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Christopher Atkinson

Dr. Christopher L. Atkinson

Biography

Dr. Christopher L. Atkinson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Business Administration. Prior to joining UWF in 2018, Dr. Atkinson taught in the public administration program at Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, Florida); he also served as a doctoral dissertation chairperson and committee member at Walden University (Minneapolis, Minnesota).

Dr. Atkinson is the author of two books: Semiotic Analysis and Public Policy: Connecting Theory and Practice (2019), and Toward Resilient Communities: Examining the Impacts of Local Governments in Disasters (2014), both published by Routledge.  He has also published extensively in peer-reviewed academic journals on public management and policy issues.  Dr. Atkinson is the book review editor for Public Organization Review. He is a member of the American Society for Public Administration and National Contract Management Association.

In addition to research and teaching, Dr. Atkinson worked full-time in local government in equal opportunity and economic development from 2001 to 2018, and as a contract specialist at the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, DC, from 1999 to 2000.

Degrees & Institutions

Dr. Atkinson received a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University, and Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts in English degrees from George Washington University, Washington, DC. His doctoral dissertation, a mixed methods review focusing on New Orleans, Louisiana and Palm Beach County, Florida hurricane case studies, was titled: An evaluation of the impact of local government institutions on business resilience in disaster.

Research

Atkinson has served as a peer reviewer for Public Administration Review; American Review of Public Administration; Public Integrity; Public Organization Review; Australasian Journal of Environmental Management; Journal of Cleaner Production; Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management; Forest and Society; Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, as well as other journals.

Classes Taught

  • PAD 5146: The Nonprofit Profession
  • PAD 5635: Government Contract Law
  • PAD 5855: Acquisition Administration
  • PAD 5862: Government Cost and Pricing Analysis
  • PAD 6053: Public Administration Professional
  • PAD 6227: Public Budgeting
  • PAD 6417: Public Service Human Resource Management
  • PAD 7004: Public Budgeting and Finance
  • PUP 5045: Public Policy Analysis

Special Interests

Atkinson lives in the Pensacola area with his wife Allison and their children. He is enthusiastic about music, especially jazz. He is a proud Chicago Bears fan, as well as a supporter of drum & bugle corps (former member of the Phantom Regiment, Rockford, Illinois). He is also a member of Mensa and the Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford (Connecticut).

Publications

Please see Dr. Atkinson's CV.

Keywords: Resilience; procurement; acquisitions; public policy; public budgeting; emergency management