Senior Director of Academic Affairs

Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation
at Johns Hopkins University

David Blanding is the Senior Director of Academic Affairs for the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University School of Government and Policy. A political scientist and scholar-practitioner with extensive experience developing and leading academic initiatives in higher education and government, David leads BCPI’s academic work to strengthen how public innovation is studied, taught, and put into practice.

Prior to arriving at BCPI, David served as an Associate Professor of the Practice at Brown University, where he launched a new online Master of Public Policy degree and led its signature Policy in Action capstone experience. Throughout his career, David’s work has connected academic research, public policy, and leadership development to strengthen how public institutions address complex challenges. His research focuses on the factors and conditions that shape policy stability and change.

David’s past experience includes serving as a Senior Social Science Analyst at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, where he led mixed-method research projects supporting federal policy implementation. At GAO, he also served as Director of Leadership and Executive Development Programs, a role informed by the organization-wide leadership and executive development strategy he designed.

A graduate of Brown University, David holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in political science.