Augusta University
Wesley Meares
Professor of Public Administration | Director Master of Public Administration
- Augusta GA UNITED STATES
- AH N312
- The Graduate School
Academic and consultant specializing in the evaluation of neighborhood design, economic development, and community revitalization
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Biography
Dr. Wesley Meares is a Professor of Public Administration and Political Science in the Department of Social Sciences at Augusta University, where he serves as the graduate program director for the Master of Public Administration program. His research interests include housing policy, community development, public policy, and local government cybersecurity. Dr. Meares research has appeared in journals such as Cities, Public Administration Review, Public Administration Quarterly, Local Environment, Journal of Urban Affairs, Housing Studies, Journal of Public Affairs Education, and Journal of Urbanism.
Areas of Expertise
Accomplishments
Outstanding Faculty Award
2024
Education
LaGrange College
B.A.
Political Science
2010Western Kentucky University
M.P.A.
Public Administration
2011University of Louisville
Ph.D.
Urban and Public Affairs
2014Affiliations
- American Society for Public Administration
- Urban Affairs Association
Links
Media Appearances
Professors talk future of NIL
Fox Carolina online
2025-04-18
Two professors with Augusta University have studied the effects of NIL on college athletes. They spoke to FOX Carolina and told us why they are not surprised this happened.
State of Current NIL System
Fox Carolina online
2025-02-03
Name - Image - and Likeness is changing the landscape of college sports in real time
Augusta University researchers launch study to improve local government cybersecurity
The Augusta Chronical online
2023-11-03
"What we found, at least in our studies, is that a lot of local governments ... do have some sort of cybersecurity policies in place," said Wesley Meares, associate professor in the Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Augusta University. "But really, what is lacking is they are not taking those next steps in the implementation of those policies."
10 Entry-level Government Jobs to Consider (Plus Tips on How to Get One)
The Muse online
2025-04-02
“Working in public service can qualify you for programs that can help eliminate student loan debt after a number of years of service, such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program,” says Wesley L. Meares, an associate professor of Political Science at Augusta University and director of the Master of Public Administration program.
NIL reshapes college athletics: Researchers explore impact beyond the paychecks
WFXG online
2025-09-08
According to AU professors Dr. Wesley Meares and Dr. Lance Hunter, a staggering $1.175 billion was spent on NIL deals between 2023 and 2024, with 70–75% going to football, 15% to men’s basketball, and just 5% to women’s sports and others.
MPA program’s national ranking shows excellence in public service education
Jagwire online
2025-04-22
“Being ranked, especially among those that are in the top half of the country, is an honor,” Meares said. “It demonstrates the hard work of our faculty, publishing and presenting research and providing stellar service to the field and the community."
Pamplin professors publish research on impact of Name, Image and Likeness
Jagwire online
2025-01-09
“Someone like Livvy Dunn is one everybody thinks of where she’ll go and promote a brand or a product, and then she gets paid for each of those endorsements or has a structured deal,” Meares said. “A lot of factors go into how much they get paid depending on their social media following and the schools they’re at.”
Articles
The cybersecurity of municipalities in the United States: An exploratory survey of policies and practices
Journal of Cyber Policy2020-07-28
Few empirical studies have examined the cybersecurity policies of cities in the United States. Issues that have yet to be addressed in the literature include whether cities (of various sizes) maintain cybersecurity plans and policies that are sufficient to protect their citizens’ data, a general lack of knowledge regarding cybersecurity policies, and practices on the part of cities that place at risk the security of public services and citizens’ privacy.
Pollution, place, and premature death: evidence from a mid-sized city
Local Environment2020-04-28
Neighborhood life expectancy varies by as much as 10 years across the City of Louisville. In 2013, the Greater Louisville Project funded by local government, businesses, and foundations, argued these differences had little to do with environmental factors.
“Mama, I can’t breathe.” Louisville’s dirty air has steep medical and economic costs
Local Environment2020-07-31
The calls for greater racial equity also means cleaning up the air, water, and soil. Poor people needlessly suffer more in Louisville than the same low-income people in West Coast cites.
The career paths of the chief administrative officers of U.S. cities: a survey of city managers and content analysis of how they discuss their careers
Local Government Studies2022-10-08
We expand the research on the career paths of the chief administrative officers managing cities of all sizes in the United States (U.S.) by surveying the chief administrative officers working in the small, medium, and large cities throughout the U.S. We collected 345 surveys from chief administrative officers.
Local government cyber insecurity: Causes and recommendations for improvement
Public Administration Review2023-10-02
In this paper, we address several facets of the problem we call local government cyber insecurity—a problem that plagues such governments across the nation, if not the world. We describe this problem and discuss its manifestations in local governments.
Telework and Work Flexibility in the United States Federal Government Post-Pandemic
Public Administration Quarterly2024-04-11
A decade before the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States (US) federal government was working to create flexible work environments for employees under the 2010 Telework Enhancement Act. Given this reality and the growing desire for greater flexibility of workers inspired by the “Great Resignation” during the pandemic, the US federal government appears to have recovered lost employees faster than other levels of the public sector.
Public Administration, Local and Regional Governance, and Domestic Terrorism
Public Administration Review2026-02-11
This study examines how the nature of public administration and local and regional governance affects domestic terrorism in 73 mixed and democratic countries from multiple regions and levels of development.
