Events & News
2024
Awards and Recognition
- Dr. Chen received Isaacson Professor (2019-2025) from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Scholarship/Research.
- Starting July 1, 2024, Dr. Chen has served as the interim director of the School of Public Administration.
- Dr. Chen served as the conference co-chair for the 25th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research (dg.o 2024) in Taipei, Taiwan (June 11-15). Dr. Chen is also a co-founder of the AI and Government chapter of the Digital Government Society launched at the conference.
- Dr. Chen received a one-year project to address digital equity in advanced computing for U.S. universities and colleges. The title is “ Data-enabled Pathways to Equity in Cyberinfrastructure Utilization for Scientific Discovery.” The project dates are from 3/15/2024 to 2/28/2025.
- The award amount is approximately $280,000. He serves as the PI. Rich Knepper, his Co-PI at Cornell University, has a subaward from UNO. Dr. Xiaoyue (Zoe) Cheng, the other Co-PI, is from the Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences.
Presentation and Professional Services
- Dr. Lee took part in the 25th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research (dg.o 2024) in Taipei, Taiwan (June 11-15), where they presented a paper titled "Does Citizens’ Use of Open Government Data Improve Their Perception of Organizational Transparency in Local Government." Additionally, Dr. Lee served as a discussant in the Session on the Advancement of Korean Public Administration (YouTube Video, Korean), chaired by Dr. M. Jae Moon, a research fellow from our Lab, at the 2024 Annual KAPA International Conference held in Yeosu, South Korea (June 19-20).
- On June 21, representing UNO, Dr. Lee, along with Dr. Craig Maher, participated in the MOU signing ceremony with SeoulTech University. The event was attended by the SeoulTech President, Dr. WookJoon Sung, a former visiting scholar from our lab, the Deputy Director of Global Affairs, and the Chair of the Department of Public Administration.
- Since Fall 2024, Dr. Lee has served as a co-chair of the SPA doctoral program (with Dr. Trang Hoang).
- Dr. Yeonkyung Kim successfully defended her dissertation on June 10, 2024, and has joined Kean University as an Assistant Professor.
- Dr. Grace (Seoeun) Jung defended her dissertation on June 15, 2024, and has been appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Administration at the University of La Verne.
- Dr. Lee has been invited to participate in the International Conference on Comparative Public Policy here in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis on April 19-21 at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. Working with Dr. Yixin Dai, he has served as a co-guest editor of a special issue on Artificial Intelligence, Data-driven Technologies, and Comparative Public Policy.
New Lab Member
- Our lab welcomes Sukwon Choi, a first-year doctoral student, as our newest lab member starting August 2024.
2023
Awards and Recognition
- Dr. Chen, PI, received a three-year NSF award of $750,000. This grant aims to enhance the accountability and impact of AI chatbots for collaboration between the U.S. government and tribal nations for emergency management. Dr. Chun-Hua Tsai at the Department of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis at IS&T and Dr. Eduardo Zendejas, J.D. at the Tribal Management and Emergency Service program in the School of Public Administration are the Co-PIs.
- Dr. Lee was invited to deliver a keynote speech on “Digital Platform Government and Role of KLID” at the 2nd Global Forum on Local Digital Innovation and Governance hosted by Korean Local Information Research & Development Institute (KLID) and Friedrich Naumann Foundation, November 30, 2023.
- Yeonkyung received 2023 Margaret P. Gessamen Scholarship from UNO Office of Graduate Studies.
- Yeonkyung received 2023 Doctoral Student Professional Development Consortium of the Public and Nonprofit (PNP) Division of the Academy of Management (AOM) scholarship.
- Seoeun received the Doctoral Fellowship Program Award, The Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) (2023)
- Yi-Fan received the 2023 digital governance junior scholar from the Section on Science and Technology in Government, American Society for Public Administration.
Conference Presentations
- Yi-Fan and Dr. Chen presented their research entitled “Citizens’ Intention to Follow Recommendations from a Government-Supported AI-Enabled System” in the 2023 ASPA Annual Conference of Protecting Democracy for Next Generation: the Role and Responsibility of Public Administration. Online, March 20-24, 2023.
Professional Services
- Dr. Chen serves as the citizen member of the oversight committee for Douglas-Omaha Technology Commission, Nebraska.
New Lab Member
- Our lab welcomes Bobita Mohajan and Andrew Burk, first-year doctoral student, as our newest lab members starting August 2024.
2022
Awards and Recognition
- Dr. Chen received the certificate of the top 10 most downloaded journal articles from Government Information Quarterly for his publication "Implications of the use of artificial intelligence in public governance: A systematic literature review and a research agenda."
- Dr. Chen received the Isaacson Professorship from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Sept. 2022 to Aug 2025.
- Dr. Chen received the Circle of Distinction from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, September 2022
- Dr. Chen received the 2021 Best Reviewer Award from Perspectives on Public Management and Governance, May 2022.
- Yeonkyung received APPAM-KAPS Best Graduate Student Paper Award (3rd place) in APPAM 2022.
- Seoeun received Graduate Diversity Scholars and Leaders Professional Development Program Scholarship Award, The Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) (2021, 2022)
- Seoeun received Graduate Research and Creative Activity Award (GRACA), University of Nebraska at Omaha (2021-2022)
Grants
- Dr. Lee received the 2022-2023 College of Public Affairs and Community Service Inquiry Award of $2,000 as the principal investigator to research “Does E-Participation Facilitate Digital Inclusion and Improve Equity in Public Service Delivery for Underserved Neighborhoods?”
- Dr. Lee received the University of Nebraska Collaboration Initiative Grant of $38,156 as the co-principal investigator to research “Considering the Effects of Variation in Configurations of Trust.”
- Yi-Fan received a one year UNO graduate student research grant of $5,000 to study "Artificial Intelligence in Public Governance: Chatbot Applications in State Governments."
Conference Presentations
- Yeonkyung presented her research "Promotive or inhibitive? Examining the impact of e-government promotion channels on citizen’s use of e-government services." in APPAM 2022 Poster Session.
- Yeonkyung presented her research "Centering inclusion in nonprofit advocacy and policy change." in ASPA 2022.
- Yeonkyung presented her research "Motivating citizen engagement in government crowdsourcing: the case of the city of Omaha." in ASPA 2022.
- Yi-Fan presented his research "Existence and Intentionality of Digital Transformation in Public Organizations: A Phenomenological Perspective" in DGO 2022.
2021
22nd Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research, June 9-11, Omaha, U.S.A. (Virtual Conference)
- The Lab organizes and hosts the International Conference on Digital Government Research at University of Nebraska at Omaha from June 9 to 11 in 2021. The theme of 2021 conference is Digital Innovations for Public Values: Inclusive Collaboration and Community. Dr. Chen is the lead conference chair and Dr. Lee is the lead program chair.
Nebraska Transit Technology Project
- Dr. Chen serves as the campus Co-PI of this five year 2.4 million project (2017-2021). Dr. Lee serves as technology co-lead.
Presentation and Professional Services
- Dr. Lee was invited to present “Research Collaboration Opportunity: A Comparative Study on Digital Government Policy in South Korea and the United States,” hosted by Korean Local Information Research & Development Institute (KLID), June 2, 2021.
- Dr. Chen presented with Dr. Michael Ahn on “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Government Transformation: perceptions, attitudes and misconceptions by the government administrators” at the American Society of Public Administration’s 2021 virtual conference, April 12, 2021.
- Dr. Chen served as the instructor for the IT module for the Nebraska Association of County Officials in spring 2021.
- Dr. Lee was invited as a guest speaker to present “Local E-government in Korea” at KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) Master of Global Public Administration Program.
- Dr. Lee was invited as a guest speaker to present An Exploratory Study of Citizens’ Use of E-government Services and Covid-19 Compliance: A Case of City of Omaha” at Monthly Comparative Research Forum on Korean and U.S Local Government.
- Dr. Lee conducted and presented a summer research project on the impact of Covid-19 on rural transit service in Nebraska, sponsored by Center for Public Affairs Research, CPACS.
- Dr. Lee conducted a book project (with some Korean scholars in the U.S) on American Public Administration with the support from Korean Association of Public Administration and published a book (in Korean), entitled U.S. Public Administration and Policy: Perspectives from South Korean Scholars.
- Dr. Huang and Dr. Chen have published two research articles on the policy and use of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) with the support from the CPACS Inquiry Award on Regulation Compliance and Risk Mitigation of Recreational Drone Users.
Grants
- Dr. Chen received a two-year UNO research grant of approximately $80,000 to study transparency and fairness of artificial intelligence in government decision-making.
- Yeonkyung received a one year UNO graduate student research grant of $5,000 to study "Crowdsourcing in the governments: Lessons from Challenge.gov and Challenge Korea."
New Lab Member
- Our lab welcomes Yi-Fan Wang, a first-year doctoral student, as our newest lab member starting January 2021.
2020
21st Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research, June 15-19, Seoul, Korea (Virtual Conference)
- Dr. Lee served as a co-program chair with Seok-Jin Eom as a lead program chair.
Dr. Lee as program co-chair and co-editor of DGO 2020 proceedings
- Dr. Lee serves as the program chair and co-editor of Digital Government Society (DGO) 2020 proceedings.
Best Paper award of Dr. Chen and Dr. Ahn
Dr. Chen teaching the Public Policy and Governance of Artificial Intelligence course
- Dr. Chen teaches the Public Policy and Governance of Artificial Intelligence as a new course
2019
CPACS Inquiry Award
- Dr. Jooho Lee, principal investigator, received CPACS Inquiry Award on project titled "Citizens' Use of Electronic Participation Services in Local Government and Its Effects on Their Perceptions of Public Values: A Case of City of Omaha" (November, 2019 - June, 2020).
Congratulations to Dr. Chen for his university professorship as Isaacson Professor.
- Dr. Chen was granted university professorship as Isaacson Professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on September 1st, 2019.
Guest Lectures by Scholars visiting DGA Lab
- Dr. Shih-Yi Chein, epartment of Management Information System, National Chengchi University, Taiwan, lectured on Human Automation Collaboration.
- Dr. Wei-Ning Wu, Institute of Public Affairs Management, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, lectured on Participatory Governance.
Announcement of the new name of Lab: "Digital Governance and Analytics Lab"
- On August 1st, our Lab announced the new name to be “Digital Governance and Analytics Lab” by adding data analytics and insight to the strategic focus of our Lab.
Dr. Yu-Che Chen serves as co-editor for the Government Information Quarterly's Special Issue.
- Starting July, Dr. Yu-Che Chen serves as co-editor for the Government Information Quarterly’s special issue on Public Governance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.
International Conference on Digital Government Research
- Dr. Chen served as the lead program chair with Anneke Zuiderwijk and Fadi Salem as program co-chairs.
Dr. Lee presented at Public Management Research Conference
- Dr. Jooho Lee presented “Performance Improvement Pressure, Citizen Participation Demands, and Interagency Collaboration” at Public Management Research Conference, Chapel Hill, NC, June 11-14, 2019.
Dr. Lee participated in Interdisciplinary Research Conversation
- Dr. Jooho Lee participated in Interdisciplinary Research Conversation, cohosted by Public Policy Center and Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Consortium at University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, March 28th, 2019.
2018
Dr. Lee became an Elective President of Section on Korean Public Administration in ASPA.
- Dr. Lee became an elective president of Section on Korean Public Administration (SKPA) in ASPA for a three-year term (2018-2021). SKPA attempts to expand understanding of public administration between the U.S. and Korea by facilitating the relationships between two countries' public administration academics and practitioners at both institutional and individual levels.
Dr.Chen, Dr. Lee, Xian Gao and Teng-Wen Chang Attended the 2018 Annual ASPA Conference in Denver.
- During March 9-13, Dr. Chen, Dr. Lee, Xian and Teng-Weng attended the 2018 Annual ASPA in Denver, CO. Dr. Chen was the moderator of the Session: Advancing Public Administration Research and Theory: Advice for Emerging Scholars, the presenter/coauthor of the Session: Innovative Solutions in Information Technology to Improve Public Service Management: A Comparative Perspective, and the coauthor of the Session: Technology Development and Public Management. Dr. Lee was the presenter of the Session: Citizen Participation, Transparency and Trust. Xian Gao presented in the Session: Innovative Solutions in Information Technology to Improve Public Service Management: A Comparative Perspective. Teng-Wen Chang presented in the Session: Innovation in the Public Sector and coauthored in the Session: Smart City Revolution and the Future of Public Administration.
Dr.Chen became a new board member of the Digital Government Society
- Dr. Chen is one of the new board members of the Digital Government Society for a two-year term starting January 1, 2018. Digital Government Society (http://dgsociety.org/) is a prominent global and multi-disciplinary organization of scholars and practitioners for digital government. The society hosts annual international conferences on digital government research with conference proceedings. Dr. Chen is also selected as the new chair of the Student Support committee with the focus on designing and conducting the doctoral colloquium at annual international conferences.
2017
Awards and Recognition
- Dr. Chen received the Largest Award Amount, Scholarship/Research - 2017
RTAP Conference successfully ended!
- RTAP conference was held from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 in Hilton Omaha. The conference featured workshops, presentation, keynote speakers and round-tables to share the knowledge and experience. Dr. Chen and Dr. Lee presented transit technology practices of Advance for NE Rural Transit. Congratulations to Bit Ahn, Yunseung Kim, Sai Aditya Vogeti and Chetan Kumar Miriyala on winning the awards in a poster session!
Dr. Bennett Led Team Earns National Award to Promote Diversity in STEM Fields
- A team of scholars led by Assistant Professor DeeDee Bennett, Ph.D., a member of Leadership of the GDG Lab, also from UNO's emergency services program, has received $300,000 for a two-year project that seeks to increase the recruitment, retention, and matriculation of racial and ethnic minorities in STEM Ph.D. programs contributing to hazards and disaster research.
Welcome, Sai Aditya Vogeti and Chethan Kumar Miriyala!
- Our lab is happy to have two brilliant members joined us! Sai and Chethan are two master students of Computer Science at UNO, they will work for the lab as programmers with Dr. Chen and Dr. Lee.
Welcome, Yeonkyung Kim!
- Our lab is happy to have a new member joined us! Yeonkyung Kim is a new doctoral student from South Korea, She will work for the lab as a research assistant with Dr. Chen and Dr. Lee.
Dr. Nan Zhang Visited our Lab
- Dr. Nan Zhang, Associate Professor of Electronic Government in the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University in China visited our lab in August, 2017. Dr. Zhang is a renowned scholar in e-government and a leading authority of Chinese e-government, especially at the local level. We look forward to further developing our research partnership between the two labs and universities.
Farewell to Sweety Goenka
- Thanks for Sweety's great work for our lab! We appreciated her timely support and hard-work. We've been working as a team efficiently. Hope she will have a great future!
Dr. Jae Moon Visited our Lab
- Dr. Jae Moon, a professor of Yeonsei in Korea a research fellow of the lab, visited us on June 5th, 2017 and shared his thoughts on our vision and direction as a global digital governance research institute.
Dr. Jing Shi Attended the 2017 Annual ASPA Conference in Atlanta
- During March 17-21, Dr. Jing Shi attended the 2017 Annual ASPA (American Society for Public Administration) Conference in Atlanta. Dr. Shi presented the co-authored paper: E-Government Services and Social Media Adoption: Experience of Small Local Governments in Nebraska in the track of International Perspectives on E-Governance
Dr. Chen and Yunseung Kim Attended the 2017 Annual ASPA Conference in Atlanta
- During March 17-21, Dr. Chen and Yunseung Kim attended the 2017 Annual ASPA (American Society for Public Administration) Conference in Atlanta. Dr. Chen was the moderator of the Session: E-Government Service and Application in Public Administration, and Yunseung Kim presented his paper: E-government Service Adoption of Small Government in Nebraska in this session.
Sweety Goenka and Tejaswi Kandula Joined the Lab
- Welcome to Sweety and Tejaswi! In January 2017, Sweety and Tejaswi Joined our Lab as programmers, and their main work is developing and maintaining the nebraskatransit.com website. Thanks for their brilliant work!
The Lab Joined the Advance Project
- Since January 1st, 2017, the Lab has officially joined the Advanced Project as a partner with the Center for Public Affairs Research at UNO, the Nebraska Department of Road, and the University of Nebraska at Kearney. In this 5-year federally-funded project, the lab will play a key role in managing transit technologies including nebraskatransit.com.
2016
A New Visiting Scholar from HUST in China: Dr. Jing Shi
- As a visiting scholar from Huazhong University of Science and Technology(HUST) in China, Dr. Jing Shi has joined the lab since Oct.2016. During her visit (2016-2017), Dr. Shi is going to work in close collaboration with Dr. Chen and Dr. Lee about big data and social media in the Chinese government.
Dr. Chen Presented at Digital Government Society 2016
- Dr.Chen served as one of the co-chairs of the "Organizational factors, Adoption Issues and Digital Government Impacts" track for dg.o 2016 , 17th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research Internet Plus Government: New Opportunities to Solve Public Problems. He also presented a paper on cyberinfrastructure and virtual organizations.
Dr. Lee Taught an E-government Course at KDI School of Public Policy and Management
- In 2016, Dr. Lee taught a graduate level course, called "Electronic Government: Theory and Practice" in May and June at KDI School of Public Policy and Management.
Dr. Chen Presented at Tsinghua University, China
- In June 2016, Dr. Chen gave a presentation on digital governance at the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University of China.
Dr. Chen's Presentation in Taiwan
- In Jan. 2016, Dr. Chen gave a keynote at the Annual e-government Conference in Taipei, Taiwan. This conference was organized by the Taiwan Electronic Governance Research Center. He presented on the trends and strategies of digital governance. In July 2016, he served as an expert and discussant at the World Internet Project Conference in Taiwan.
Technological Innovations for Public Service Conference
- In April 2016, 18th the Global Digital Governance Lab along with the School of Public Administration and the Section on Science and Technology in Government, American Society for Public Administration hosted the Technological Innovations for Public Service Conference at UNO's Community Engagement Center. The main topics include innovative city, open data, big data, innovative IT use by nonprofits, and open collaboration. It was a great event featuring speakers from across the country, including Boston, Kansas City, and Jacksonville, Florida.
Dr. Yi Zhang & Dr. Jing Shi's Visit to the GDG Lab
- Dr. Yi Zhang and Dr. Jing Shi from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) visited the Lab at the end of April. We discussed research collaborations in the area of e-participation, social media, and smart city.
Dr. Chen & Dr. Lee Visit Wuhan
- The Lab's Director, Dr. Yu-Che Chen, and Associate Director, Dr. Jooho Lee, Visited our partners at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in late May. Dr. Chen and Dr. Lee gave a presentation on digital governance and social media and conducted research meetings with Dr. Zhang, Dr. Shi, and other scholars and doctoral students.
2015
Dr. Chen, Dr. Lee, and Xian Gao's Presentation
- At the 2015 Social Innovation Research Conference (SIRC), Dr.Chen and Xian, and Dr. Lee presented the findings from their studies on the innovative collaborative mechanisms for e-government services and the role of agency's brokerage position in innovative local governance.
Dr. Chen's Visit to Agder University
- Dr. Chen visited Agder University in Norway as part of the delegation from both the College of Information Science and Technology and the College of Public Affairs and Community Service. Dr. Chen participated in the two-day workshop to develop research collaboration proposals. Moreover, he met with the Chair of the Department of Information Systems and the Director of E-Government Center.
2013
Awards and Recognition
- Dr. Chen received the Presidential Citation of Merit, American Society for Public Administration - 2013
- Dr. Chen received the Professor of the Year Award, Teaching – 2013
2009
Awards and Recognition
- Dr. Chen received the Professor of the Year Award, Teaching – 2009
2007
Awards and Recognition
- Dr. Chen received the Professor of the Year Award, Teaching – 2007