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Announcing the 2020 SPAA Award Winners

On behalf of the dean, faculty, and staff of the School of Public Affairs and Administration we are pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 SPAA Awards!

The SPAA awards recognize our graduates, alumni, faculty, and staff who embody the values of SPAA and a commitment to public service. Please join us in congratulating this year's award winners:

Media Gallery:
 

  • Outstanding BA Student:
    Anna Agbotse (BA'20) for high achievement in both academic and co-curricular pursuits.
     
  • Outstanding MPA Student:
    Nancy Pietrobon (MPA’20) for high achievement in both academic and co-curricular pursuits.
     
  • Outstanding PhD Student: 
    Dr. Danbee Lee (PhD’20) for high achievement in both academic and co-curricular pursuits.
     
  • E. Drexel Godfrey Award:
    Salvador Bigay (MPA'20) for embodying the SPAA core values of high academic achievement, scholarship, and service to the community. (The award is named after E. Drexel Godfrey, former assistant director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), who joined the faculty of Rutgers University–Newark  in 1974 and established and directed the graduate program in public administration.)
     
  • Distinguished Alumni Award for Academic Excellence:
    Dr. Jonathan Justice (PhD'03), University of Delaware, for outstanding contributions to the intellectual, theoretical, and institutional advancement of public administration.
     
  • Distinguished Alumni Award for Practitioner Excellence: 
    Tracy Zur (MPA'18), Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders, for outstanding achievement in public administration and public service through applied practice in the field.
     
  • Community Service Award: 
    Carlos Valentin, Jr. (BA'13), Aspira Inc., of New Jersey, for outstanding contributions to their community through their time, actions, talents and dedication.
     
  • SPAA Faculty Teaching Award: 
    Dr. James Davy, Distinguished Practitioner in Residence, for significant contributions to our students’ intellectual life through their superior teaching practices.
     
  • SPAA Faculty Service Award:
    Dr. Yahong Zhang, Associate Professor, for outstanding service to students, faculty, and the greater SPAA community.
     
  • Gail Daniels SPAA Staff Award: 
    Danese Spence, Administrative Coordinator, Finance and Administration, awarded to recognize a SPAA staff member who displays outstanding service to students, faculty, and the greater SPAA community. (The award is named for Gail Daniels who served Rutgers SPAA as an administrative staff member for over 43 years within academic and student services.)