faculty portrait if available
Leigh Hersey
Associate Professor
School of Behavioral & Social Sci
STRS 166
318-342-1332
ULM logo

Leigh N Hersey, PhD
Associate Professor, Political Science
Political Science Program Coordinator; Grad. Coordinator

Education

Ph D

2009, Public Administration
Arizona State University

MEd

1997, Athletic Administration
Temple University

BA

1994, Journalism
University of Georgia

Biographical Sketch

Leigh Nanney Hersey is an Associate Professor of Political Science and program coordinator for the MPA and Political Science programs. She currently holds the Lawson & Sharon Swearingen Endowed Professorship in Political Science. Dr. Hersey serves as the University's Faculty Athletic Representative.

She received her Ph.D. in Public Administration from Arizona State University in 2009, with a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Leadership & Management. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia in Journalism and her M.Ed. from Temple University in Athletic Administration. Dr. Hersey’s teaching and research covers public and nonprofit administration, grant writing, civic engagement, and social media.

Dr. Hersey has presented at numerous academic and professional conferences throughout the United States. She has several journal articles and book chapters, and recently co-edited a book on the arts and civic engagement. Prior to joining academia, she worked in the nonprofit sector for more than a dozen years. Dr. Hersey served on the City of Scottsdale (AZ) Parks and Recreation Commission, chairing the commission in 2004. In 2012 Dr. Hersey was nominated for the Volunteer Mid-South Spirit of Giving Award.

Licensure & Certification

Title IX Hearing Officer & Decision Making Training, ATIXA. (July 2019 - Present)
Safe Zone Training, University of Louisiana Monroe. (October 2018 - Present)

Research Interests

Dr. Hersey has studied a wide variety of topics related to the public service area. Her main focus areas are fundraising, volunteerism, and civic engagement. She has applied these topics in a variety of topics, including arts, animal welfare, higher education, and engaged scholarship. 

Recent Publications

Hummel, D. (2023). Hummel, D., & Hersey, L. (2023). Mentoring online MPA students: Assessing mentorship qualities and aligning program goals. Journal of Public Affairs Education.
Hersey, L. N., Gallagher, B. K. (2023). Examining The “Specialness” of Cultural Districts (pp. 180 - 199). Public Administration Quarterly.
Hersey, L. N., Gallagher, B. K. (2022). Supporting community development through the arts. (pp. 1-6). Local Development & Society.
Hersey, L. N. (2021). It's Just a Jump to the Left: Shifting Community-Based Projects Online (pp. Chapter 18). Hershey, PA: Handbook of Research on Lessons Learned From Transitioning to Virtual Classrooms During a Pandemic.
Hersey, L. N., Schaefer, G. (2018). New Communication Technology Integration: Recommendations for Public Sector Change. In Brown, Sr., M. A. and Hersey, L. N. (Eds.), Returning to Interpersonal Dialogue and Understanding Human Communication in the Digital Age. (pp. 186 - 203). Hershey, PA: IGI-Global.
Brown, M. A., Hersey, L. N. Returning to Interpersonal Dialogue and Understanding Human Communication in the Digital Age. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Hersey, L. N. (2017). Pooling resources to Fund the Arts. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Schaefer, G., Hersey, L. N. (2015). Cat Videos for a Cause: A Nonprofit Social Media Marketing Case Study of the Central Brevard Humane Society. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Hersey, L. N., Norris-Tirrell, D., Schmidt, S. T. (2014). What are graduates doing? Using professional résumés to track MPA nonprofit concentration alumni (pp. 30 - 42). Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership.
Hersey, L. N. (2015). Tweeting for Donors: How Institutions of Higher Education Use Social Media to Raise Funds. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Hersey, L. N. (2016). Writing Grant Applications that Speak to Community Review. Strategy Papers.
Hersey, L. N. (2016). CHOICES: Measuring Return on Investment in a Nonprofit Organization (pp. 23). Hershey, PA: IGI-Global.
Hersey, L. N., Bobick, B. (2016). Handbook of Research on the Facilitation of Civic Engagement through Community Art. Hershey, PA: IGI-Global.

Research Grants

Hanser, R. (Principal), Hersey, L. (Supporting), Harris, C. (Supporting), et al, . (Supporting), "Criminal Defense Training" (Funded), Sponsored By Louisiana Public Defender Board, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $400,000. (October 2022 - Present).
Hersey, L. N. (Principal), "Student Philanthropy Project" (Funded), Sponsored By Learning by Giving Foundation, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $5,000. (January 2017 - Present).
Hersey, L. N. (Principal), McDaniel, J. (Co-Principal), Craighead, D. (Co-Principal), Ragland, E. (Co-Principal), Davis, C. (Co-Principal), Washington, S. (Co-Principal), "The Opportunity Fund" (Funded), Sponsored By ULM, The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $6,680. (January 2023 - November 2023).
Hersey, L. N. (Principal), Berry, C. (Co-Principal), Lacey, S. (Co-Principal), McDaniel, J. (Co-Principal), Morgan, M. P. (Co-Principal), Washington, S. (Co-Principal), "Departmental Targeted Enhancement Program" (Funded), Sponsored By Louisiana Board of Regents, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $24,939. (June 1 2021 - May 31 2022).

Awards & Honors

April 2022 Inducted.

August 2021 Excellence in Service Award.

May 2017 Honors Faculty of the Year.

Courses Taught

HONR 3001HONORS SOCIAL SCIENCE, 1 course(s)

HONR 4010HONORS SEMINAR, 1 course(s)

POLS 2002STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, 6 course(s)

POLS 2010HONORS POLITICAL SCIENCE, 5 course(s)

POLS 3001RESEARCH METHODS, 4 course(s)

POLS 3040LIFE SCIENCE & PUBLIC POLICY, 1 course(s)

POLS 4029WOMEN AND POLITICS, 2 course(s)

POLS 4061INT'L POLITICAL ECONOMY, 1 course(s)

POLS 4064INTERNSHIP POLITICAL SCIENCE, 7 course(s)

POLS 4080PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, 2 course(s)

POLS 4081NONPROFIT POLICY AND LDRSHP, 6 course(s)

POLS 4082INTRO TO PUBLIC POLICY, 1 course(s)

POLS 4083SOC ENTRE & INNOV, 4 course(s)

POLS 4092NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL, 1 course(s)

POLS 4099SENIOR SEMINAR, 1 course(s)

POLS 5020ETHICS AND PUBLIC ADMIN, 1 course(s)

POLS 5030PUBLIC BUDGETING & FINANCE, 3 course(s)

POLS 5031NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT, 9 course(s)

POLS 5032GRANT WRITING, 10 course(s)

POLS 5033FUND DEVEL FOR NPOS, 5 course(s)

POLS 5034BRD DEVEL & VOL MGMT, 4 course(s)

POLS 5040PROGRAM EVAL & POLICY ANALYSIS, 1 course(s)

POLS 5063PUBLIC PARKS AND RECREATION, 7 course(s)

POLS 5091DIRECTED STUDY, 8 course(s)

POLS 5092DELTA REGIONAL AUTH INTERNSHIP, 12 course(s)

POLS 5093PUBLIC ADMIN INTERNSHIP, 21 course(s)