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Rutgers SPAA Students, Alumni, and Faculty Receive 2024 NJ ASPA Awards

In celebration of Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW), accomplished New Jersey public servants and outstanding public administration students were honored at the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (NJ ASPA) Annual Awards Reception. NJ ASPA president Dr. Lisa Mahajan-Cusack (PhD'16) presented the awards. William P. Shields, Jr., executive director of the national organization, American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), was a special guest.

Among the recipients were Rutgers SPAA students, alumni, and faculty:

(L to R) Dr. Kaifeng Yang (PhD'03), dean of Rutgers SPAA; Jessalyn Chang (MPA'24); and Dr. Lisa Mahajan-Cusack (PhD'16), NJ ASPA president.

Jessalyn Chang (MPA'24)
2024 Public Administration Student of the Year Award

(L to R) Marc Pfeiffer, senior policy fellow, Rutgers University; and Jillian Barrick (EMPA'14), business administrator, Town of Morristown.

Jillian Barrick (EMPA'14)
2024 NJ ASPA Distinguished Public Service Award

(L to R) Dr. Pengju Zhang, associate professor, Rutgers SPAA; and Dr. Lisa Mahajan-Cusack (PhD'16), NJ ASPA president.

Dr. Pengju Zhang
2024 NJ ASPA Academic Excellence Award

(L to R) Dr. RaJade M. Berry-James (PhD'99), senior associate dean of faculty and academic affairs and professor, Virginia Commonwealth University; and Dr. Lisa Mahajan-Cusack (PhD'16), NJ ASPA president.

Dr. RaJade M. Berry-James (PhD'99)
2024 NJ ASPA President’s Award

About NJ ASPA
NJ ASPA is the New Jersey affiliate of the American Society for Public Administration, the largest and most prominent professional association for public administration, devoted to advancing excellence in public service. It provides networking opportunities to public and nonprofit professionals as well as developing innovative solutions to the challenges of governance.

About Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW)
Established in 1985, PSRW is a nationwide public education campaign honoring the men and women who serve our nation as federal, state, county, local, and tribal government employees. Each year the president and Congress designate the first full week of May as PSRW and activities are held nationwide to honor public employees who put service above self.