Kevin V. Mulcahy
Encyclopedia
Kevin Vincent Mulcahy is the Sheldon Beychok Distinguished Professor of Political Science
and Public Administration at Louisiana State University
, where he has taught since 1980.
, Mulcahy went on to earn master’s degrees from both Brown University
and Pennsylvania State University
before completing his Ph.D. work at Brown. Before joining the faculty of Louisiana State University, Mulcahy taught at Claremont McKenna College
, Mills College
, Queens College-CUNY, and the University of Colorado
. Since joining the faculty of Louisiana State University in 1981, Mulcahy has developed the study of Cultural Politics within the framework of Public Policy
and Public Administration
.
in the United States
and abroad. Mulcahy has received an ATLAS (Award to Louisiana Artists and Scholars) grant for a new work tentatively titled Patronage, Politics and Cultural Policy: International Perspectives. The award committee enthusiastically endorsed his project, saying in part:
In his 1995 book, America’s Commitment to Culture, Dr. Mulcahy and co-editor Margaret J. Wyszomirski discuss the current state of arts funding in the U.S. and argue for a reorganization of the National Endowment for the Arts to include interdisciplinary panels for judging new grants in a system similar to that of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Prior to initiating his primary study of cultural policy, Mulcahy focused on American Foreign Policy, in the footsteps of his mentor Cecil V. Crabb. Mulcahy and Crabb coauthored two books on the subject: Presidents and Foreign Policy Making: FDR to Reagan (1986) and American National Security: A Presidential Perspective (1990).
, Transylvania
, Romania
at Babeș-Bolyai University
. For the 2010-2011 award period, he was selected to serve on the review committee for the Fulbright Senior Specialist, where he worked to select American scholars for international assignments.
Since 1970 and the beginning of his career, Mulcahy has participated in over one hundred major professional meetings at home and abroad. Just since 2007, his talks on culture have taken him across the United States and abroad to Athens, Greece; Jyvaskyla, Finland; Istanbul, Turkey; Quebec City, Quebec; Grenada, Spain; and Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
In 1990, Mulcahy testified to a U.S. presidential commission in opposition to the existing peer review
system of assigning federal grants, asserting that as potential beneficiaries of other grants the peer reviewers have an automatic conflict of interest
. The National Endowment for the Arts
later reorganized into four purpose-based categories, as opposed to the discipline-based system in place at the time. The organization has since reverted back to its pre-1995 structure.
in reviewing Doctoral Dissertations and fulfilling the role of foreign reviewer.
At Louisiana State University, Professor Mulcahy currently serves as an undergraduate advisor in the Department of Political Science and sits on the Organizational Relief Fund committee in the Faculty Senate, where he helps to provide aid to deserving clubs on campus. He also serves the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research by serving on Committee on the Humanities Research and Development Group.
Mulcahy has a long history of service to the school and his students. He has served variously as President Emeritus, President, First Vice-President, and Member of the Arts and Sciences Faculty Senate. In addition, he served as a Faculty Friend for the LSU Honors College.
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and Public Administration at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
, where he has taught since 1980.
Background
Born in 1945 in Rockland County, New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Mulcahy went on to earn master’s degrees from both Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
and Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
before completing his Ph.D. work at Brown. Before joining the faculty of Louisiana State University, Mulcahy taught at Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college and a member of the Claremont Colleges located in Claremont, California. The campus is located east of Downtown Los Angeles...
, Mills College
Mills College
Mills College is an independent liberal arts women's college founded in 1852 that offers bachelor's degrees to women and graduate degrees and certificates to women and men. Located in Oakland, California, Mills was the first women's college west of the Rockies. The institution was initially founded...
, Queens College-CUNY, and the University of Colorado
University of Colorado
The University of Colorado system is a system of public universities in Colorado consisting of three universities in four campuses: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, and University of Colorado Denver in downtown Denver and at the Anschutz Medical Campus in...
. Since joining the faculty of Louisiana State University in 1981, Mulcahy has developed the study of Cultural Politics within the framework of Public Policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
and Public Administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
.
Scholarship
Mulcahy’s primary area of study focuses on cultural policyCultural policy
Cultural Policy is the area of public policy-making that governs activities related to the arts and culture. Generally, this involves fostering processes, legal classifications and institutions which promote cultural diversity and accessibility, as well as enhancing and promulgating the artistic,...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and abroad. Mulcahy has received an ATLAS (Award to Louisiana Artists and Scholars) grant for a new work tentatively titled Patronage, Politics and Cultural Policy: International Perspectives. The award committee enthusiastically endorsed his project, saying in part:
- Dr. Mulcahy is uniquely qualified to undertake this study. His training is in public policy and administration with a special emphasis on foreign policymaking. He is well published. In addition, his narrative career account reveals that he has spent a lot of time in all sorts of countries working on international cultural policy in some form or another.
- As presented in the proposal, the project is strongly conceived, defined, and organized. Noteworthy is Dr. Mulcahy’s enthusiasm for the project one gets the impression that this is a labor of love as well as a scholarly pursuit. As he describes his project in the proposal, it comes alive in the mind of the reader. This promises that his book will do the same.
In his 1995 book, America’s Commitment to Culture, Dr. Mulcahy and co-editor Margaret J. Wyszomirski discuss the current state of arts funding in the U.S. and argue for a reorganization of the National Endowment for the Arts to include interdisciplinary panels for judging new grants in a system similar to that of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Prior to initiating his primary study of cultural policy, Mulcahy focused on American Foreign Policy, in the footsteps of his mentor Cecil V. Crabb. Mulcahy and Crabb coauthored two books on the subject: Presidents and Foreign Policy Making: FDR to Reagan (1986) and American National Security: A Presidential Perspective (1990).
Selected Articles and Book Chapters(2008-2010)
- “Privatisation ou Darwinisme: Le Système Américain pour la Subvention des Arts aux États-Unis” in Claudine Audet and Diane St. Pierre (eds. ) Tendances et Défis des Politiques Culturelles dans les Pays Occidentaux. (Les Presses de l’Université Laval, 2010.), pp.89-130.
- “The Book that Most Influenced my Study of Cultural Policy Research: A Review Essay” International Journal of Cultural Policy Research, 16(February 2010): 60-62.
- “Coloniality, Identity and Cultural Policy” in J. P. Singh (ed.), International Cultural Policies and Power, (New York: Palgrave McMillan, 2010), pp. 155-165.
- “Identity, Independence, and Imperialism: The Case of Canadian-American Cultural Relations” in Monica Gattinger and Geoffrey Hale (eds.), Borders and Bridges: Canada’s Policy Relations in North America, (Ontario: Oxford University Press, 2010), pp. 248-266.
- “Vorsicht Kulturdarwinismus: Die Grenzen des Amerikanischen Systems der Kulturförderung, 1990-2006” in Adam, Lässig and Lingelbach (eds.), Stifter, Spender und Mäzene: USA und Deutschland im historischen Vergleich, (Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag, 2009), pp. 191-218.
- “Identity and Cultural Policy” in Understanding the Arts and Creative Sector in the United States. Joni Cherbo, Ruth Ann Stewart and Margaret Wyszomirski, editors (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2008), pp. 197-212.
Fulbright Activities
In 2002, Dr. Mulcahy was selected as the Fulbright Distinguished Professor of American Studies (The Laszlo Orszagh Chair) at the Budapest University of Economic Sciences and Public Administration. The Fulbright Program is a merit-based grant program that encourages academic exchanges between America and foreign countries. More recently in 2009, Mulcahy served as the Fulbright Senior Specialist in ClujCluj
Cluj may refer to*Cluj-Napoca, county seat of Cluj County, named Cluj until 1974*Cluj County, Romania*Cluj-Napoca International Airport*U Cluj, a Romanian sports club*U Cluj, a Romanian football club*CFR Cluj, a Romanian football club...
, Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
at Babeș-Bolyai University
Babes-Bolyai University
The Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca is an university in Romania. With almost 50,000 students, the university offers 105 specialisations, of which there are 105 in Romanian, 67 in Hungarian, 17 in German, and 5 in English...
. For the 2010-2011 award period, he was selected to serve on the review committee for the Fulbright Senior Specialist, where he worked to select American scholars for international assignments.
Since 1970 and the beginning of his career, Mulcahy has participated in over one hundred major professional meetings at home and abroad. Just since 2007, his talks on culture have taken him across the United States and abroad to Athens, Greece; Jyvaskyla, Finland; Istanbul, Turkey; Quebec City, Quebec; Grenada, Spain; and Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Recent Activities
- Invited Participant, International Conference on Cultural Policy Research , Jyvaskyla, Finland, August 24-27, 2010.
- Visiting Lecturer, Strategic Planning on the Development of Cultural Policy and Cultural Management Programs, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa, July 19-August 2, 2008.
- Keynote Speaker, “Privatisation ou Darwinisme: Le Système pour la Subvention des Arts aux États-Unis,” Colloque International sur les Tendances et Défis des Politiques Culturelles dans les Pays Occidentaux, Institut de la recherche scientifique, Québec City, May 2008.
- Invited Participant, “The Cultural Manger as Global Citizen,” Helsinki, Finland, April 19-20, 2007. . (Proceedings in Constance Devereaux and Pekka Vartiainen, eds., The Cultural Manager as Global Citizen (Helsinki: HUMAK Press, 2008).
- Keynote Speaker, “International Symposium on Theater Arts and Cultural Administration: Transformation and Imagination,” Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, November 2007.
- Visiting Professor, “Seminar on Cultural Policy,” Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, December 2006.
- Lecturer, Arts and Cultural Management Program, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia, May 2006. (Interview on “The Deep End,” the educational and cultural radio program of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, May 11, 2006).
Editorial
Since 1990, Dr. Mulcahy has served on the editorial board for the Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, and has served as an Executive Editor since 1997. He has also served as an editorial board member for the Journal of Pacific and Asian Studies since 2008. Below is a list of journal editions edited and introduced by Dr. Mulcahy.- Executive Editor, “New Zealand Cultural Policy: the Helen Clark Years.” Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, (Spring 2010); Introduction: 93-94.
- Executive Editor, “International Issues in Arts Management, Law and Society” Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, 39 (Summer 2009); Introduction.
- Executive Editor, “Varieties of Non-National Cultural Policies.” Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, 38 (Fall 2008); Introduction, 163-165.
- Executive Editor, “Emerging Researchers in Australia and Asia,” Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, 38 (Summer 2008).
- Executive Editor, “EU Enlargement and European Cultural Policy Development,” Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, 37 (Winter 2007).
- Executive Editor, “Cultural Development,” Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, 36 (Fall 2006).
- Executive Editor, “Austrian Cultural Policy,” Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, 35 (Winter 2006).
- Executive Editor, “Cultural Policies in Australia,” Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, 35 (Spring 2005).
- Executive Editor, “The Conceptualization of Art,” Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, 34 (Summer 2004).
- Executive Editor, “Culture and Entrepreneurship,” Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, 33 (Fall 2003).
- Executive Editor, “The Cultural Market and Public Cultural Agencies,” Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, 32 (Spring 2002): Introduction, 3-5.
- Executive Editor, “Cultural Politics: Global and Local,” Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, 31 (Winter 2002); Introduction, 251-253.
- Executive Editor, “The Nordic Cultural Policies,” Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, 30 (Spring 2001); Introduction, 3-4.
- Executive Editor, “Not-for-profit Cultural Sector in Post-Socialist States,” Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, 29 (Spring 2000); Introduction, 3-6.
- Executive Editor, “Cultural Diplomacy in the Post-Cold War Era,” Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, 28 (Spring 1999); Introduction, 3-6.
- Executive Editor, “The Arts and Entertainment in Comparative Perspective,” Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society, 27 (Winter 1998): Introduction, 243-44.
Governmental
In the 1980s, Mulcahy took an active role in cultural politics at the Louisiana State Legislature. From 1980 to 1982, Mulcahy served as the Cultural Advisor to the Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives as a National Endowment for the Humanities Humanist-in-Residence at the State Legislature. From 1982 to 1984, he served as Chairmain of the Louisiana House of Representatives Arts Advisory Committee where he was tasked with coordinating three museums and three public agencies in placing artwork in the House of Representatives. He continued service on the committee from 1987 to 1992. Concurrently to his time advising the Legislature, Mulcahy also served as a panelist on the Baton Rouge Council on the Arts and Humanities from 1981 to 1983 and on the Louisiana Council for the Arts from 1982 to 1984, 1986 to 198, and 1990 to 1991.In 1990, Mulcahy testified to a U.S. presidential commission in opposition to the existing peer review
Peer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
system of assigning federal grants, asserting that as potential beneficiaries of other grants the peer reviewers have an automatic conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
. The National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
later reorganized into four purpose-based categories, as opposed to the discipline-based system in place at the time. The organization has since reverted back to its pre-1995 structure.
Academic
In addition to serving as a reviewer for Tenure and promotion decisions at several American universities, he assists the School of Management at the University of South Australia, AdelaideUniversity of South Australia
The University of South Australia is a public university in the Australian state of South Australia. It was formed in 1991 with the merger of the South Australian Institute of Technology and Colleges of Advanced Education. It is the largest university in South Australia, with more than 36,000...
in reviewing Doctoral Dissertations and fulfilling the role of foreign reviewer.
At Louisiana State University, Professor Mulcahy currently serves as an undergraduate advisor in the Department of Political Science and sits on the Organizational Relief Fund committee in the Faculty Senate, where he helps to provide aid to deserving clubs on campus. He also serves the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research by serving on Committee on the Humanities Research and Development Group.
Mulcahy has a long history of service to the school and his students. He has served variously as President Emeritus, President, First Vice-President, and Member of the Arts and Sciences Faculty Senate. In addition, he served as a Faculty Friend for the LSU Honors College.
Awards and Honors
In addition to the many awards and distinctions mentioned above, Mulcahy’s work in the fields of teaching and cultural politics has been recognized throughout his career. Below is a select list of his honorariums not previously mentioned in this article.- Fellowship, National Endowment for the Humanities, Summer Seminar on French Politics and Society, Ecole d ‘Etudes Politiques de Paris, June-July, 1991.
- Cultural Advisor to the Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1980-1982, as a National Endowment for the Humanities Humanist-in-Residence at the State Legislature.
- Manship Research Fellowship, Summer 1998, for a study of cultural nationalism in France, Canada and Quebec.
- Exchange Professor, Ecole d’Etudes Anglophones, Université de Provence (Aix-Marseilles I), Aix-en-Provence, January-July 1996.
- Amoco Foundation Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching, Louisiana State University, 1983.
- Huntoon Distinguished Teaching Award, Claremont-McKenna College, 1979, 1980.
- Honorary Homecoming Football Coach (with Richard White, Associate Dean of Business College for Academics). Named by the LSU Football Academic Advisory Office and Head Coach Les Miles, 2010.