John Kirlin

Distinguished Professor of Public Policy John J. Kirlin was the founding director (2015—2021) of the McGeorge School of Law Public Policy Program, offering two degrees: Master of Public Policy and Master of Public Administration. Professor Kirlin is the author of some 100 articles, chapters and monographs and 13 books. His honors include election as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. Dr. Kirlin has served as a consultant to the state of California on matters ranging from species protection to oversight of local government debt and the interface of energy and environmental policies. He also served as Executive Director of the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative, making recommendations to the California Fish and Game Commission for Marine Protected Areas along the California coast, and as Executive Director of Delta Vision, reframing state water policies and ecosystem vitality in the Delta, foundational work for a major package of legislation enacted in 2009.

Dr. Kirlin was also a faculty member in the School of Public Administration, University of Southern California, 1969-1998. He held all ranks from Assistant through Professor, and was appointed to the first endowed chair in the School, the Emery E. Olson Chair (1986-98). He was also appointed as a tenured Professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (Indianapolis), 1998-2004. Among his university administrative appointments, Professor Kirlin served as Associate Dean and Interim Dean of the School of Public Administration (1974-76) and as Director of the Center for Urban Policy and the Environment (1998-2002). Over his university career, Dr. Kirlin secured over $9 million in external grants and other awards.