Policy Expert Joins Faculty at OU-Tulsa

David Blatt, Ph.D., has worked for more than two decades in the public policy field. Blatt founded the Oklahoma Policy Institute, a state policy think-tank that aims to expand opportunity for all Oklahomans through nonpartisan research, analysis and advocacy. He served as its executive director for 10 years. Now, he brings this expertise to students in the Master of Public Administration program at OU-Tulsa as the George Kaiser Family Foundation Endowed Professor of Practice. 

Blatt will teach courses in health policy, legislative process and behavior, and poverty and inequality. His courses will be informed by his extensive research on a wide range of state policy issues, including:

• the state budget and taxes
• health care
• poverty
• consumer finance
• education

“The MPA program gives students the education they need to transform the world around them,” said Dr. John H. Schumann, OU-Tulsa president. “With Dr. Blatt as a member of the faculty, OU-Tulsa students will gain valuable insight into the ways government and policy impact society. His students will benefit from his extensive experience in seeking to address and solve our community’s most intrinsic problems.” 

Blatt has received a number of honors, including being named Political Scientist of the Year by the Oklahoma Political Science Association, Local Social Justice Champion by the Dan Allen Center for Social Justice and Public Citizen of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers. 

He previously served as director of public policy for Community Action Project of Tulsa County, as a budget analyst for the Oklahoma State Senate and as a parliamentary intern for the Canadian House of Commons. He earned his doctorate in political science from Cornell University, his master of arts degree from McGill University and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Alberta. 

The MPA at OU-Tulsa is a graduate degree designed to prepare students for a career in public service, particularly career paths in federal, tribal, state and local government and the nonprofit, education and private sectors. The mission of the program is to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to adapt to changing public service environments and to work collaboratively to solve problems in the public and nonprofit sectors.

By Bonnie Rucker