AU School of Public Affairs

AU School of Public Affairs The AU School of Public Affairs was established as part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal. From knowledge to action to impact.

From FDR's vision for "practical contacts between the collegiate and educational world, and the operations of government;" SPA was born. In 1934, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt began implementing New Deal programs that, among other things, sought to increase “practical contacts between the collegiate and educational world and the operations of government.” He believed that the intersection of

academia and public service would result in better-informed decision making, not only for Depression-era America, but also for future generations to come. From his vision, the School of Public Affairs (SPA) at American University was born. Over the past eight decades, SPA has embraced FDR’s vision as it cultivated a culture of lasting impact -- to empower those who seek knowledge, to conduct and apply research, to build a bridge between academic thought and policy planning, and to inspire change at every level. Today, with more than 1,600 current students and more than 20,000 alumni, SPA’s faculty and students continue to tackle complex issues with thoughtful research that educates, informs, and promotes change across a broad field of study.

SPA is shaping the future of public policy analysis! Prof. , editor-in-chief of , & Prof. host of "Closer Look" podcast...
01/22/2025

SPA is shaping the future of public policy analysis! Prof. , editor-in-chief of , & Prof. host of "Closer Look" podcast, place SPA at the forefront of critical conversations & the evolution of policy research.
https://bit.ly/4h6hRjD

Prof. Khaldoun , Associate Editor of Public Administration Review, & Assoc. Prof. , Editor of Nonprofit Management & Lea...
01/22/2025

Prof. Khaldoun , Associate Editor of Public Administration Review, & Assoc. Prof. , Editor of Nonprofit Management & Leadership, reflect SPA’s dedication to excellence in public & nonprofit administration.
https://bit.ly/4aadO3K

Committed to advancing the impact of international policy and administration, Provost Associate Professor Khaldoun lead...
01/22/2025

Committed to advancing the impact of international policy and administration, Provost Associate Professor Khaldoun leads the International Dialogue on the Governance of Refugee Camps. This annual workshop fosters research and collaboration to provide policymakers with insights that improve the lives of refugees in camps worldwide.

Learn more about The International Dialogue on the Governance of Refugee Camps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gFZfRUC1fo

SPA's Assistant Professor David Schwegman is an academic affiliate with the Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES) at GSA, ...
01/22/2025

SPA's Assistant Professor David Schwegman is an academic affiliate with the Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES) at GSA, advancing evidence-based policy. 📊 His research is featured in top journals like “Public Finance & Budgeting”, “The Journal of Policy Analysis and Management”, and “The Journal of Public Economics”.

Learn about SPA's Graduate Certificate in Public Financial Management: https://www.american.edu/spa/certificate/cert-gpfm.cfm

New books by Associate Professor and Professor Thomas expand our understanding of violent rhetoric and movements. In ...
01/21/2025

New books by Associate Professor and Professor Thomas expand our understanding of violent rhetoric and movements. In Terror in Transition, Prof. Bacon analyzes how religious terrorist groups manage and adapt to major shifts in leadership, while Prof. Zeitzoff’s Nasty Politics looks at why politicians insult, accuse, and threaten their opponents, even though voters say they don't like it.

Learn more about our Terrorism and Homeland Security Program: https://bit.ly/427N6XA

With a continued focus on urban policy, Professor ’s new book “Slow and Sudden Violence: Why and When Uprisings Occur” l...
01/20/2025

With a continued focus on urban policy, Professor ’s new book “Slow and Sudden Violence: Why and When Uprisings Occur” links police violence in St. Louis and Baltimore to an ongoing cycle of racial and spatial urban redevelopment repression. Prof. Hyra is the director of SPA’s Metropolitan Policy Center.

Watch Prof. Derek Hyra discuss his new book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yM12kp1gC4

On this , we honor the enduring legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., whose message of equality, justice, and nonviolence c...
01/20/2025

On this , we honor the enduring legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., whose message of equality, justice, and nonviolence continues to inspire us as we navigate new challenges and strive for a more just and united future. 🙌

Continuing to demonstrate our dedication to health policy, Professor , the Charles W. Fotis, Sr. and Dorothea G. Fotis F...
01/19/2025

Continuing to demonstrate our dedication to health policy, Professor , the Charles W. Fotis, Sr. and Dorothea G. Fotis Family Distinguished Professor of Health Policy, will host the “Workshop on the Economics of Risky Behaviors” on June 11-12, 2025 in Madrid, Spain, for the 14th consecutive year. Prof. Tekin is also the editor-in-chief of "The Journal of Policy Analysis and Management"().

Learn about the Workshop on the Economics of Risky Behaviors: https://bit.ly/4h8XvX2

With SPA's growing expertise in environmental policy, Professor Nicole Darnall() joined AU as the Arlene R. and Robert P...
01/19/2025

With SPA's growing expertise in environmental policy, Professor Nicole Darnall() joined AU as the Arlene R. and Robert P. Kogod Eminent Scholar Chair in Sustainability, a joint appointment with SPA and , focusing her research and work on sustainable practices for individuals and organizations. She was recently named to SustainabilityX Magazine’s “Global 50 Women in Sustainability.”

Read more about Prof. Nicole Darnall: https://bit.ly/40rabmT

Assistant Professor Brandyn Churchill () joined SPA in 2024 and was recently awarded a $1.4 million grant from the to l...
01/19/2025

Assistant Professor Brandyn Churchill () joined SPA in 2024 and was recently awarded a $1.4 million grant from the to lead a project studying the effects of federal funding aimed at reducing the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related health conditions, such as diabetes.

Read about the $1.4million NIH grant: https://bit.ly/408Nhiz

Sustaining our ongoing commitment to social policy, Professor Jordan Matsudaira () joined SPA in 2024 and launched the P...
01/17/2025

Sustaining our ongoing commitment to social policy, Professor Jordan Matsudaira () joined SPA in 2024 and launched the Postsecondary Equity & Economics Research Center (), making SPA a hub for leading economics and education policy scholars to generate new evidence to promote more equitable outcomes in higher education.

Learn more about PEER: https://bit.ly/4fSPxjZ

Showing our commitment to public management and leadership, distinguished Scholar in Residence organized and hosted the...
01/17/2025

Showing our commitment to public management and leadership, distinguished Scholar in Residence organized and hosted the third annual Summer Diversity Academy in June 2024. The Academy is a week-long intensive workshop open to a diverse group of senior PhD students and junior faculty in public affairs to cover strategies for publication, career development, expanding professional networks, and preparing for the job market.

Read about the Summer Diversity Academy: https://bit.ly/4abf7iT

🕓 Today, Jan 15, at 4 p.m., join SPA's Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, Interim Dean Alison Jacknowitz...
01/15/2025

🕓 Today, Jan 15, at 4 p.m., join SPA's Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, Interim Dean Alison Jacknowitz, and experts Shai Akabas, Jessica Fulton, and Gordon Gray for a discussion on the future of U.S. fiscal policy, spending, and national debt. Introduction by Prof. Thomas Kahn and moderated by Robert Bixby (SPA/BA '77).

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Kerwin Hall
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Videos

Welcome back to Kerwin Hall
Welcome back to Kerwin Hall

🌟 Welcome back to Kerwin Hall, SPA family! 🌟 Let’s kick off Spring 2025 with energy, learning, and growth. Here’s to an amazing semester ahead! 🦅✨ #WelcomeBack #SPASpring2025 #KerwinHallVibes

New Semester Loading - SPA2025
New Semester Loading - SPA2025

We’re prepping for a new Spring semester at SPA. Can’t wait to see you all at Kerwin Hall! #NewSemesterLoading

Submit your new SPA tradition idea!
Submit your new SPA tradition idea!

🌟 What’s the one tradition SPA needs to make our community even better? Share your ideas and help us create something unforgettable! 🙌✨ Submit your idea here: https://american.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8i6bMP4LKOyuS2O. #SPAProud #SPATraditions #SPA90 #shorts

Happy Holidays from SPA!
Happy Holidays from SPA!

Happy Holidays from all of us at SPA! 🎄✨ As we celebrate 90 years of excellence, we’re looking ahead to even greater things. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a New Year filled with growth, success, and connection. 🌟 #SPA90 #90AndJustGettingStarted #HappyHolidays

Submit your new SPA tradition idea!
Submit your new SPA tradition idea!

🌟 What’s the one tradition SPA needs to make our community even better? Share your ideas and help us create something unforgettable! 🙌✨ Submit your idea here: https://american.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8i6bMP4LKOyuS2O. #SPAProud #SPATraditions #SPA90 #shorts

Happy Holidays from SPA!
Happy Holidays from SPA!

Happy Holidays from all of us at SPA! 🎄✨ As we celebrate 90 years of excellence, we’re looking ahead to even greater things. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a New Year filled with growth, success, and connection. 🌟 #SPA90 #90AndJustGettingStarted #HappyHolidays

Happy Holidays from SPA!
Happy Holidays from SPA!

Happy Holidays from all of us at SPA! 🎄✨ As we celebrate 90 years of excellence, we’re looking ahead to even greater things. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a New Year filled with growth, success, and connection. 🌟 #SPA90 #90AndJustGettingStarted #HappyHolidays

What an inspiring message from keynote speaker and SPA/MPAP ‘24 alum Sean Astin to carry with us into the new year! 🌟 We’re so proud of our graduates who are paving the way to making the world a better place, across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. #SPAProud #classof2024🎓 #inspiration #NewYearMotivation

🗓️ The countdown has started: 5 days and counting until graduation day🎓! We’re in the final stretch. We can’t wait to celebrate with you on December 15🎉 Comment if you’re #hyped! #SPAProud #ClassOf2024 #DecemberCommencement2024

SPA's 5 tips to help you focus for finals
SPA's 5 tips to help you focus for finals

Struggling to stay focused for finals? Don't worry, we've got your back! Check out these 5 expert tips to boost your concentration and ace those exams. 💪

🗞️ SPA faculty are in the spotlight! Check out their latest research and media features. 🌟 #SPA90 #90AndJustGettingStarted Read here 👉 american.edu/spa/dispatches/index.cfm

🌟 Big news! SPA's Master’s program in Public Administration is ranked #6 globally 🌍 and is the top-ranked in the U.S. 🇺🇸 in the 2024 Shanghai Global Rankings! 🎓 🎉 @ShanghaiRanking #SPAProud #SPA90 #90AndJustGettingStarted #GlobalExcellence

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