Laura Bloomberg

Laura Bloomberg, PhD, has served as dean of the Humphrey School since June 2017. Prior to her appointment to dean she served as associate dean for four years, during which time she led efforts to support the global expansion of the School, establish a national pathway program for college students underrepresented in public affairs programs, launch a Master of Human Rights degree program, and develop the Mandela Washington Fellowship program to support young leaders from countries across Africa.

Bloomberg is a tenured, full professor and has taught courses on leadership and management, educational innovation, and program evaluation. She is a three-time recipient of awards for teaching and advising (Humphrey School students' award for Instructor of the Year in 2010 and 2011; University of Minnesota Outstanding Faculty Member Award from the Council of Graduate Students in 2011).

Bloomberg's research focuses on community-based leadership, program evaluation, public value creation, cross-cultural dialogue, and educational policy. She has published policy research on these areas of focus in addition to cross-agency leadership and collaboration, and educational policy analysis. The co-edited volume Public Value and Public Administration (Bryson, Crosby, and Bloomberg, 2015) received a Best Book Award for research from the American Society of Public Administration.

Bloomberg has consulted on program evaluation and education policy initiatives in Canada, China, Cyprus, and in countries across Africa and the European Union. She has worked with several states, federal agencies, and indigenous nations to improve civic leadership and education systems across the United States.

Bloomberg is board chair of the nationwide Public Policy and International Affairs program (PPIA), which is committed promoting the inclusion and full participation of underrepresented groups in public service. She serves on the executive council of the national Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), considered the global standard in public service education. She serves on and formerly chaired NASPAA’s Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation (COPRA), which reviews and accredits public affairs degree programs across the United States and in a dozen countries across the globe.

Bloomberg holds a bachelor’s degree in special education from St. Cloud State University, master's degrees in psychometrics and educational psychology from Cornell University, and a PhD in educational policy and administration from the University of Minnesota.