Nice to meet you!

Dr. Christopher Tyler Burks

urban policy scholar

  • I am an assistant professor in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Recent courses include urban management, organization theory, leadership, ethics, public management, and policy analysis with quantitative and qualitative methods. Learn about my teaching.

  • Advancing excellence in public service by supporting the professional development of public servants in Arkansas. Join the Arkansas Chapter by becoming a member of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)!

  • I serve on the Sustainability Commission where I help guide Little Rock toward long-term environmental and economic resilience through research-based policy recommendations. We act as a bridge between community needs and city decision making, ensuring that growth, resource use, and development are fair, efficient, and future-focused.

  • I am grateful to the Public Administration Theory Network for the opportunity to advance critical, normative, and interpretative scholarship on how we are being governed, first as a Public Administration Theory Fellow and now as the elected co-vice chair of the executive board.

  • Social media editor for the journal Administrative Theory & Praxis, promoting the latest theory-driven research on our LinkedIn page.

  • The Southeastern Conference for Public Administration (SECoPA) was established in 1978 in order to facilitate the promotion of public administration research, scholarship, and professionalism throughout the Southeastern United States. I am prepare to host the conference in Little Rock in 2028.

  • I am an instructor for the Arkansas Public Administration Consortium where I teach in the Certified Public Manger (CPM) program. For example, my last workshop was on managing human resources.

  • I serve on the National Advisory Board for The Society for Collegiate Leadership and Achievement (SCLA). Our mission is to empower students to build careers that matter. I also serve as the SCLA Chapter Faculty Advisor at UA Little Rock.

  • Studying democracy in American heartlands at The Pulaski Institution.

  • Civic engagement for a livable city at Our Little Rock.

  • Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform (ACCR) advocates for efficient and fair government. Help us fund research briefs examining how the Alabama Constitution impacts the well being of our citizens. This research is being conducted by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA).

I am an assistant professor in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where I teach in the public administration, nonprofit management, and political science programs. I’m also an instructor for the Arkansas Public Administration Consortium where I teach in the Certified Public Manger (CPM) program.

I hold a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in public administration and policy from American University in Washington, D.C. and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

I founded Urban Analysis, a consulting firm for changemaking through policy, planning, and politics. I’m proud of my transportation policy work: I assisted Chief Planner Tim Gambrel in the development of Birmingham’s Complete Streets Ordinance, and I worked for City Councilor Darrell O’Quinn as a policy analyst on many projects, such as writing the request for proposals for the public ridesharing service Birmingham On-Demand. I also served on the Birmingham Planning Commission supporting zoning reforms for missing middle housing and the replacement of parking minimums with transportation demand management.

Featured Publication

Burks, Christopher Tyler, and Derek R. Slagle. 2025. “Metamodern Public Administration: Contending with Traditionalism, Modernism, and Postmodernism.” Administrative Theory & Praxis 47(4): 296–312. doi:10.1080/10841806.2025.2565095.

Teaching at
UA Little Rock

I am a assistant professor in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. I teach in the public administration, nonprofit management, and political science programs. My courses include:

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

  • Leadership & Public Management (PLSC 33103)

  • American Political Thought (PLSC 39053)

  • Classical Political Theory (PLSC 48053)

  • Modern Political Theory (PLSC 49053)

  • Introduction to Sustainability (PLSC 23053)

  • Arkansas Government & Politics (PLSC 35053)

  • The American Presidency (PLSC 32053)

Master of Public Administration

  • Public Organization Theory (PADM 70133)

  • Public Policy Analysis I (PADM 76203)

  • Public Policy Analysis II (PADM 76303)

  • Public Program Evaluation (PADM 7380)

  • Public Financial Administration (PADM 72403)

  • Administrative Law (PADM 79303)

  • State Administration & Reform (PADM 73903)

  • Ethics in Public Administration (PADM 74003)

  • Human Resource Management (PADM 71303)

  • Nonprofit Management (PADM 73603)

  • Urban Management (PADM 73503)

Teaching

Founders’ Fellow (2019), American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).

Student Appreciation

“I just wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for today’s class and for all the knowledge you continue to share with us… I feel incredibly fortunate to be your student. I truly appreciate the thoughtfulness and clarity you bring to each lesson. This class has not only taught me valuable academic concepts—it’s also shaping the way I want to serve my community. I can already see how these lessons will guide my work after graduation. Thank you again for everything you do.”

— Leadership & Public Management, Spring 2025

“Thank you so much for all your hard work last semester. Having a professor that genuinely cares about professional and academic growth is very inspiring. Your class has given me a motivation I can’t say I had prior. Now I know my interest in public administration and I have you to thank for that.”

— Urban Management, Fall 2024

“I thought Prof. Burks was incredibly fair and really interesting. Teaching a night course on public administration is not easy, and for many students, I think it presents the opportunity to be very boring. I found Prof. Burks to be incredibly engaging both during lectures and in facilitating group work. He broke the material down into easy, manageable chunks, and overall did a good job teaching the content.”

— Public Administration & Governance, Fall 2021

  • "Vigorous and informative."

    — Public Organization Theory, Summer 2025

  • "This Public Policy course has been one of the most impactful classes I’ve taken... The assignments weren’t just academic exercises; they pushed me to analyze data, interpret findings, and think like a policy researcher."

    — Public Policy Analysis II, Fall 2025

  • "Dr. Burks is a great professor and clearly understands the subject very well. I would recommend this class to all who see a future in being a public servant."

    — Leadership & Public Management, Spring 2025

  • "It is obvious that Dr. Burks cares about the well-being of his students and UALR as a whole, and I appreciate all that I've learned throughout his courses."

    — Public Policy Analysis II, Fall 2025

  • "I was worried about this class and not passing but with my professor, my worries went away. Dr. Burks really explained the material and was attentive to each student. He always answered emails in a timely manner and is very reasonable."

    — Public Policy Analysis I, 2025

  • "Professor Burks teaching this class was a great a call. His real life examples of how he uses the available tools for research are useful in our careers."

    — Public Policy Analysis II, Fall 2025

  • "The instructor is very knowledgeable of the course material. He is passionate and provided many real life examples and experiences for me to gain a better understanding of how research and public policy goes hand in hand."

    — Public Policy Analysis I, Spring 2025

  • "Overall, great course. I like how we were able to work on the major assignments during class and receive feedback in real time."

    — Public Policy Analysis II, Fall 2025

  • "Dr. Burks is precise, professional, and thoughtful. He made appropriate accommodations where necessary and has always made himself available to students beyond normal class hours. Also, he adapts his teaching style to reflect the learning styles of others."

    — Public Policy Analysis II, Fall 2025

  • "Professor Burks is very knowledgeable and intelligent with this material. He also moderates discussion and encourages us to think for ourselves in the class."

    — Alabama Constitution & Politics, Fall 2023

  • "The open atmosphere of the classroom, as well as the instructor's excitement regarding constructive debate is very effective. That excitement was infectious and kept me engaged in the discussion."

    — Alabama Constitution & Politics, Fall 2023

  • "Professor Burks opened my eyes on how the government operates."

    — American Public Policy, Fall 2023

  • "The way Professor Burks leads his class in discussion is incredibly effective."

    — American Public Policy, Fall 2023

  • "The layout of this course could not be praised enough. It was diverse. It was dynamic. It was empowering... It challenged us in ways that elevated our skill as well as our confidence."

    — Current Controversies in Public Policy & the Law, Fall 2023

  • "I learned how think critically, stand up for what I believe in, and debate in a healthy environment."

    — Current Controversies in Public Policy & the Law, Fall 2023

  • "10/10 would recommend to anyone."

    — Current Controversies in Public Policy & the Law, Fall 2023