GUEST COLUMN.

Public administration is often seen as the bastion of “we’ve always done it this way.” The forms, the processes, the inertia - they seem designed to lull even the most enthusiastic reformer into a slumber. But what if the field could be something more? What if public administration could embrace its inner rebel, challenging entrenched norms to make governance more inclusive and equitable? What if subversion could be a public value?

Subversion, after all, comes from the Latin subvertere: to turn, turn back, be turned; convert. And while this term is often painted with the brush of illegitimacy, we propose a reframing. In public administration, subversion isn’t about chaos - it’s about transformation. It’s the act of intentionally disrupting the status quo to create governance that reflects the diversity and complexity of the public it serves.

This might sound lofty (and it is), but it’s not just theoretical. In our work at the intersection of public administration and civic education, we’ve seen what happens when subversion moves from the abstract to the concrete. And spoiler alert: it works.

From Theory to Practice: Civic Education That Changes the Game

One clear-cut example of subversion in action has been the work at The City College of New York’s Moynihan Center. Its fellowship program is grounded in the idea that civic education isn’t just about understanding public service – it’s about shaping it. It isn’t just about plugging gaps in the workforce; it’s about rewiring the system, itself.

Students aren’t just learning the ropes; they’re gaining the skills necessary to retie them into something stronger, more flexible, and more inclusive.

Through this program, students are placed in internships across the public sector, gaining hands-on experience in policy and public service. The impact is twofold: students learn to navigate and challenge systems that weren’t built with them in mind, and institutions benefit from their fresh perspectives and drive.

Take Miguel Arias, who interned at the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office. After his internship, he received a job offer that allowed him to continue his work directly with residents, connect them to city agencies and fast-track solutions to community problems. And, because civic engagement is nothing without a touch of joy, he also helped coordinate the 2024 National Dominican Day Parade in New York City, ensuring everyone from toddlers to grandparents had a chance to see themselves reflected in the community fabric. 

 Stories like Miguel’s illustrate something critical: civic education, when done right, isn’t just preparation for public service. It’s a form of public service itself, shaping both the students who participate and the institutions they engage with. This is subversion in action - not tearing down, but turning over and rebuilding. 

Subversion as Public Value: A Model for the Future

This brings us back to the core idea of subversion as public value. The fellowship program at the Colin Powell School exemplifies what happens when public administration challenges its own conventions. It’s not just about training the next generation of leaders – it’s about ensuring those leaders reflect the communities they serve.

But this isn’t a one-sided equation. State and local governments, often strapped for resources and navigating complex challenges, stand to gain immensely from partnerships with programs like The Moynihan Center’s. These students aren’t just interns; they’re agents of change who bring energy, diversity, and fresh thinking to institutions that desperately need all three.

Moreover, the act of placing students in these roles is itself a subversive act. It’s a challenge to the unspoken norms that have long defined public service: who gets to lead, who gets a seat at the table, and whose voices are heard. By intentionally disrupting these norms, we’re not dismantling governance – we’re democratizing it.

Flipping the Pancake: A Shared Responsibility

This is where a metaphorical spatula comes in. If public administration is the pancake – stuck, unevenly cooked, and in need of some attention – then programs like the Moynihan Center’s fellowship are the tools to flip it over. And make no mistake: flipping the pancake isn’t just a job for educators and students. It’s a shared responsibility between academia, government, and the public.

As we reflect on this work, we’re reminded of Senator Moynihan’s own words: “A simple openness to alternative definitions of a problem and a willingness to concede the possibility of events taking a variety of courses. This ought to be the preeminent mode of liberalism.”  Subversion as public value is exactly that – an openness to approaches that solve problems not by bulldozing, but by rethinking, reshaping, and rebuilding.

Here's to the students who dare to dream big, the mentors who clear the path, and the institutions willing to embrace a little disruption. Together, we can create a public administration that doesn’t just manage change but drives it – equity-first, democracy-driven, and ready to serve the next generation.

The contents of this Guest Column are those of the author, and not necessarily Barrett and Greene, Inc.

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