Announcing the 2025 SPAA Awards
The annual SPAA Awards recognize our graduating students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members who embody the values of the school and a commitment to public service.
Outstanding BA Student Award
Awarded for high achievement in both academic and co-curricular pursuits.
Jacinay Coleman-Shelton (BA'25)
Accelerated MPA Student
Rutgers SPAA
Cassandra Izquierdo (BA'25)
Accelerated MPA Student
Rutgers SPAA
Outstanding MPA Student Award
Awarded for high achievement in both academic and co-curricular pursuits.
Rocco Carbone (MPA'25)
Attorney Advisor, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate for the New Jersey National Guard
Joint Force Headquarters, Fort Dix, New Jersey
Marquis Howard (MPA'25)
Co-Executive Director/Co-Founder
The Difference Makers Network Reentry program
Outstanding PhD Student Award
Awarded for high achievement in both academic and co-curricular pursuits.
Kasny Damas (PhD'25)
E. Drexel Godfrey Award
Awarded 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.)
Samantha Bruining (EMPA'24)
Confidential Aide to the County Clerk
Passaic County Clerks Office
Momina Chaudhry (MPA'25)
SPAA Faculty Teaching Award
Awarded to a SPAA faculty member for significant contributions to our students’ intellectual lives through superior teaching practices.
Ricardo Bello-Gomez
Assistant Professor
Rutgers SPAA
SPAA Faculty Service Award
Awarded to a SPAA faculty member for outstanding service to our students, faculty, and the greater SPAA community.
Norma Riccucci
Board of Governors Distinguished Professor
Rutgers SPAA
Pengju Zhang
Associate Professor
Rutgers SPAA
Gail Daniels SPAA Staff Award
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 the school's office of student and academic services.)
Reena Patel
Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs
Rutgers SPAA
Distinguished Alumni Award for Academic Excellence
Awarded to SPAA alumni for outstanding contributions to the intellectual, theoretical, and institutional advancement of public administration.
Domonic Bearfield (PhD'04)
Professor and Deputy Director
The Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, The George Washington University
Distinguished Alumni Award for Practitioner Excellence
Awarded to SPAA Alumni for outstanding achievement in public administration and public service through applied practice in the field.
Sara Pena (MPA'14)
Director of External Affairs
PSEG
Sharon Stroye SPAA Community Engagement Award
Awarded for outstanding contributions to the community through time, actions, talents, and dedication. (The award is named for Sharon Stroye who served Rutgers SPAA students, alumni, and the greater Newark community in various roles throughout the school and Rutgers-Newark for over 20 years.)
Dahlia Vertreese
Mayor
Hillside, New Jersey
Dean's Public Service Award
Awarded for outstanding contributions to public service.
Jane Sharp (EMPA'10)
Director, Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program
Rutgers SPAA