Catherine Burke, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Southern California, School of Policy, Planning and Development. PhD, Political Science from UCLA, major fields in American Politics, Public Administration and Management (Business School).
Burke's research focuses on organization and systems design, management theory and leadership, using Stratified Systems Theory and Systems Leadership Theory. She has contributed to the development of new approaches in organization and management systems with Ian Macdonald, Karl Stewart, Roddy Macdonald , Dan Smith and others including the Social Analytic Learning Society and MAC Associates.
She has worked with a variety of organizations including a large public utility (Communications and Computing Services, Regulatory Policy and Affairs, and Public Affairs Departments), city (Los Angeles and Pasadena) and county (Los Angeles) governments, an international mining and manufacturing firm, an ISP (internet service provider) and a regimental commander of Royal Engineer Commandos in the British Army. She served on the Board of Directors of Commonwealth Industries, Inc. (now Aleris International) from 1995 through 2004.
She is also interested in the study of political and administrative roles; democratic theory and the role of citizens; innovation; and urban government. She is a founding officer of the Advanced Transit Association and was President of the Association in 2002-2003, working toward the implementation of Personal Rapid Transit as an alternative to existing mass transit systems and in some urban areas an alternative to the automobile.
She has been a panelist and consultant to the Office of Technology Assessment of the U.S. Congress and a member of the Los Angeles County Economy and Efficiency Commission. She is the author of Innovation and Public Policy and with Ian Macdonald and Karl Stewart, Systems Leadership, Gower Publishing Ltd., forthcoming 2006. She has had articles in The Handbook of Public Administration, State and Local Government, Annual Editions; Public Administration Quarterly; International Journal of Public Administration; the Proceedings of the Social Analytic Learning Society; and New York Times, Newsday and Los Angeles Times.
Husband, Bill Burke. Three children, Luana, William and Steve.