt's research appears in Public Administration Review, The American Review of Public Administration, Public Administration, Perspectives on Public Management and Governance, Inside Higher Ed, and numerous other outlets. His research has been nationally recognized by the American Society for Public Administration and the American Political Science Association.
 
Dr. Merritt's commitment to advancing his research agenda is not only reflected in his scholarly pursuits but also in his dedication to mentoring students within the Project for Research on Organizations, Management, and Publicness Theory (PROMPT) lab.
 
As an innovative research director at the Institute for Public Leadership, he has led a transformative portfolio of initiatives to advance public leadership research at the University of Maryland and across the public administration field. Signature efforts include the IPL Seed Grant Program, which supports multidisciplinary faculty research with the potential for external funding and impact in Maryland; the Summer Doctoral Research Fellowship, which advances doctoral scholarship on public leadership theory and practice; and the Public Leadership Research Summit, which convenes early-career scholars from across the country to support their professional development and cultivate a vibrant research community. He has also established strategic partnerships to further IPL’s mission, support student and community-engaged research, and broaden its visibility and impact.

As a leader within his academic community, Dr. Merritt served as associate editor of Public Administration Review (2021-2023) and co-chaired the 2023 Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) Annual Conference.
 
A native of Texas, Dr. Merritt earned his Ph.D. in Public Administration and Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas A&M University.