Paul P. Van Riper was educated at the University of Chicago. He is currently professor emeritus of political science at Texas A&M University's Department of Political Science [1] and the George Bush School of Government and Public Service.
The American Society for Public Administration honored Van Riper with the presentation of an annual award in his name for scholars who have made a significant contribution through his or her body of work to bridging the world of public administration scholarship and practice.
Van Riper began teaching at Texas A&M University in 1970. He received the Dwight Waldo Award in 1990 from ASPA in recognition of his lifetime achievements and contributions to the public administration field. .