Matthew Cahn

Professor of Public Policy
Department of Political Science
California State University Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA  91330-8254
matthew.cahn@csun.edu
(818) 677-3488
 
 
 

Curriculum Vitae 8/2009 Education Ph.D.  August  1991    Political Science (emphasis in Public Policy) University of Southern California Dissertation: Environmental Politics in the 1990s. M.A.   December 1988    Political Science University of Southern California B.A.   May    1987   Social Science Field Major (Interdisciplinary) University of California, Berkeley Areas of Specialization Environmental and Resource Policy and Management; Policy Evaluation and Analysis; Policy Formation and Implementation; American National, State and Local Politics; Research Design;  Assessment. Academic Positions 1999 to present:  Professor of Public Policy, Department of Political Science,  California State University Northridge 2000 to 2001:  Visiting Professor of Public Policy, Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California Santa Barbara 1998 to 2003:  Adjunct Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, University of Southern California 1995 to 1999:   Associate Professor of Public Policy, Department of Political Science, California State University Northridge 1991 to 1995:  Assistant Professor of Public Policy, Department of Political Science, California State University Northridge 1989 to 1991:  Lecturer, Department of Political Science, San Jose State University. 1988 to 1989:  Lecturer, Department of Political Science, San Francisco State University. Administrative Positions 2005-2008:  Department Chair, Political Science.  Responsible for supervising faculty, staff, four academic programs and community outreach.  Responsibilities include scheduling 70 sections per semester to meet an FTES of over 600 students; planning and monitoring department budget; friend-raising and development (external relations);  purchasing; faculty development and mentoring; monitoring for compliance with academic and university policies; compliance with collective bargaining agreement; academic planning and curricular review; program review and assessment; faculty recruitment, retention, promotion, and tenure review (RTP). 2004-2006:  Director, Center for Southern California Studies, CSUN.  Work with high profile community members and university administration and faculty in applied research, program development, community relations, faculty development, and funded projects.  Specific responsibilities include program development and implementation, friend-raising and development, curricular support, personnel hiring and supervision, budgeting and purchasing, grant writing. 2004-2005: Coordinator of Special Sessions Programs in Public Sector Management (PSM) and Masters in Public Administration (MPA).  The PSM and MPA programs serve approximately 400 students through non-state supported programming and curriculum.  Served as Dean’s liaison coordinating academic programs between two colleges, representing CSBS Dean’s Office to PSM/ MPA Program Directors, ensuring compliance with university academic policies and procedures, facilitating PSM/MPA programs and faculty development, tracking financial obligations between PSM/MPA programs and academic departments.    2001-2002:  Interim Department Chair, Political Science.  Responsible for supervising faculty,  staff, three academic programs and community outreach.  Responsibilities included course scheduling to meet an FTES of approximately 450 students; planning and monitoring department budget; friend-raising and development (external relations);  purchasing; faculty development and mentoring; monitoring for compliance with academic and university policies; compliance with collective bargaining agreement; academic planning and curricular review; program review and assessment; faculty recruitment, retention, promotion, and tenure review (RTP). 1998-2000:  Director, Center for Southern California Studies, CSUN.  Work with high profile community members and university administration and faculty in applied research, program development, community relations, faculty development, and funded projects.  Specific responsibilities include program development and implementation, curricular support, personnel hiring and supervision, budgeting and purchasing, grant writing. Current Research: Linking Science to Decision Making in Environmental Policy: Bridging the Disciplinary Gap (co-authored with Lawrence Becker, The MIT Press, forthcoming)    This book examines the role of science in moderating interest-based    politics in resource  management and environmental stewardship.  The    manuscript builds a model of science based policy processes where    management decisions are based on stakeholder input but constrained by    scientific efficacy. Ultimately, the project is intended to develop a    protocol to maximize cross-disciplinary decision making in    environmental policy. Publications:  Books Rethinking California: Politics and Policy in the Golden State (co-authored with H. Eric Schockman, and David Shafie, Englewood Cliffs, NJ:  Prentice Hall, 2009, 2nd edition).    This book explores the evolving role of state and local politics in    California as the state emerges as a dominant trend setter,    establishing models and approaches that are emulated throughout the    nation. Strategic Planning in Environmental Regulation: A Policy Approach that  Works (co-authored with Sheldon Kamieniecki and Steve Cohen, The MIT  Press, 2005)    This book evaluates the variety of strategic policy tools available    to academics and regulators with an emphasis on alternatives to    command and control approaches. Further, as a book on strategic     planning incorporating stakeholder processes, the text adds to the     newly emerging literature on negotiated rulemaking (neg/reg) by     providing a useful model for facilitated negotiation along regulatory    guidelines. Finally, the book provides the most substantive policy    history and case study on the UST and MTBE issue.  Rethinking California: Politics and Policy in the Golden State (co-authored with H. Eric Schockman, and David Shafie, Englewood Cliffs, NJ:  Prentice Hall, 2001, 1st edition). California: An Owners Manual  (co-authored with H. Eric Schockman, Englewood Cliffs, NJ:  Prentice Hall, 1997).    This book provides an overview of Politics , Culture, and Institutions    in California.  It was designed as a companion to the California    Politics requirement of Title V. Thinking About the Environment: Readings on Politics, Property, and the Physical World (edited with Rory O'Brien; NY: M.E. Sharpe, Inc., 1996)    This book integrates classic and contemporary writings on nature and    the environment with analysis and commentary in an effort to develop a    theoretical bridge between thinking about the environment and acting to    improve environmental quality. Environmental Deceptions:  The Tension between Liberalism and Environmental Policymaking in the United States  (Albany:  State University of New York Press, 1995)    This book brings together normative analyses and empirical data to    explain the structural limitations liberal society places on    environmental improvement. I argue that cultural ambivalence toward    communitarian ethics has made the traditional environmental    infrastructure problematic.  The book exposes the subtle tensions that    often lead to policy failure, and suggests that traditional policy    models are insufficient to resolve existing environmental dilemmas in    air, water, waste, and energy. Public Policy:  The Essential Readings (edited with Stella Theodoulou; Englewood Cliffs, NJ:  Prentice Hall, 1995).    This book brings together several classic and contemporary articles    focusing on the formation and implementation of public policy.    Throughout the text the policy game metaphor is utilized as a unifying    theme. Publications:  Articles, Book Chapters, and Book Reviews "The Environmental Policy Bureaucracy:  A Western Perspective,"  (with Sheldon Kamieniecki and Denise M  ), in Environmental Politics and Policy in the West. 2nd Edition.  Zachary Smith, ed., (Kendall-Hunt, 2005). Review of Sheldon Kamieniecki, George Gonzalez, and Robert Vos, "Flashpoints in Environmental Policymaking: Controversies in Achieving Sustainability" (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1997). In "The American Political Science Review", June 1999. "Politics and Policy in California," (with H. Eric Schockman) in "California Dreams and Realities: Readings for Critical Thinkers and Writers."  2nd Edition. Sonia Maasik and Jack Soloman, eds., (Boston: St. Martins, 1999) "Surfing Bytes: Utilizing the Internet and Your Computer for Social Science Research" with Paula Lackie and Stella Theodoulou) in "Methods for Political Inquiry: The Discipline, Philosophy and Analysis of Politics." Stella Theodoulou and Rory O’Brien, eds., (Englewood Cliffs, NJ:  Prentice Hall, 1999). Review of Peter DeLeon, "Democracy and the Policy Sciences" (Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1997) and Anne Larason Schneider & Helen Ingram, "Policy Design for Democracy" (Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas Press, 1997).  In "The American Political Science Review," June 1998. "The Green Critique," in "Thinking About the Environment." Matthew Cahn and Rory O’Brien, eds.,  (NY: M.E. Sharpe, Inc., 1996) "Accommodating the Future: Strategies for Resolving the Environmental Quagmire," in "Thinking About the Environment."  (NY: M.E. Sharpe, Inc., 1996) "What's Theory Got to Do With It?  An Introduction to Thinking About the Environment," (with Rory O'Brien,) in "Thinking About the Environment: Political Theory and Environmental Policymaking." (NY: M.E. Sharpe, Inc., 1996) Review of Lawrence E. Susskind, "Environmental Diplomacy: Negotiating More Effective Global Agreements" (NY: Oxford University Press, 1994).  In "Political Science Quarterly",  Summer 1995. "The Policy Game," in "Public Policy: The Essential Readings."  Stella Theodoulou and Matthew Cahn, eds.,  (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1995) "The Players:  Institutional and Non-Institutional Actors in Public Policy," in "Public Policy: The Essential Readings"  (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1995) "The Environmental Policy Bureaucracy:  A Western Perspective,"  (with Sheldon Kamieniecki), in "Environmental Politics and Policy in the West." Zachary Smith, ed., (Kendall-Hunt, 1993). "Western Governments and Environmental Policy," with Sheldon Kamieniecki and Eugene Goss), in "Politics, Power and Public Policy in the Contemporary American West."  Clive Thomas, ed.,  (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1991). Invited Lectures "Linking Science to Decision Making in Environmental Policy: The Case of Marine Protected Areas"   Munson Marine Lecture Series 2001 Sponsored by the Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies November 2001 "Bridging the Disciplinary Gap Between Science and Policy" Bren School of Environmental Science and Management University of California, Santa Barbara March 2000 Professional Conference Participation Chair, “Schools as Political Terrain.”  18th Annual Envisioning California Conference.  The Envisioning California Conference is a statewide California Studies Conference sponsored by CSU Sacramento and CSU Northridge.  Sacramento, September 2006. Program Chair and Conference Coordinator:  17th Annual Envisioning California Conference.    Los Angeles, September 2005. Panelist: Roundtable: Innovative Approaches to Environmental Policy Education.  Annual Meeting of the Western Political Science Association, Denver, March 2003. Panelist:  Resolving Coastal and Ocean User Conflicts Through Negotiation -- Best Practices for Convening Marine and Coastal Policy Dialogues.  California and the World Ocean, Santa Barbara, CA, October 2002.  Sponsored by the California Resources Agency. ”Linking Science to Decision Making in Environmental Policy: The Channel Islands Marine Reserve Process,”  presented at the Annual Meeting of the Western  Political Science Association, Las Vegas, NV, March 2001. Moderator and Participant, Colloquy on "Urban Fragmentation and Metropolitan  Governance: Secession and Consolidation in Los Angeles and Beyond." Urban Affairs Association Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, May 2000. "Urban Politics and Fragmentation in Los Angeles," presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Atlanta, Summer 1999. "The Politics of Discontent: Assessing the Impacts of Secession on Representation and Empowerment in Los Angeles," presented at the Annual Meeting of the Western  Political Science Association, Seattle, March 1999. Chair, Roundtable on "The Urban Environment: Los Angeles in Perspective," Annual Meeting of the Western Political Science Association, Los Angeles, March 1998. "Two Strategies for Success: Source Reduction and Recovery in California and Wisconsin," presented in the Public Policy Section at the Annual Meeting of The Southwestern Political Science Association, New Orleans, March 1997. Roundtable Participant, Panel on "New Approaches to Environmental Policy," at the Annual Meeting of the Western  Political Science Association, Tucson, March, 1997. Discussant, Panel on "Revisions in Policy Subsystem Theory," Public Policy Section, at the Annual Meeting of the Western Political Science Association, Tucson, March, 1997. Chair, Panel on "The Next Increment: Environmental Strategies at Decade's Close."  In the Public Policy Section at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, San Francisco, August, 1996. "Overcoming Interest Based Politics in Environmental Policymaking." Presented in the Public Policy Section at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Chicago, August, 1995. Chair, Panel on "New Teaching Technologies in Political Science."  Annual meeting of the Western  Political Science Association, Portland, March, 1995. "Building Models in Environmental Policy: Evaluating California." Presented in the Public Policy Section at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, New York, September 1994. "Surfing the Internet:  Pedagogic Strategies Utilizing Microcomputers in Methodology Classes,"  (with Stella Theodoulou and Paula Lackie). Presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, New York, September 1994. "Indexing Normative Influences on Environmental Policy in the United States: A Starting Point."  Presented at the annual meeting of the Western Political Science Association, Albuquerque, NM, March 1994. Co-Chair, Panel: "Surviving the Non-Tenured Experience." Annual Meeting, Western Political Science Association, Albuquerque, NM, March 1994. "The Limits of Liberal Environmental Policy."  Presented in the Public Policy Section at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Washington, DC, September 1993. "Symbolic Language and Environmental Policymaking in the United States." Presented in the Political Communication Section at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Washington, DC, September 1993. Chair, Panel:  "Environmental Theory,"  American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, September 1993. "Water Policy and Local Growth Limits in California:  The Santa Barbara County Water Wars -- the Case in Goleta," (with Rory O'Brien),  Presented in the State and Local Government Panel at the annual meeting of the Western Political Science  Association, Pasadena, CA, March 1993. "The Green Machine Meets the Growth Machine:  Factors Affecting Intergovernmental Relations and Environmental Policy in California," (with Evan McKenzie),  Presented in the Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations Panel at the Western Political Science Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, March 1992. "Municipal Recycling in California," (with Stella Theodoulou), Presented in a Panel on Public Policy at the Western Political Science Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, March 1992. "The Irony of Liberalism:  Contract Theory and the Vulnerability of Rights," Presented in the Public Policy and Political Theory Panel at the Western Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Seattle WA,  March 1991. "Symbolic Policy and the Engineering of Consent," Presented in the Public Policy Agenda Setting Panel at the WPSA Annual Meeting, Seattle WA, March 1991. "Game Theory in Public Policy Formation:  An Exploration of Speculative-Augmentation and the Clean Air Act,"  Presented at the Western Political Science Association  Annual Meeting, Newport Beach, CA, March 1990. Discussant, Panel:  "The Other Liberalism,"   Western  Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, March 1989. Funded Projects and Grants (Selected) “Teachers for a New Era” (TNE) Member, Steering Committee and General Education Workgroup Coordinator, 2003-present; Evidence Committee Liaison, 2005-present.  TNE is a $6 million Carnegie funded initiative that focuses on improving teacher preparation by assessing the needs of learners and training future teachers in approaches to assessment; creating strong clinical practice experiences for  teacher candidates; and strengthening the collaboration of arts and sciences faculty with education faculty in the design and   oversight of teacher preparation programs.  Over 80 CSUN faculty are involved in the grant. "A Window of Opportunity: Multidisciplinary Views of California Citizenship in the 21st Century."  Principal Investigator and Project Director, 1999. This project received $30,000 from the Center for California Studies to provide a multidisciplinary analysis of the concept of citizenship in California.  Results were disseminated through four colloquia in Summer, 1999. Manuscript Reviewer Congressional Quarterly Press The MIT Press Duke University Press Political Research Quarterly Social Sciences Quarterly Rowman and Littlefield Addison Wesley Longman Prentice Hall's Social Sciences Division Applied Policy Experience “CSUN Community and Economic Impact Report.”  Commissioned by University Relations.  Principal Investigator.  November 2004.  Available at http://www.csun.edu/CommunityImpact/ Member, Roadmap to Reform Advisory Committee A Technical Panel to the Little Hoover Commission (a state oversight commission) Sacramento, CA  Fall 2003 Senior Research Associate Solimar Research Group  (Environmental Research and Policy Analysis) Ventura, CA, 2000 to present Chair, Marine Ecological Reserve Science Panel.  Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). U.S. Department of Commerce, 1999 to 2001. Member, Southern California Policy Advisory Group (City Terrace Group), Assembled by Antonia Villaraigosa, Then-Speaker of the California State Assembly, 1999-2000. Member, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and Environmental Policy Focus Group.  The Institute for Applied Social and Policy Research, Claremont Graduate University.  The ITS Focus Group brought together regional leaders and environmental analysts to Evaluate the impact of proposed ITS technologies on environmental quality in California, 1995. Principal Investigator and Project Director:  Downtown Economic Development Study.  Performed for the City of San Fernando.  Spring 1993. Supported by a grant from the City of San Fernando. Other University-wide Leadership 2003-present:  Member and Chair (2005-2008), Master of Public Administration Advisory Board.   Responsibilities include faculty development and mentoring; curriculum review; program review and assessment, advisement, and assisting in course scheduling. 2003-2006:  Member, Steering Committee, Teachers for a New Era.  TNE is a Carnegie funded $5 million Grant tasked with improving Teacher Education.  2003-2006: TNE Workgroup Coordinator – Integrating Arts and Science Faculty into Teacher Education.  Primary work focuses on coordinating six faculty in the study of the relationship between general education and teacher preparation.  2005 to present: Coordinator, Quantitative Evidence Group.  Responsible for liaising between quantitative data analysis team and evidence section coordinators, Provost, and Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2002-2004:  Member, University Planning and Budget Group (UPBG), CSUN.  The University Planning and Budget Group (UPBG) serves in an advisory capacity to the President by assisting with the development and prioritization of campus goals and advising on the allocation of resources. 2002-2004:  Member, CSBS College Personnel Committee, CSUN.  Responsible for making RTP recommendations to the Provost for academic faculty. 1998-1999:  Chair, Graduate Studies Committee, CSUN.  The GSC is a University Wide Committee that Establishes Policies and Reviews and Approves all Graduate Level Programs and Courses.  Chair is responsible for establishing agenda and facilitating Committee business in coordination with the Associate Vice-President for Graduate Studies. 1998-1999:  Member, Strategic Planning Governing Group (SPGG).  The SPGG works closely with the University President to facilitate and implement the university's strategic planning process. 1998-1999:  Academic Senator, CSUN Academic Senate. 1996-1998: Director of the Eco-Literacy Project, CSUN. Developed and implemented a science based ecology program at Van Nuys Middle School in the Los Angeles Unified School District.  The program was based on a service learning model, integrating CSUN students into 6th grade classrooms to implement environmental science projects and provide mentorship to diverse population of urban students. 1993-1998:  Director of Departmental Graduate Program, responsibilities included overseeing graduate admissions, curriculum development, implementation of comprehensive exams, supervision of thesis projects, and academic and professional advisement for graduate students. Other University Service 2005-2006: Chair, Workload Review Committee, CSBS, CSUN. 2005-2006:  Chair, Associate Dean Search and Screen Committee, CSBS, CSUN. 2004-2005:  Member, CSBS Credential Program Review Committee, CSUN. 2003-present:  Member, Public Sector Management Advisory Committee, CSUN. 2003-2004:  Member, Dean Search and Screen Committee, CSBS, CSUN. 2002-2004:  Member, Northridge Presidential Scholars Review Committee, CSUN 1997-2000: Member, Advisory Board, California Studies Interdisciplinary Major, CSUN.  The California Studies Minor Advisory Board works to integrate California Studies into the university curriculum, and provides curricular support for the program. 1997-1998:  Chair, Director of Development Search Committee, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, CSUN 1997-1998:  Member, Taskforce on Faculty Hiring.  A Special Committee of the University Academic Senate, CSUN 1997-1998:  Member, Performance Step Salary Increase (PSSI) Review Committee, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, CSUN 1997-1998:  Member, Program Review Committee for Department of Kinesiology, CSUN 1997-1998:  Member, Program Review Committee for Department of English, CSUN 1996-2001:  Member, University Graduate Studies Committee (GSC), CSUN 1996-1997:  Member, Program Review Committee for Department of Geography, CSUN 1996-1997:  Member, Advisory Board, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, CSUN 1994-1998: Co-Director, Political Science Data Lab, Developed lab plan and established institutional justification, acquired resources, and supervised lab construction.  Specific             responsibilities included supervising lab technicians and equipment, upgrading statistical packages, and acquiring new datasets for instructional and research support. 1992-1998:  Credential Advisor, Responsibilities included advising single subject credential students in the social sciences, and supervising NTE/ Praxis waiver program. 1992-1994:  Member, University General Education Council, a subcommittee of the Educational Policies Committee tasked with reviewing university general education program. Community Leadership and Participation School of Arts and Global Enrichment (SAGE), Ventura, California Member, Board of Directors, 2005-2008 SAGE is a California 501C Public Non-Profit Corporation Charter School Petitioner School of Arts and Global Enrichment (SAGE), Ventura, California Classroom Volunteer (4 hours per week), 2006-present Blanche Reynolds Elementary School, Ventura Unified School District, Ventura, California Classroom Volunteer, Open Classroom Magnet Program (4 hours per week), 2000-2006. Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS), Offices in Oxnard and Santa Barbara, CA Chair, Sanctuary Advisory Council 2002-2004 Member, Sanctuary Advisory Council 1998 to 2004 (Alternate Member for Research 1998-2001; Member Public-At-Large 2001-2004). AIDS CARE Inc., Ventura, California Member, Board of Directors, 1992-1993 AIDS CARE was a California Nonprofit Benefit Corporation and United Way agency which provided practical support to people living with HIV and AIDS in Ventura County.  ACI services included case management, daily provisions, legal services, referrals, education, and policy advocacy. Organizational Affiliations and Activity Within the Profession American Political Science Association (APSA) Western Political Science Association (WPSA) Member, 1998 Leonard D. White Award for Best Dissertation in Political Science, American Political Science Association (APSA), 1997-1998. Member, Executive Council, Western Political Science Association (WPSA), 1994-1997. Chair, Pi Sigma Alpha Award Committee (for best paper), Western Political Science Association, 1995-1996. Member, Editorial Search Committee, Policy Currents, Public Policy Section, American Political Science Association (APSA), 1994. Member, Committee on Professional Development, Western Political Science Association (WPSA), 1992-1994. Member, Committee on Membership, Attendance, and Registration, Western Political Science Association (WPSA), 1993-1995.