Brian S. Nakamura joined Department of Public Service and Administration as Assistant Professor of the Practice in September 2019. He earned his B.A. in Economics from California State University in 1992, and a Master of Public Administration and Doctorate in Public Administration from the University of Southern California in 1995 and 2002, respectively.
Nakamura previously taught for the Departments of Political Science, Fay Jones School of Architecture, and Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. He held other academic appointments at the University of California-Riverside School of Public Policy, and was an adjunct professor in the Master of Public Administration Program at California Baptist University. He also served as a mentor and adjunct faculty member at the University of Southern California’s School of Public Policy.
Nakamura’s research interests include the “fiscalization” of land use and the social and economic impacts on sustainable communities as well as public finance and budgeting, taxation and equity. Nakamura has presented his research work at the American Society of Public Administration, League of California Cities, shared publications and white papers, and has been referenced in Shelly Kirkpatrick’s book, Build a Better Vision Statement. Additional research and practice interests are dedicated to constructing and facilitating relevant local, regional, state, and Federal government internship and fellowship opportunities for emerging public service leaders to advance effective, efficient, and equitable governance and government. The Western Riverside Council of Government’s Public Service Fellowship Program developed and implemented in 2017 is one such notable example.
His research expertise proved useful in his role as city manager in numerous California cities and one in the State of Oregon. He also served in local government as a director of public works and budget and grants manager. As a city manager Nakamura implemented policy strategies to establish environmental and business partnerships and worked to preserve and enhance economic and societal viability, implementing resilient and sustainable land use and zoning objectives, collaborating with elected officials to insure citizen participation, and local, regional, state, and Federal government collective action and cooperation. He has also served as an Executive Board Member for the National Alliance for Youth Sports, three different Chambers’ of Commerce, Temecula Preparatory School Board, Folsom Lake College Foundation, and keynote speaker for several nationally recognized organizations.
