UCR School of Public Policy

UCR School of Public Policy The official page of the School of Public Policy (SPP) at the University of California, Riverside. https://linktr.ee/ucrspp "Solutions for the Region.

Solutions for the World." As the only UC to offer an undergraduate degree in public policy and the first graduate program offered by a major research university in Inland Southern California, the UCR School of Public Policy brings together the national and international strengths of policy faculty from across the disciplines at UCR to create an exceptional educational experience for our students.

The UCR School of Public Policy is distinctive in its focus on addressing the big policy challenges facing California and, in particular, the Inland Region. Our “think globally, act locally” approach places an emphasis on applying policy lessons learnt from other parts of the nation and the world to solving California’s problems. Our students are tomorrow’s leaders and we train them in data-driven, solution-based policy-making so that by the time they graduate they will have the ability to bring fresh, bold thinking to solve the complex challenges facing our region and the world. Furthermore, policy engagement is a central feature of the School, ranging from student internships and policy assemblies, to expert testimony and policy briefs.

• Time Magazine ranked UC Riverside #1 based on metrics of graduation rate, affordability, and the financial aid available to students.

• Washington Monthly (August 2015) ranked UC Riverside 2nd in the nation in its annual University and College Survey.

• Shanghai Jiao Tong University (August 2015) Academic Ranking of World Universities ranked UC Riverside among the top-150. This survey bills itself as "the most trustworthy precursor of global rankings of the world’s top 500 universities.”

We are ending our 10-year anniversary Faculty Feature series with Dr. Mark Long, Dean of the UCR School of Public Policy...
08/27/2026

We are ending our 10-year anniversary Faculty Feature series with Dr. Mark Long, Dean of the UCR School of Public Policy! 🏛️

As the School enters its second decade, Dr. Long is focused on strengthening our national reputation, expanding opportunities for students to engage with policymakers, and increasing the reach and impact of faculty research.

Read the full feature here: https://spp10years.ucr.edu/faculty-feature-articles/2026/08/27/mark-long-faculty-feature-august

School of Public Policy parents and families! Unwind with us after a busy move-in day at Highlander Family Network‘s Fam...
08/20/2026

School of Public Policy parents and families! Unwind with us after a busy move-in day at Highlander Family Network‘s Family Happy Hour! 🥂

This is a great chance to meet our faculty, advisors, and student leaders who will be there for your student every step of the way as they earn their public policy degree.

➡️ Register via families.ucr.edu/happyhour. We hope to see you there! 🤗

The annual Persist Women’s Political Engagement Conference is back for its ninth year, ready to inspire women to get eng...
08/18/2026

The annual Persist Women’s Political Engagement Conference is back for its ninth year, ready to inspire women to get engaged in the political sphere through inspirational speakers, panels, and mentor sessions.

📅 Monday, October 26th, 2026
⏰ 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
📍 UC Riverside, Highlander Union Building, Room 302

➡️ Register today via myadv.ucr.edu/forms/persist2026

Stay tuned for the announcement of the keynotes and programming at persist.ucr.edu!

Congratulations to alumnus Jesse Melgar on his appointment as Vice President of Government Affairs at The California End...
07/30/2026

Congratulations to alumnus Jesse Melgar on his appointment as Vice President of Government Affairs at The California Endowment! 👏

In this newly created leadership role, Jesse will have an important voice in guiding regional investments and advancing health equity in communities across California.

Since graduating from our Master of Public Policy program in 2017, Jesse has held leadership positions with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Governor Gavin Newsom, the California State Senate, the Latino Legislative Caucus, Equality California, and most recently the University of California Possibility Lab.

Our second faculty feature for July is Dr. Ken Baerenklau!One of the UCR School of Public Policy's founding faculty memb...
07/24/2026

Our second faculty feature for July is Dr. Ken Baerenklau!

One of the UCR School of Public Policy's founding faculty members, Dr. Baerenklau specializes in water resource economics and policy. His research examines how economic tools and conservation strategies can address environmental challenges, with a focus on sustainable water management and natural resource policy.

Beyond his research, Dr. Baerenklau brings valuable university leadership to the School of Public Policy. As UCR's Associate Provost and Chief of Staff, he helps guide strategic planning, faculty hiring, student success initiatives, campus budgeting, and accreditation. His experience strengthens the School and helps position us for continued growth.

Our first faculty feature of the summer is Dr. Kevin Esterling, whose research explores the intersection of public polic...
07/23/2026

Our first faculty feature of the summer is Dr. Kevin Esterling, whose research explores the intersection of public policy, technology, and democratic governance, with a focus on how digital tools can strengthen civic engagement. 🤖🏛️

As director of the TeCD-Lab, Dr. Esterling leads the development of Prytaneum, an AI-powered platform that transforms webinars into interactive public discussions. By helping participants engage more effectively with one another, the platform promotes informed dialogue on policy issues.

Dr. Esterling also serves as co-principal investigator on a $4 million U.S. Department of Education grant supporting the CORE Incubator, an initiative dedicated to training young adults in communication, mediation, and leadership while advancing research on computational deliberation.

His leadership in this field recently earned him an invitation to deliver the closing keynote address at the 2026 UC Open Summit, where he explored the effects of open AI on democratic discourse.

Congratulations to our July Alumni Spotlight, Jessica Barriga (MPP '20)!As Senior Economic Development Policy Advisor in...
07/22/2026

Congratulations to our July Alumni Spotlight, Jessica Barriga (MPP '20)!

As Senior Economic Development Policy Advisor in the Office of Mayor Matt Mahan, Jessica helps shape policies and initiatives that support a vibrant and prosperous San Jose. Her work focuses on ensuring the city's economic growth reflects community priorities while creating opportunities for residents and businesses alike.

Jessica credits the UCR School of Public Policy with helping her thrive in this role.

"The faculty at the School of Public Policy challenged me to think critically and approach complex issues through an evidence-based lens, which continues to guide my work in economic development and public policy. Just as valuable were the relationships I built with my cohort, many of whom remain trusted colleagues and collaborators committed to public service."

We're proud to celebrate Jessica's commitment to public service and the positive impact she's making in San Jose!

Address

900 University Avenue
Riverside, CA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+19518275564

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