The Dr. Garth N. Jones Writing Award is presented annually to an MPA student at the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics whose outstanding writing demonstrates work that is impactful and relevant to public administration.
Led by Associate Professor Liz Dixon, a panel of MPA staff and faculty selected this year’s winner, Rahel Meyer, for her essay “Public Administration and the Failures of Integrity: Lessons from Nazi Germany.” Through the heartbreaking story of her great-grandmother’s execution under the Nazi regime, Meyer offered a powerful exploration of the ethical responsibilities public administrators must carry, emphasizing the importance of integrity in public service and the need to see the people behind policies.
“Receiving the Garth N. Jones Writing Award was deeply meaningful to me—not just as a student, but as a descendant of someone whose life was marked by the consequences of unethical leadership,” Meyer explains. By telling her great-grandmother’s story, Meyer feels she honored her great-grandmother’s legacy while reflecting on the kind of public servant she aspires to become.
The support from the Jones family, Meyer says, resonated far beyond financial assistance: It was a reminder of the values that make public administration meaningful. “I’m incredibly grateful for the Jones family’s support and inspired by Garth’s commitment to service, integrity, and humanity,” she shares. “This award fuels my determination to ensure that public administration is always a force for good.”
Alongside Meyer, David Alder received an honorable mention for his essay “The Power of Stories: How Non-Profits Can Impact the World.” His piece highlighted the essential role that storytelling plays in the nonprofit sector, illustrating how human narratives can inspire generosity among donors.
Reflecting on the support of the Jones family, Alder says, “Their philanthropic efforts have directly impacted my life and the lives of other students for the better. Their generosity enables students to continue pursuing education to make the world a better place.”
Reflecting on the meaning of the award, he adds, “I believe that God sends angels to us on earth, oftentimes in the form of good-hearted people wanting to help. I think the Jones family is an example of how God works through others.”
About the Garth N. Jones Award at the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics
The award was established by G. Kevin Jones and Drew L. Jones to honor their father’s career and passion for helping students achieve academic aspirations. Jones’s own academic journey began with a $100 scholarship that allowed him to pursue his education at Utah State University.
Jones was a prolific scholar, publishing more than 200 articles, books, and monographs about public policy and comparative administration as well as numerous articles on the history and culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jones’s extensive fieldwork took him to Micronesia, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Taiwan, where he worked for major organizations like the US Department of the Interior, USAID, the United Nations, and the World Bank.
A founding dean of the College of Business and Public Policy at the University of Alaska Anchorage, Jones also held academic positions at institutions such as Brigham Young University, the University of Southern California, Colorado State University, and universities abroad in Indonesia, Pakistan, and Taiwan.
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Written by Emma Baker