50 Years of Public Service Excellence: Rutgers SPAA Celebrates a Milestone Anniversary at Vibrant Reception

Rutgers SPAA's dean, Dr. Kaifeng Yang – himself an alumnus of SPAA having earned his PhD in 2003 – welcomed the attendees and spoke to SPAA's values, noting that from the beginning, the school has championed access to public service education and practice regardless of background. He described that belief as being a part of the school's legacy: "public service should be accessible to everyone and public leadership should be possible for everybody, and this is what SPAA is recognized for nationally and internationally," he said. "This actually anchors our central message of the year of our anniversary – that public leadership should welcome everyone, prepare everyone, and serve everyone."

Yang honored the school's former deans, Dr. Marc Holzer, the founding dean, and Dr. Charles Menifield, noting that without their leadership and guidance, SPAA would not be where it is today.

He declared that the night also celebrated a community of more than 3,000 SPAA alumni, most serving or having served in New Jersey, and acknowledged several in attendance from various areas and graduation years – including a graduate from the first MPA cohort, Joseph Buga, who completed the program in 1977.

"Our proudest legacy isn’t what we’ve built – it’s who we’ve built: first-generation students, international students, working professionals," he said. "People who come to SPAA hoping to serve – and leave ready to lead."

Rutgers University–Newark Chancellor Dr. Tonya Smith-Jackson offered congratulations and noted SPAA's contributions in her remarks.

"SPAA's story has been one of impact and inspiration for 50 years," she said. "The school has not only educated leaders, it has transformed lives in communities. So, as we look to the next 50 years, our commitment is stronger than ever to prepare ethical, inclusive, and innovative public servants who will meet the challenges of tomorrow with courage and vision."

While introducing the evening's keynote speaker, Shante Palmer, vice chancellor for external and governmental relations at RU-N, noted her personal connection to SPAA. 

"As a proud EMPA SPAA Alumna, standing here tonight feels like home," said Palmer. "SPAA shaped me and all of us in this room into public servants with purpose, integrity, and a deep commitment to community."

Dr. Dale Caldwell remarked on the importance of the celebration, especially with public service being challenged in many different ways. "So, on behalf of Governor-Elect Sherrill and myself, we want to congratulate you on this 50 years of excellence where you have been shaping the ethical, the innovative, and mission-driven leaders in ways that many schools have not."

He reminisced about his time teaching at SPAA in the early 2000s, and remarked, "I think your impact is much larger than you even know you've had - you've made mayors, you've had council members, and commissioners and agency heads. I count myself - and lieutenant governors now - coming out of this school, whether you're teaching or whether you're part of it."

The evening concluded with James Blaney Jr., chief of staff for the City of Newark, NJ and SPAAAN president, presenting two resolutions from the City of Newark's Municipal Council, one to SPAA MPA alumna Ana Olivera for her assistance with SPAAAN, and the other to SPAA to commemorate the school's 50th anniversary.

The reception was the culmination of a year-long celebration during which Rutgers SPAA hosted a series of commemorative events designed to bring together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the surrounding communities to mark this milestone occasion.