PhD in Public Policy at University of Massachusetts Boston

10/02/2026

Excited to share that Sampurna Basu has been selected as a 2026 Excellence, Equity, & Inclusion (EEI) Graduate Student Fellow by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM)!

The EEI Fellowship supports students and young professionals from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds by providing opportunities to participate in APPAM’s Annual Fall Research Conference and connect with leaders and fellow researchers in the field.

As part of the inaugural two-year fellowship cohort, Sampurna will attend the 2026 APPAM Annual Fall Research Conference in Boston and the 2027 conference in Indianapolis.

Congratulations, Sampurna, on this well-deserved recognition! Wishing you a wonderful conference experience and continued success in your research and academic journey.

Read more about the Fellows here: https://www.appam.org/about-appam/awards/equity-inclusion-student-fellowship/

UMass Boston John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies

The APPAM Excellence, Equity, and Inclusion (EEI) Fellowship supports students and professionals who have overcome substantial obstacles presented by their backgrounds or life circumstances as they pursue education and careers in public policy, analysis, and management. Since its launch in 2016, the...

10/01/2026

Congratulations to Dana Johnson, new faculty member in our department, on receiving The Society of Family Planning Next Generation Award!

The award honors individuals early in their careers who have demonstrated a commitment to the field of family planning through their research or clinical practice. Dana will receive the award at the Society of Family Planning’s Annual Meeting on October 18.

Congratulations, Dana, on this well-deserved recognition! https://societyfp.org/community/awards/

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UMass Boston John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies

09/22/2026

We are pleased to share that Dr. Michael Ahn's commentary was published on The Brookings Institution last week!

His commentary explores what happens to higher education when AI makes expert-level knowledge available to anyone/anywhere.

As AI transforms how we access information, universities may need to rethink what they uniquely provide. Dr. Ahn examines four emerging responses—from competency-based education and AI-embedded instruction to new approaches to assessment and a renewed focus on human formation.

Check out the full commentary at Brookings: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-universities-are-affected-by-ai-moving-knowledge-outside-their-walls/

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UMass Boston John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies

Michael J. Ahn examines how AI is eroding the university's monopoly on knowledge, pushing higher education toward human formation.

09/16/2026

We’re proud to celebrate Afsana Alam, a PhD in Public Policy student at UMass Boston, whose work and experiences exemplify the power of connecting research, policy, and public service!

Afsana was recently featured in the American Society for Public Administration (Aspa) Student Spotlight: “Rising Public Service Leaders,” recognizing her work advancing gender equity, the care economy, labor policy, and economic security.

She is also the author of a new PA TIMES article, “What Working Across Research and Government Taught Me About Public Service,” where she reflects on her experiences as a policy researcher, legislative intern at the Massachusetts State House, and Rappaport Public Policy Fellow with the City of Boston’s Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion.

Her reflections offer a powerful reminder that effective public service requires more than good ideas—it requires asking better questions, listening to communities, understanding lived experiences, and turning evidence into meaningful action.

From research and government to teaching, mentoring, and community engagement, Afsana is building a career dedicated to creating more thoughtful, responsive, and equitable public institutions. We are proud to have her as part of the UMass Boston Public Policy community!

Congratulations, Afsana, on this well-deserved recognition!🎉

Check out her full PA Times article here: https://patimes.org/what-working-across-research-and-government-taught-me-about-public-service/

09/15/2026

On September 8, UMass Boston's Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs welcomed leaders from the American Society for Public Administration (Aspa), including CEO William P. Shields Jr. and ASPA team members TJ Riggs, Katie Jahnz, and John Higgins, for the first stop on ASPA's series of visits to its institutional member schools!

The group met at the UMass Club for a collegial and productive discussion on opportunities to strengthen collaboration and student engagement. The visit also highlighted UMass Boston's accredited and nationally ranked MPA program and its commitment to preparing the next generation of public service leaders. UMass Boston John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies

09/11/2026

Congratulations to our faculty member Dr. Mark Warren on receiving recognition from the American Sociological Association (ASA) for his service to the association’s Sociology Action Network Advisory Board.

We’re proud to celebrate Mark’s contributions and commitment to the field of sociology! Congrats, Dr. Warren!

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UMass Boston John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies

08/25/2026

Congratulations to UMass Boston MPA graduate Samantha Roszczenko on receiving the 2026 New England ASPA Student Research Award!

Samantha is being recognized for her research examining how telework has affected productivity, stress, and burnout among administrative staff in the federal court system. Her thoughtful, practice-oriented work offers valuable insights for the future of public service.

Congratulations, Samantha, on this well-deserved recognition!

06/12/2026

Congratulations to PhD student Sampurna Basu, who presented her co-authored research, "Legitimacy Under Threat: Political Contestation & the Public Library as a Bureaucratic Institution," at the Public Management Research Association Conference (PMRC) in Washington DC in June 2026.

06/05/2026

Congratulations to Afsana Alam on her inspiring TEDx UMass Boston talk, “Belonging in More Than One World.”

In the TEDx last month, through powerful storytelling and personal reflection, Afsana explored what it means to navigate multiple identities, cultures, and spaces while searching for belonging. Her message reminds us that living between worlds can be a source of strength, connection, and purpose—and that creating inclusive spaces helps others feel seen, valued, and included.

We are proud of your accomplishment and the impact of your voice. Congratulations, Afsana!

UMass Boston John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies Afsana Preeti TEDx

06/01/2026

A big congratulations to our UMass Boston Class of 2026 Graduate and Doctoral students at last week's commencement! This marks the beginning of an exciting new milestone/chapter in your lives. We wish you all the best to the amazing adventures ahead! UMass Boston Alumni John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies