Dr. Luke Fowler is Chair and Professor of the Department of Public Policy Leadership at the University of Mississippi.
Research Interests
Dr. Fowler’s research focuses on how policies are turned into practices, and the lessons that process has for public policy making and leadership. His contributions to policy implementation theory are groundbreaking and he is regarded as a leading scholar on the subject. Dr. Fowler has published more than 50 articles and two books on policy implementation, collaboration, federalism and intergovernmental relations, state and local government, and environmental policy.
Biography
Dr. Fowler is a Mississippi native. He is a product of Mississippi public schools, kindergarten through Ph.D. Before coming to PPL, Dr. Fowler spent 10 years helping to build the School of Public Service at Boise State University, where he served as MPA Director, Faculty Director, and Director of the Idaho Policy Institute. As an academic leader and educator, he works to connect the classroom with communities and to support public leaders at all stages of their lives and careers.
Publications
Explains the complexities of policy implementation and why attempts to translate new laws into effective and enduring policy sometimes succeed and sometimes fail.
Articles
L. Fowler, J. Lyons, D. Amoruso, A. Call, & J. Gisler. (forthcoming). “It Just Means More: College Football as a Case Study for Public Affairs Courses.” Journal of Public Affairs Education.
L. Fowler & J. Talley (forthcoming). “An Ambiguous Perspective on Public Administration.” Administrative Theory & Praxis.
A. Dimand, L. Fowler, & S. Abutabenjeh. (forthcoming). “Does Home Rule Still Matter? Perceptions and Legal Constraints in Green Public Procurement.” Publius.
L. Fowler & C. Birdsall (2025). “Does Working Out-of-the-Office Work for Employees? Alternative Work Arrangements, Ambiguity, and Job Satisfaction in the Federal Workforce.” Public Personnel Management 54(3): 395-417.
L. Fowler (2024). “Policy Implementation and the Multiple Streams Framework: Key Findings and Future Research Directions.” International Review of Public Policy 6(3).
A. Ashley, L. Fowler, & L. Hausegger (2023). “Integrating Mentoring with P&T Processes: A Case Study from the School of Public Service at Boise State.” Journal of Public Administration Education 29(4): 481-496.
L. Fowler (2023). “Strategies for Dealing with Policy Ambiguities.” Public Administration 101(4): 1394-1407.
L. Fowler (2023). “Is Ambiguity Good or Bad for Democratic Governance?” Perspectives on Public Management & Governance 6(2-3): 94-105.
L. Fowler (2022). “Using Multiple Streams Framework to Connect Policy Adoption to Implementation.” Policy Studies Journal 50(3): 615-639.
J. Lyons & L. Fowler (2021). “Is It Still a Mandate if We Don’t Enforce It? The Politics of COVID-related Mask Mandates in Conservative States.” State & Local Government 53(2): 106-121.
Education
Ph.D. Public Administration, Mississippi State University (2013)