About the Author

Gerald Andrews Emison is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Administration at Mississippi State University. At MSU, he teaches public management and environmental policy. His research interests concern the effectiveness of public environmental institutions, professionalism in city planning and engineering, and environmental consequences of growth management. Prior to joining to MSU, Emison served in a number of senior executive positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the Director of the Program Evaluation Division, Director of the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards and the Deputy Regional Administrator in Seattle. In his executive capacities, he produced as well as was the customer for program and policy analyses on vital public issues. Among his activities he was an architect of the Clean Air Act of 1990, supervised EPA's clean up responsibilities at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and managed the Spotted Owl controversy for EPA. As a result of his work at EPA he received the presidential rank designation for meritorious senior executive service. He received his Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also holds additional graduate degrees in Political Science and Engineering Management. His undergraduate work was in Civil Engineering, and was followed by service in the Seabees in Viet Nam. He is a registered professional engineer, a board-certified diplomate of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.