10/06/2026
Having returned from the Pacific Northwest, UConn SPP faculty and staff left with fond memories (and full to-do lists) from the 2026 NASPAA Global Conference in Seattle! This annual session pulls together faculty, staff, and public service practitioners to convene, share resources, collaborate on research and programming partnerships, and learn first-hand how peers in public service programs around the world support their students and broader communities. SPP sent Drs. Angela Eikenberry, Mohamed Alkadry, and Renzo de la Riva Aguero, and staff member Ryan Baldassario to Seattle to represent SPP.
USING THEIR VOICE: Dr. Eikenberry spoke on the following panels: (1) “The Importance of Critical/Normative Theory in Troubled Times”, (2) “Federal Policy Shifts and Higher Education: What’s Next?” Dr. Alkadry spoke in the roundtable, “Teaching an Incomplete Democracy: Democratic Mythmaking, Counter-Narratives and the Global Politics of Democratic Legitimacy” Dr. de la Riva Aguero spoke to participants in the “NASPAA Next” cohort to share his experiences and advice for the future of faculty roles in public service education. Ryan Baldassario chaired the final NASPAA Student Services Committee meeting of the ’25-’26 cycle, reported to NASPAA leadership about the committee’s annual progress, and spoke as a panelist on a session, “Building Pipelines into Public Service: Institutional Strategies to Support Students Navigating Global Public Service Careers”
LEADERSHIP IN ACTION: Ryan Baldassario retained the role of chair of the NASPAA SSC group for 2026-2027. Dr. Alkadry cycled out as “Immediate Past President” within the NASPAA ranks, completing his leadership tenure. Dr. Eikenberry was formally elected into the NASPAA Executive Council – the 18 member leadership council which helms the organization – and was an active participant in the annual Dean’s Summit.
The School looks forward to future NASPAA convenings, and would like to thank NASPAA staff and member volunteers for their hard work in coordinating this conference!
