Byron
E. Price is an associate professor of Political Science in the Barbara Jordan-Mickey
Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston,
Texas. Dr. Price assumed this position in 2008 after spending five years
at Rutgers University-Newark at the School of Public Affairs and Administration
where he served as an Assistant Professor and director of the MPA and Executive
MPA Programs as well as a number of other leadership positions including serving
as the Associate Director of the National Center for Public Productivity and
Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Public Management and Social Policy. A
leading scholar in the field of prison privatization, he is the author of the
book, Merchandizing Prisoners: Who Really Pays for Prison Privatization published
by Praeger Publishers in March 2006. He has also published in the American
Review of Public Administration; the International Review of Public Administration,
Public Productivity and Management Review; and the Personnel Mix Journal (which
was translated into Russian and the PA Times.)
An active and industrious researcher, his current work includes prisoner reentry, prison privatization, violence prevention, race, gender, politics and public policy, civil rights, social justice and educational reform.
He is acutely aware of the balance between utilizing the theory of academia and its application to solving real world problems. During his time at Rutgers University, he was responsible for the creation of the Diversity Fund in 2004, which enabled disadvantaged minority students an opportunity to continue their studies. He also taught in the Executive MPA program where leading local and state officials were able to bridge theory and practice. For his work, he was awarded in 2006 the Human Dignity Award; one of the highest honors Rutgers bestows on individuals dedicated to promoting a culturally enriching environment at Rutgers and the surrounding community.
A passionate traveler, Dr. Price has visited over 40 countries and 44 U.S. states. His thirst for learning is extended within and beyond the walls of the academy. He has traveled to all but one of the seven continents and has also developed both a professional and personal interest in the development of Africa. Getting involved in the Longevity Project allows Dr. Price the opportunity to work in Africa in a more substantive fashion and satisfies his desire to become a part of Africa’s development.
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