Since joining the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in January, Dr. Edmund Stazyk has been serving as associate dean for academic affairs at the Howard H. Baker, Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs, working alongside Dr. John Scheb as the school completes a leadership transition this spring.
Scheb, a longtime faculty member in UTK’s Political Science department, joined the Baker School in 2023 to help establish its academic foundation. He played an integral role in developing the school’s curriculum and guided the faculty through the school’s first three years of operation. Originally planning to retire in 2024, Scheb agreed to remain in the role until a successor was in place and will conclude his service at the end of the spring semester.
“Ed brings a significant record of academic leadership in public affairs education,” said Dean Marianne Wanamaker. “We are grateful to John for the steady leadership he has provided during our formative years. John truly made the Baker School dream a reality. This transition reflects a shared commitment to continuity and positions the Baker School for continued growth.”
Stazyk joins the Baker School from the University of Albany, where he served as a professor in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. His research applies organization theory and behavior to public management and human resources management, with a focus on employee motivation, organizational performance, bureaucracy and ethics. His work has been published in leading journals, including Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Public Administration Review, Public Management Review, Public Administration and Review of Public Personnel Administration. He earned his PhD from the University of Kansas, an MPA from the University of Akron and a BA from Miami University-Oxford. In his role as associate dean for academic affairs, he will oversee curriculum, faculty affairs and the continued development of the school’s academic programs.
“I’m thrilled to join the Baker School and deeply grateful to John Scheb for his tireless leadership. He’s laid a phenomenal foundation, and I look forward to advancing that legacy of excellence with my Baker colleagues,” Stazyk said.
Scheb joined the UT faculty in 1982 as an assistant professor of political science. He rose through faculty ranks, becoming a full professor in 1995, and later led the department before joining the Baker School in 2023. Throughout his career, Scheb has mentored students, advising them on their academic paths and serving as a thesis advisor to doctoral students. He holds a PhD, MA, and BA from the University of Florida.