I have wanted to start a research and scholarship blog for sometime and today seemed to be a good time to take the plunge. I have been a college professors since 1980 and during that time research and writing have changed significantly. While expectations for scholarship have increased, there have been considerable improvements in the technology that we have available and the opportunities that present themselves. There are also new ways to measure scholarly output and impact.
I teach at a small state university in the northeastern part of the United States. The school I teach in is an interdisciplinary school looking primarily at the problems of an urban society. I was recruited several years ago because the university was looking for a senior scholar in nonprofit studies.
I primarily do research on how nonprofit organizations, voluntary associations and other groups use technology to advance their mission and promote social change. I started working on this since the early 1990s and it has been a fascinating experience. I've studied community networks, advocacy organizations, International organizations, disaster relief organizations, fundraising organizations and a variety of other entities. I have also studied the governmental organizations that nonprofits interface with in pursuing social change.
My ability to do this work depends on the relationships I have with like minded colleagues, a number of which started out as my students. Their ideas, efforts and enthusiasm make this possible. I also benefit from the advice and ideas of my substantial network of scholars and practitioners. With this blog, I would like to expand my network and enrich my research efforts.
