SUSAN SUN GUE YANG

Welcome! My name is Susan Sun Gue Yang.

I am a Ph.D. Candidate (dissertation defended on July 7, 2026) in Public Administration and Public Policy at the Department of Political Science, University of South Carolina. I am currently out on the academic job market. See my CV here.

My research examines how public policies shape the experiences and outcomes of the populations they serve, with particular attention to the organizations and frontline professionals responsible for implementing them. Situated at the intersection of public administration and management and education policy, my work explores how organizational capacity, professional discretion, and institutional contexts shape policy implementation and its outcomes.

My research spans multiple public service settings, with a particular emphasis on how social and educational policies, institutional supports, and professional practices shape opportunities and outcomes for citizens.

I was honored to receive the 2025 NASPAA Staats Emerging Scholar Award, the JPAE Best Reviewer Award, and the 2025 Outstanding Graduate Instructor Award from USC. I also currently serve as the Social Media Editor for the Public Personnel Management (PPM) journal.