Best Practices from the 2026 Texas Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program

Instructor, Texas CPM Program, Department of Political Science, Texas State University

Lynn studies and practices the art of writing, and he is fiercely dedicated to helping others build value for themselves through clear, persuasive, and audience-focused writing. He conducts workshops for private and public organizations, as well as consults with individuals one-on-one.

Lynn is a 30-year veteran of the United States Air Force where he flew combat sorties in four conflicts and led units from 200 to 2000 airmen. He is a graduate of the National War College and earned distinction for his paper on bureaucratic decision making. Following the Air Force, Lynn worked in the defense industry until 2017. He then earned master’s degrees in Public Leadership and Human Dimensions of Organizations at the University of Texas at Austin.

Lynn and his wife, Gail, live in the Texas Hill Country. They have two married sons and two granddaughters. In his rare down time, Lynn enjoys working on his Jaguar XKE and playing classical and Flamenco guitar.

MPA Graduate, Texas State University

Syeda Zareen Jahan is a public administration professional and researcher with a multidisciplinary background in governance, policy-oriented research, data analysis, and academic instruction. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Texas State University, where she demonstrated strong academic standing and served as a Graduate Instructional Assistant in the Department of Political Science. She also holds bachelor’s and another prior master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Barishal, Bangladesh. Her research interests include public administration, governance, gender and social equity, institutional capacity, policy implementation, and equitable public service delivery. Her research experience encompasses women’s property rights in Bangladesh, violence against women and girls during COVID-19, and misinformation during the pandemic. She has experience in data collection, coding and analysis, research reporting, and presenting research findings in academic and international forums. She is particularly interested in producing evidence-based research that connects administrative institutions and policy processes with practical challenges of governance, inclusion, and public service delivery.

Graduate Research Assistant, Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, Texas State University

Kazi Halimatus Sadia is pursuing her Master of Public Administration (MPA) in the Department of Political Science at Texas State University. She earned her Bachelor of Social Science (BSS) from Comilla University, Bangladesh. She has served as a Graduate Research Assistant with the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, where she has contributed to research on water governance and public perceptions. She has also served as a Graduate Assistant with the Student Learning Assistance Center (SLAC), gaining experience in academic support and student success initiatives.

Sadia has also worked with several international nonprofit organizations, including the United Nations (UN), Oxfam, ActionAid, and Democracy International. Through these engagements, she contributed to community outreach, development initiatives, and evidence-based policymaking activities. Her research interests include digital and environmental governance, sustainable development, and community-centered public policy.

Nusrat Humaira is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree in the Department of Political Science at Texas State University. She also serves as a Graduate Instructional Assistant in the Political Science Department. She holds a BBA and an MBA with a specialization in Human Resource Management from Jagannath University, Bangladesh. Nusrat has more than three years of professional experience in human resource management and has worked as an HR Executive with reputed organizations in Bangladesh.

Her professional experience has strengthened her interest in public-sector management and the role of effective human resource practices in building responsive and accountable organizations. Her academic and professional interests include public-sector human resource management, organizational development, public policy, ethics, and effective public administration. Through her graduate studies and experience in human resource management, she hopes to strengthen her understanding of public management and contribute to evidence-based and community-focused public service.