Willa Bruce is Kayser Professor of Public Administration at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Formerly Kayser professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, she is an advocate for a government service in which citizens receive courteous and equitable assistance delivered by employees who are able to use their own strengths and talents in a work place where they are appreciated and empowered. Her 4 books, 6 book chapters, 22 refereed journal articles, and 39 conference presentations address the areas of administrative ethics, job performance and satisfaction, spirituality of work and dual career couples. Her 3 entries in the International Encyclopedia of Public Administration are on ethics.

Bruce is active in the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) where she is Managing Editor of Public Voices, was the1997-98 Chair of the Editorial Board for PA Times, past member of the editorial boards of Public Administration Review and Public Voices; and former Book Review Editor for Public Voices and the Journal of Public Integrity. She has been a National Council member, Chair of the Section for Women in Public Administration and twice Chair of the Committee on Professional Ethics. She is listed in The World's Who's Who of International Women, Who's Who of American Women, and Who's Who in the Midwest.