Public finance scholar. Researcher of property tax equity, school finance, and local government reform.
PhD · Indiana University Bloomington
Olha Krupa is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Master of Public Administration program at Seattle University's Department of Public Affairs and Nonprofit Leadership, College of Arts & Sciences.
She completed her BA in International Business in Ukraine, and earned her MPA and PhD in Public Finance and Public Affairs at Indiana University, Bloomington. Her expertise centers on tax policy — particularly equity in property tax assessments, state and local government reform, and K-12 school finance.
Dr. Krupa has held a visiting scholar appointment at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Research and served as a data analyst on a charitable giving study by the Giving USA Foundation. Her formation was supported by Indiana University, the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, the Open Society Institute, and the US Department of State.
She aspires to make public finance and budgeting accessible, understandable, and genuinely useful for public sector professionals throughout the Puget Sound region. In addition to her academic work, she regularly appears in local media interpreting fiscal and political developments in Ukraine.
Examining vertical and horizontal equity in property tax assessments across local jurisdictions, with attention to disparate impacts on lower-income households and communities of color.
Investigating how property tax dependence shapes educational funding equity, and evaluating state-level reform strategies for achieving more equitable distributions of school resources.
Studying the administrative and political conditions under which local government fiscal reforms succeed, with comparative analysis of US jurisdictions and international transition economies including Ukraine.
A required MPA course covering financial management principles, budget execution, internal controls, and financial reporting for public and nonprofit organizations.
Graduate · RequiredCovers the theory and practice of public budgeting — including budget cycles, formats, political dynamics, and equity considerations — within both government and nonprofit contexts.
Graduate · RequiredAn undergraduate survey of public sector finance: revenue systems, expenditure analysis, debt management, and the fiscal relationships between levels of government.
UndergraduateIntegrative seminar in which MPA students design and execute original applied research projects addressing real policy problems for public sector clients in the Puget Sound region.
Graduate · Capstone"Seattle U's MPA program has outstanding students. We engage in complex topics that begin with incomplete information and oh-so many parameters and then deliver efficient solutions that center on humanity and justice. Our students arrive with courage, creativity, and care for each other, making my teaching a truly rewarding experience."— Olha Krupa, on teaching in the MPA Program
Available for research collaborations, speaking engagements, media inquiries, and MPA program advising.