Mihm Recognized for Fostering ‘Excellence in Public Service for the Next Generation’

Chris Mihm, adjunct professor of public administration and international affairs in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, has received the 2025 Arnold Steigman Excellence in Teaching Award from the New York State Academy for Public Administration (SAPA).

The award is given annually to a part-time instructor at the graduate or undergraduate level in public administration who engages public service professionals to foster excellence in the field. Presented this past May, it honors the late Arnold Steigman, who spent 40 years as a government official in 11 different agencies and taught public administration at the City University of New York, Long Island University and Empire State College. In operation since 1974, the organization is a New York State-based, nonprofit organization that promotes best practices for public administration professionals.

Mihm teaches courses on public administration, democracy and performance management. He frequently serves as a guest lecturer on topics related to globalized governance, risk management, performance assessment, public-private partnerships, performance budgeting and public sector management reform for the Maxwell School’s Executive Education training programs.

He has received the Executive Education Excellence in Teaching award and is widely recognized by students and colleagues for his ability to present information in a clear manner, for the inclusive classroom environment he creates, for diverse and robust dialogue and exchange, and for his efforts to create meaningful course assignments with feedback for learning and concept mastery.

“Indeed, it is this impact he has continued to have through his teaching of Maxwell students at an individual level that may be the most exemplary way his career continues to foster excellence in public service for the next generation of leaders,” wrote Maxwell Dean David M. Van Slyke in his nomination letter for the Arnold Steigman award. “Over the past seven years, he has taught over 400 students in our M.P.A. and executive M.P.A. programs, leading critical discussions that give students the space to grapple with fundamental questions about the role of the government, the tensions between bureaucracy and democracy, to whom are public administrators responsible, and how can we effectively manage public programs.”

Van Slyke says Mihm’s former students “continue to live out his impact on their understanding of the field in modern times through their own impressive careers.”

Mihm has published numerous chapters and reports on the business of government and preparing governments for future political and economic shocks. He served at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, for 37 years, 17 as the managing director for strategic issues. He is the deputy chair on the Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee at the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, former chairperson of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee for the United Nations and fellow and former chair of the board of directors at the National Academy of Public Administration. He was also a member and chairperson of the Independent Expert Oversight Advisory Committee for the World Health Organization.