The University of Baltimore College of Public Affairs

05/27/2026

Commencement week has come and gone, and we couldn't be prouder of our Class of 2026. 🎓 Among them is Judah Contreras, B.A. '26.

Judah came to The University of Baltimore on a train from Fort Meade with a degree and a job in mind. Two years later, he's graduating with so much more. Studying in our Policy, Politics and International Affairs program, he interned with a Maryland circuit court judge and the Maryland Department of Labor, served as a veteran ambassador at The Bob Parsons Veterans Center at the University of Baltimore, and worked right here in our dean's office—building the kind of experience and relationships that go beyond the degree.

He put it simply: "The people that work here, they want to see you succeed, and they will help you achieve your goals while you're studying here."

To Judah and every member of the Class of 2026, congratulations! We can't wait to see what you do next.

Read his full story here:

Judah Contreras came to The University of Baltimore with a degree and a job in mind. He’s graduating with a completely different perspective. The people he met and experiences he enjoyed helped Judah see that college was about more than the endgame.

05/19/2026

The University of Baltimore's public policy evaluation expertise is at the center of a significant new release from the Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs (MORP).

Last week, MORP released six reports examining the impact of Baltimore City's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) investments across workforce development, housing stability, public safety and community well-being—work conducted in partnership with the Schaefer Center for Public Policy - University of Baltimore and the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance – Jacob France Institute, two of 's leading research centers.

Schaefer Center Executive Director Dr. Ann Cotten said it well: "The results will provide important feedback to Baltimore residents and elected officials and offer meaningful insights for other communities considering similar investments."

The reports will serve as a benchmark for measuring the long-term success of Baltimore's recovery efforts.

Read more:

University of Baltimore evaluates city's $641M ARPA investment. UBalt's BNIA and Schaefer Center assess impact on neighborhoods, workforce, housing.

05/15/2026

The University of Baltimore's College of Public Affairs has again been recognized among the nation’s top graduate schools for public affairs in the 2026 U.S. News and World Report rankings.

This recognition reflects the work of faculty, students, alumni and community partners committed to public service, applied research and meaningful community impact.

From preparing future public service leaders to supporting experiential learning opportunities and community-engaged research across Baltimore and beyond, the college remains focused on connecting education with real-world impact.

The College of Public Affairs at the University of Baltimore has again been recognized among the nation’s top graduate schools for public affairs in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

05/14/2026

We were proud to attend and sponsor The Baltimore Banner’s Emerging Leaders event last night alongside faculty, students and staff from across our college community.

The evening celebrated leaders, advocates, public servants and changemakers helping shape Baltimore’s future through service, innovation and community impact.

At The University of Baltimore, we believe meaningful impact begins close to home. While our community’s work reaches locally, nationally and globally, it remains grounded in engagement with the communities around us and a commitment to strengthening the public good right here in Baltimore.

We’re grateful for opportunities like Emerging Leaders that bring together individuals and organizations committed to the future of our city and region!

05/13/2026

Family connection can be a powerful source of healing, encouragement and hope. 💙

We were proud to support and participate in a recent Father-Child Dance at Jessup Correctional Institution, hosted by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

The event brought together incarcerated fathers and their children for an evening of music, dancing and shared moments that many families rarely have the opportunity to experience.

Experiences like these reflect the values that shape The University of Baltimore and our broader community: rehabilitation, human dignity, relationship-building and hope for the future.

Read more here:

The University of Baltimore recently showed support for incarcerated men at the Jessup Correctional Institute's Father Dance.

04/30/2026

Faculty expertise from The University of Baltimore continues to shape important public conversations.

Ivan Sascha Sheehan, interim dean of the College of Public Affairs, was recently featured in Newsweek for his analysis of evolving geopolitical alliances and their broader global implications.

We’re proud to see UBalt faculty bringing scholarly insight to timely international conversations.

Read more:

Writing in Newsweek, Dr. Ivan Sascha Sheehan, interim dean of UBalt's College of Public Affairs, says the war in the Middle East is providing clarity on how American alliances are defined.

04/20/2026

Over the next couple of weeks, The University of Baltimore’s Nonprofit Management and Social Entrepreneurship (NMSE) community is bringing The University of Baltimore Alumni together for two opportunities to connect and engage with work happening across the field.

Alumni Mixer (off campus)
📅 Thursday, April 23, 2026
🕠 5:30–7:30 p.m.
📍 The Brass Tap (1205 W. Mount Royal Ave.)
A casual evening to reconnect with NMSE alumni, meet others working in nonprofit, policy and mission-driven roles, and get an early start on the conversations.

Alumni Networking Symposium (on campus)
📅 Wednesday, April 30, 2026
🕠 5:30–8:30 p.m.
📍 UBalt’s Angelos School of Law (1401 N. Charles St.)
A more in-depth program featuring alumni speakers and facilitated discussion on current issues shaping nonprofit and social impact work. Full agenda and speaker information are available at the registration link below.

If you can make it to both, the mixer and symposium are meant to build on each other—but we’d love to see you at whichever works with your schedule.

RSVP for Mixer: https://alumlc.org/ubalt/51702
RSVP for Networking Symposium: https://involvement.ubalt.edu/nmse/rsvp_boot?id=2135726

The 2026 NMSE Changemakers Networking Symposium brings together University of Baltimore alumni who are leading, building, and innovating across the nonprofit, public, and social entrepreneurship se...

04/15/2026

The entire UBalt community extends its gratitude to The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation for renewing its support of the Bob Parsons Veterans Center and Bob Parsons Advocacy Clinic for five more years with a $3.8 million grant, plus awarding an additional $1 million to the University’s Fund for Excellence. Our deepest thanks go out to alumnus and founder of The Bob Parsons Institute, Bob Parsons, B.S. ’75, D.H.L. ’08, and his wife, Renee!

Join us online tomorrow at 1 p.m. for a special edition of the Rosenberg Dialogue Series when Bob Parsons, along with other alumni and donors, discusses the increasingly strategic role of philanthropy in higher education. This event is free and open to the public.

Read more about the latest award from The Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation: https://bit.ly/3OsiDPj

Register for “The Impact and Necessity of Philanthropy in Higher Education” on Thursday, April 16: https://bit.ly/4mEBMu7

04/01/2026

Transform your future at The University of Baltimore.

Join us for our Open House on April 18 to explore programs, meet faculty and staff and learn more about the UBalt experience.

📍 UBalt Student Center (21 W Mt. Royal Ave)
🕙 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

RSVP: https://ubalt.my.salesforce-sites.com/events/targetX_eventsb__events #/esr?eid=a0OUc0000057lP7MAI

Know someone who’s considering their next step? Please share this with them!

03/31/2026

The University of Baltimore’s Rosenberg Dialogue returns on Thursday, April 16 from 1–2:30 p.m. (via Zoom) as one of the most anticipated events of the year for the College of Public Affairs.

This year’s dialogue will explore the impact and necessity of philanthropy in higher education, bringing together leaders across sectors to examine how partnerships can advance equity, innovation and institutional resilience.

The program will open with remarks from President Kurt Schmoke and will be moderated by Alan Lyles, Henry A. Rosenberg Professor of Government, Business and Nonprofit Partnerships, in his final session leading the Rosenberg Dialogue Series.

Speakers include Raymone Jackson, head of community affairs and president, T. Rowe Price Foundation; Bob Parsons, entrepreneur and philanthropist; founder of GoDaddy and PXG; and Shanaysha Sauls, president and CEO, Baltimore Community Foundation. The discussion will include opportunities for audience engagement.

Register here: https://www.ubalt.edu/events-calendar/index.cfm -details/eb08304c-3c76-4e76-8c22-d3acfe12f7ab

A recording will be shared with all who register.

03/27/2026

Our partners at The Universities at Shady Grove recently shared a student story from Justin Barclay, a Doctor of Public Administration student.

His piece offers a look at the experience and perspective he brings to the program at The University of Baltimore.

Read more: https://shadygrove.usmd.edu/student-stories/justin-barclay?fbclid=IwY2xjawQzn-NleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF1TjZpOWlxTnlSV3VUeUxnc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtlmkPbuEy153t-xgFPOEXqsm1vzMLu2J3yuEYHfNcm-7DIYv29znxDpN14h_aem_2B4NFiOW50IT02EJSUYhkA

Justin Barclay, a University of Baltimore Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) student at USG, says the tools and resources the DPA program provides make his “academic and professional lives mutually beneficial.” He's able to maintain a healthy balance between work, school, and life while continuing to grow professionally. Read his story at bit.ly/studentstory-justin.

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