UNC Charlotte professor presents award-winning book on volunteer management in Denmark

October 21, 2025
Categories: College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences, Honors & Awards, News
Book cover of “Volunteer Management: A Strategic Approach” published by Jaclyn Piatak and Jessica Sowa.

Jaclyn S. Piatak, Ph.D., professor in UNC Charlotte’s Department of Political Science and Public Administration, presented her award-winning book, “Volunteer Management: A Strategic Approach” (Routledge, 2024), at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) in early October.

During her time in Denmark, Piatak led a presentation for the Department of Political Science and Public Management and participated in a workshop on co-production and volunteering. The visit was part of SDU’s research project, Changing Professionals’ Attitudes to Volunteers (CPAV), funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark.

Co-authored with Jessica E. Sowa, Ph.D., professor in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy & Administration at the University of Delaware, “Volunteer Management” was published in November 2024 and has already earned two prestigious honors.

In addition to the Academy of Management (AOM) Public and Nonprofit Division Best Book Award, the book recently received the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) Outstanding Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Book Award.

Jaclyn Piatak posing with five faculty members at the University of Southern Denmark.
Piatak (second from left) with members of the University of Southern Denmark’s Department of Political Science and Public Management.

“I’m incredibly excited and grateful for this award. We wrote the book with the goal of having broad impact for research and practice,” said Piatak. “The NASPAA Outstanding Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Book Award provides this recognition from the field.”

Piatak joined UNC Charlotte in 2013, and teaches courses in the Public Policy Doctoral Program and Gerald G. Fox Master of Public Administration Program, including Volunteer Management, Public Organizations and Management, and Human Resources Management. Her research centers on public and nonprofit management, with a focus on human resources and volunteering.

“Dr. Piatak is a distinguished expert on prosocial motivations of both public and nonprofit employees,” said Justin Stritch, Ph.D., professor and director of the Gerald G. Fox Master of Public Administration. “This book is a vital resource that offers research-informed, practical guidance for leaders across all sectors who rely on volunteers.”

Jaclyn Piatak and Jessica Sowa holding their book, "Volunteer Management" in front of a poster for the Arnova Conference.
Piatak and Sowa with their recently published book at the 53rd Annual Arnova Conference last fall.

“The book combines my research on volunteering with Jessica’s expertise in strategic human resources management and both of our work on volunteer management,” said Piatak. “I’m fortunate to know and have worked with Jess as a friend and collaborator.”

Piatak emphasizes the importance of connecting with leaders, nonprofits, and volunteer administrators to translate academic research into practice locally, nationally and internationally. In addition to her time spent in Denmark this month, her outreach has included local organizations such as Leadership Cabarrus and the North Carolina Association of Volunteer Administration, as well as the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

In order to benefit organizations, volunteers and the communities they serve, Piatak’s research shows that volunteer management must be tailored to the needs of volunteers, not just the organizations they support. 

 “Volunteers are often overlooked when we consider the human capital of organizations, and Dr. Piatak’s book begins to address that by offering a strategic approach to utilizing volunteers,” said Stritch. “It is exciting to see this book get recognized for its important contributions.” 

“Volunteer Management” puts forth a model of strategic volunteer management by bridging the literature on strategic human resource management and people management with the literature on volunteering and volunteer management.

“Strategic volunteer management ensures volunteers have the direction, guidance, and support to best serve the organization and community as well as individual volunteers,” said Piatak. “Centering the volunteer can preserve and renew volunteer energy as well as help organizations gain community perspectives, promote the organization, foster community, and build social capital.”

Jaclyn Piatak posing in front of colorful buildings, boats, and water in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Train tracks with a red building and glass walkway in the background.

Beyond her teaching and research, Piatak serves as co-editor of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, and sits on nine editorial boards, including the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory and Public Administration Review.

In March, she received the Jonathan West Outstanding Scholar Award from the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Section on Personnel Administration & Labor Relations (SPALR) in recognition of her substantial contributions to the academic literature in the field of public personnel administration. 

Thanks to funding from the J. Murrey Atkins Library, the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences and the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, “Volunteer Management” will be made publicly available through open access in 2027, three years after initial publication.

Images courtesy of Jaclyn Piatak.