At The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, Dr. Amy Gould is reshaping how future public servants think about technology, ethics, and equity. As a professor in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, Gould brings a bold and thoughtful approach to teaching, rooted in her passion for leadership, tribal governance, postcolonial feminism, and social justice.
One of her standout offerings is the course “AI: Public Service of What’s Possible,” a graduate-level class that challenges students to rethink the foundations of public administration in the age of artificial intelligence.
A Course Rooted in Reconciliation and Imagination
Rather than focusing solely on problem-solving, Gould’s course emphasizes “re-solution”—seeking clarity through affirmation. Students are encouraged to unlearn dominant norms in public administration and explore how AI can affirm values like respect, healing, reciprocity, equity, and social justice.
The course is guided by five central questions:
- What does normative public service need to unlearn to embrace AI?
- How can we assess the benefits and risks of AI?
- Why is it important to make unknowns known?
- What should public servants hold at the center of AI?
- How can we prepare to cross the threshold of our conditioned limitations?
These questions invite students to reflect deeply on their roles as public servants and to imagine futures where AI supports—not replaces—human-centered governance.
Learning Through Community and Critical Engagement
Gould’s teaching style is immersive and community-based. The course meets remotely in an intensive format, combining weekend sessions with self-directed learning. Students engage with readings, group work, and guest speakers from across Washington State, including experts in law enforcement, policy analysis, legislative affairs, and government relations. [sites.evergreen.edu]
Required texts include:
- AI and the Future of the Public Sector by Tony Boobier
- Forgetting: The Benefits of Not Remembering by Scott Small
- Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut
These selections reflect the course’s interdisciplinary nature, blending technology, neuroscience, and literature to explore the ethical dimensions of AI.
Amy Gould: A Catalyst for Change
Dr. Gould’s academic background includes a Ph.D. in Political Science from Northern Arizona University and degrees in Public Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Oregon. Her work spans leadership, identity, cultural norms, and decision-making, with a strong emphasis on tribal public administration and Queer studies. [evergreen.edu]
She describes herself as an “accomplice for change,” and her course is a testament to that ethos—inviting students to disrupt colonial practices and imagine new models of public service where AI is a tool for justice, not just efficiency.