Wichita State University Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs

Wichita State University Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs We engage faculty, staff and students in applied learning and research to benefit the community.

HISTORY
The Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs reflects the vision of its namesake, Dr. Hugo Wall, a professor who served the University for forty-two years, from 1929 to 1971. In the mid-1940s, Professor Wall began envisioning an academic unit that would link the University and the community. Professor Wall's vision first emerged when the University established the Center for Urban Studies to con

duct applied research and community service under Dr. Wall's direction. Stable funding for the Center began in 1965, shortly after the transition of the University of Wichita into Wichita State University. City of Wichita voters approved the adoption of a citywide mill levy dedicated to the new state university, and the University allocated a portion of the mill levy to the Center for Urban Studies for research and service focused primarily on the city. An instructional component, the Master of Urban Affairs (MUA) degree, was added in 1972, the first degree being awarded in 1974. The MUA was a multi-disciplinary, problem-centered program drawing faculty and resources from a number of academic units across the university. Over time, the MUA began to focus more and more on public policy and on the administration of policy. In 1979, public administration faculty who had been a part of the department of political science moved to the Center for Urban Studies and additional faculty positions were added to the program. The MUA curriculum was revised in the early 1980s to better reflect the public administration emphasis of the program and its faculty. In 1983, the Center was named after Professor Hugo Wall, founder of the Center and national leader in city management professionalism. In 1984, the Kansas Board of Regents approved changing the MUA to the Master of Public Administration (MPA). Through the spring of 1993, the Hugo Wall Center for Urban Studies operated as a separate, integrated academic unit, offering instruction and conducting research and service, and reporting directly to central administration of the University. In Fall 1993, in response to preferences that the Center be housed in a degree-granting college and as part of several university-wide organizational changes, the Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs was created and placed in Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Initially the School housed the MPA program and the Center for Urban Studies (now the Public Policy and Management Center), as well as graduate and undergraduate programs in gerontology and criminal justice, and undergraduate programs in minority studies and social work. In 1994, the Kansas Public Finance Center was created as an additional research and service unit in the School. As a result of changing requirements in 1999, the Hugo Wall School was split into three units - a School of Social Work; a School of Community Affairs containing criminal justice, gerontology and minority studies; and a school that housed the Master of Public Administration degree program, which retained the name Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs. In 2015, the Center for Urban Studies was renamed the Public Policy and Management Center to reflect our mission of advancing excellence in public service.

Congratulations to Assistant Teaching Professor Mercy Umeri on the publication of her book "Forty-Five Things I know for...
12/13/2024

Congratulations to Assistant Teaching Professor Mercy Umeri on the publication of her book "Forty-Five Things I know for Sure: Letters to my Younger Self". Mercy's hard work and dedication is an inspiration to us all.

Growing up in a loving, yet not-so-wealthy home has taught Mercy Umeri many lessons. She has picked up some wisdom of her own. The assistant teaching professor at Wichita State University has decided to pass down her knowledge through her new book, successfully carving the legacy she always wanted t...

Last week Dr. Newbold and Dr. Umeri attended the annual ICMA conference in Pittsburgh and connected with many of our alu...
10/04/2024

Last week Dr. Newbold and Dr. Umeri attended the annual ICMA conference in Pittsburgh and connected with many of our alums and friends of the school. Thanks to everyone to came to dinner or stopped by our table to say hello!

Join us for Hugo Wall Day 2024! Hear from public administration academics and practitioners on issues that impact public...
09/24/2024

Join us for Hugo Wall Day 2024! Hear from public administration academics and practitioners on issues that impact public service, learn about recent research in public administration, and take time to network with presenters and community members. We hope to see you there!

Earlier this week HWS faculty met to prep for the fall semester. Here's to the start of another great year!
08/23/2024

Earlier this week HWS faculty met to prep for the fall semester. Here's to the start of another great year!

We are excited to share that Dr. David Guo, Hugo Wall School Regents Distinguished Professor of Public Finance, has been...
08/09/2024

We are excited to share that Dr. David Guo, Hugo Wall School Regents Distinguished Professor of Public Finance, has been elected the 2025 Vice Chair by the Association for Budgeting & Financial Management (ABFM). πŸŽ‰This is a momentous accomplishment for Dr. Guo, who will also serve as Chair-Elect and conference chair in 2026 and as Chair in 2027. 🌟 Congratulations, Dr. Guo! 🌟

The Association for Budgeting and Financial Management is a section of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA). ABFM aims to promote the professional development of budgeting and financial management in the public and non-profit sectors.

We are excited to share that Dr. David Guo, Hugo Wall School Regents Distinguished Professor of Public Finance, has been...
08/09/2024

We are excited to share that Dr. David Guo, Hugo Wall School Regents Distinguished Professor of Public Finance, has been elected the 2025 Vice Chair by the Association for Budgeting & Financial Management (ABFM). πŸŽ‰ This is a momentous accomplishment for Dr. Guo, who will also serve as Chair-Elect and conference chair in 2026 and as Chair in 2027. 🌟 Congratulations, Dr. Guo! 🌟

The Association for Budgeting and Financial Management (ABFM) is a section of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA). ABFM aims to promote the professional development of budgeting and financial management in the public and non-profit sectors.

🌟 Congratulations to Hugo Wall School alum Kyle Fiedler on his new role as the Community Development Director at the Cit...
07/15/2024

🌟 Congratulations to Hugo Wall School alum Kyle Fiedler on his new role as the Community Development Director at the City of Valley Center. πŸ‘

Valley Center Hires Kyle Fiedler as New Community Development Director!

For More Information
https://www.valleycenterks.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=861

🌟 Hugo Wall School alum Daniela Rivas shares her path to leadership, her goals for Latina representation in public servi...
06/26/2024

🌟 Hugo Wall School alum Daniela Rivas shares her path to leadership, her goals for Latina representation in public service, and the story of her parent’s journey to the U.S. in this interview with KMUW. πŸ™Œ

Rivas was hired as Newton's city manager in January, after working throughout south-central and southeast Kansas. She’s a graduate of Wichita State University.

πŸ“’ Exciting News! πŸŽ‰ The Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs proudly welcomes Dr. Stephanie Newbold as its new director. Dr...
06/04/2024

πŸ“’ Exciting News! πŸŽ‰ The Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs proudly welcomes Dr. Stephanie Newbold as its new director. Dr. Newbold is an internationally recognized scholar in public administration, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role.

"I am deeply honored and incredibly excited to join the Hugo Wall School community as its next director,” Newbold says. β€œThe Hugo Wall School is filled with vibrant energy focused on educating the next generation of public servants with the knowledge, skills, and capacities to make meaningful impacts in communities across Kansas and throughout the country. I look forward to building upon this most excellent legacy and working to advance the mission and values of this distinguished program."

🌟Please help us welcome Dr. Newbold to Wichita State and the ! πŸŽ“

Yesterday, we celebrated Page Achilles at the City of McPherson Local Government  Commission's Meeting for completing he...
05/29/2024

Yesterday, we celebrated Page Achilles at the City of McPherson Local Government Commission's Meeting for completing her MiniMPA certificate. Congratulations, Page, on your momentous achievement! πŸ‘

πŸ‘ Congratulations to our MiniMPA graduates who received certificates from Sedgwick County Government! This recognition o...
05/23/2024

πŸ‘ Congratulations to our MiniMPA graduates who received certificates from Sedgwick County Government! This recognition of your hard work and dedication is well-deserved.

Pictured below are our MiniMPA graduates with the council commissioners, Sedgwick County Manager Tom Stolz, Hugo Wall School Interim Director Dr. David Guo, and MiniMPA Coordinator Dr. Mercy O. Umeri.

πŸŽ“πŸŒŸ Congratulations to our MiniMPA graduates! πŸŒŸπŸŽ“ This week City of Wichita- Government presented certificates to each of ...
05/17/2024

πŸŽ“πŸŒŸ Congratulations to our MiniMPA graduates! πŸŒŸπŸŽ“ This week City of Wichita- Government presented certificates to each of our MiniMPA 2024 participants. Special thanks to Wichita Mayor Lily Wu and council members for their support. Wishing all our students a bright future after completing this momentous achievement! πŸŽ‰πŸ‘

If you are a local government or nonprofit professional ready to assume the next level of responsibility in your career, learn more about our MiniMPAβ„’ program by visiting www.wichita.edu/miniMPA or contacting Dr. Umeri at [email protected].

  πŸŽ“ Nathaniel completed his Master of Public Administration degree online. He says his studies at Hugo Wall School helpe...
05/17/2024

πŸŽ“ Nathaniel completed his Master of Public Administration degree online. He says his studies at Hugo Wall School helped him advance his career and excel on tasks integral to his work, like grant budgeting.

β€œI have really enjoyed my time at WSU for many reasons, but the main one was class sizes. I really enjoyed having extra support from my professors,” Nathaniel says.

Nathaniel works at Alvis, Inc. as the Program Director for the Reentry Center, a 100% grant-funded workforce development center in Columbus, Ohio. With his MPA, he aspires to further his growth in the organization and secure a senior management role.

Congrats Nathaniel! πŸ₯³ Best wishes for your next chapter! πŸ“–

  πŸŽ“ Mike completed the MPA program with certificates in Economic Development and Public Finance. He particularly enjoyed...
05/16/2024

πŸŽ“ Mike completed the MPA program with certificates in Economic Development and Public Finance. He particularly enjoyed Phil Nelson’s β€œPlanning Process” course during his studies.

Mike is the Director of Communications at Krucial Rapid Response, an Overland Park-based non-profit that provides medical personnel and resources to communities nationwide, primarily in natural disaster circumstances. After graduating, Mike plans to continue his work in the nonprofit sector.

Congratulations Mike! πŸŽ‰ Best wishes for your future!

  πŸŽ“ After James finished his undergraduate degree at Kansas City Community College, he spent the next decade exploring o...
05/16/2024

πŸŽ“ After James finished his undergraduate degree at Kansas City Community College, he spent the next decade exploring opportunities in fundraising, strategic communications, operations, and campaign management. All those experiences had one thing in common: a connection to public service and a desire to contribute solutions to the challenges we face as a community.

James was eager to explore and understand the technical knowledge that informed policy-making, management, and public service when he entered the Hugo Wall School MPA program.

β€œMy professors and instructors helped connect me with like-minded people, introducing me to the many ways public administration is practiced,” said James. β€œI am grateful for the experiences I gained in classes with talented, dedicated people who bring diverse perspectives and backgrounds to the classroom. They made me proud to be a part of the future of public service.”

James is a Strategic Initiatives Manager at the WSU Public Policy and Management Center. πŸ‘Well done, James! πŸ‘ We are happy to be a part of your journey and know you will leverage your passion for public service to significantly impact the communities you serve!

  πŸŽ“ Lizeth Ortega graduated with her MPA and certificate in Economic Development. While at Hugo Wall School, she became ...
05/15/2024

πŸŽ“ Lizeth Ortega graduated with her MPA and certificate in Economic Development. While at Hugo Wall School, she became interested in studying sustainable urban development topics.

She works at the City of Wichita- Government as a Senior Environmental Specialist, where she helps the city focus on environmental goals. She looks forward to growing in her role with the city after earning her Master of Public Administration degree.

πŸŽ‰Congratulations on your achievement, Lizeth, and thank you for your invaluable work that has made Wichita a healthier, greener place for all to enjoy! 🌱

  πŸŽ“ Ryan is one of our outstanding spring 2024   graduates. In addition to earning his Master of Public Administration d...
05/15/2024

πŸŽ“ Ryan is one of our outstanding spring 2024 graduates. In addition to earning his Master of Public Administration degree, Ryan earned four certificates in City/County Management, Nonprofit Management, Public Finance, and Economic Development. Ryan also served as a graduate research assistant for the Wichita State University Environmental Finance Center.

During school, Ryan was employed by the City of Bellingham, Washington - Government in the Public Works Department Development Section. After graduation, Ryan will become the Water Department Director for the Nooksack Indian Tribe.

One of the things that Ryan appreciated most about his time at the Hugo Wall School was the collaboration and relationships that were built with his classmates and peers, as well as the interactions and guidance from WSU employees such as Bethany Kennedy and faculty such as Dr. Ruowen Shen, whose service and guidance were instrumental to his success.

Way to go, Ryan! πŸŽ‰ We are so proud of your achievements and look forward to following the next steps in your career! πŸ‘

  πŸŽ“ As a former foster child, Shylee decided to use her education and experiences working in child welfare. After years ...
05/14/2024

πŸŽ“ As a former foster child, Shylee decided to use her education and experiences working in child welfare. After years of direct service, she decided to enter the MPA program with an interest in nonprofit management to expand her impact. Shylee completed her MPA with certificates in Nonprofit Management and Public Finance. She also represented the Hugo Wall School in the 2024 NASPAA Student Simulation. She plans to use her education to manage nonprofits and lead initiatives that uplift the disadvantaged and foster positive change to contribute to a brighter, more equitable world.

πŸ₯³ Congratulations Shylee! Wishing you all the best as you continue to make a meaningful impact on the world. Keep up the fantastic work! πŸŽ“πŸŒŸ

Address

1845 Fairmount Street
Wichita, KS
67260

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Wichita State University Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The University

Send a message to Wichita State University Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs:

Videos

Share