KU Public Management Center Staff

Charles Jones is director of the Kansas University Public Management Center.  He has a BS in Biology from the University of Kansas and a Masters of Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. His public service experience includes four years as the Governor-appointed Director of Environment at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and ten years (1998 to 2009) as a Douglas County Commissioner. Within the MPA program Charles teaches Public Policy and Administration; Budgeting and Policy Analysis; Role, Context and Ethics of Public Administration; and Collaborative Leadership, Professionalism, and Citizen Engagement.  Charles also teaches in the Center’s Certified Public Manager, Emerging Leaders Academy, and other programs, bringing the perspective of elective, appointed and entrepreneurial success to policy and technical aspects of public management.

Noel serves as the assistant director of the Public Management Center, directing the Emerging Leaders Academy, advising Topeka-based MPA students, and teaching in other PMC programs. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, a master’s of urban planning from the University of Kansas and is currently completing a dissertation for a doctorate in American Studies from KU. Noel has worked at the chapter level as well as the national level for the American Red Cross and has served in a variety of capacities at KU. Her office is located at KU’s Edwards Campus in Overland Park to assist the PMC in strengthening program offerings for public sector professionals in the Kansas City area

Terri Callahan is an instructor and program director at the University of Kansas Public Management Center. She is program director for the Kansas Certified Public Manager Program, teaching Management Basics; Management Practices I: Leadership and Emotional Intelligence; Innovation and Process Improvement; and Management Practices II: Personal Development Plan. She provides training in a variety of managerial topics for all management levels in the public sector. Terri is a qualified instructor for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, is certified to administer the Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQi), and is a certified instructor for the Relationship Awareness Theory and the Strength Deployment Inventory. Previously Terri was a staff development specialist in the Department of Administration's Division of Personnel Services for seven years. She holds a bachelor's degree in total quality management from Friends University and is an affiliate member of the American Academy of Certified Public Managers.

Jonathan Morris is an Instructor in the Certified Public Manager Program, and directs KU PMC's Custom Course Offerings. His training topics include leadership and team building, management practices, organizational behavior, intergenerational communications, succession planning, coaching and mentoring, diversity and harassment. Jonathan worked as director of a training center in New York City and has worked within the public and private sectors. A native Kansan, he attended Kansas State University and Bethany College and did his graduate work in New York. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Training and Development–Kansas City Chapter.

Beverly Pleiss is the first point of contact when it comes to answering the questions or accommodating the needs of KUPMC students and clientele. She provides a cutomer-oriented, professional presence to the many visitors to the office.

She earned an Associate degree in Secretarial Administration from Indiana State University Evansville, (ISUE) which was located in Evansville, Indiana. The University changed to University of Southern Indiana (USI) several years after she graduated. It's located in Southern Indiana and is growing by leaps and bounds in student population year by year. She moved to Topeka in late August, 2008. Beverly's extensive office skills are used in support of the Certified Public Manager program, as well as all other KUPMC offerings.