SPAA News & Noteworthy: Academic Year 2021-2022
AUGUST 2, 2021
Rutgers SPAA Among Partners for the First Official 2021 NJ Gubernatorial Debate at NJPAC
The first of two public debates between the Republican and Democratic candidates in the 2021 New Jersey gubernatorial race will be held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, NJ on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, and broadcast live on WABC-TV and WPVI-TV at 7 p.m. NJPAC’s partners for the debate between Governor Phil Murphy (D) and former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R) include Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration, WABC, WPVI, Univision 65, NJ Advance Media, WHYY-FM radio, WCTC Radio, and the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers. NJPAC and Evergreen Partners are producing the debate.
https://go.rutgers.edu/debate-partner
AUGUST 19, 2021
SPAA’s Undergraduate Service-Learning Internship Course Hosts End-Of-Semester Gathering
This summer, 23 students participated in SPAA’s undergraduate service-learning internship course, completing 150 hours of internship work and attending the class taught by Michael Dillard, assistant teaching professor and director of the undergraduate program at Rutgers SPAA. The course gives undergraduate students an opportunity to gain professional experience while exploring all that public administration has to offer. On Aug. 3, Dr. Dillard hosted students, internship supervisors, and SPAA family at an end-of-semester gathering to discuss student experiences and thank the internship supervisors for the wider role they play as mentors, guiding students’ professional development.
https://go.rutgers.edu/intern-gather-21
SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
Rutgers SPAA Remembers 9/11 – 20 Years Later: A Public Administrator Perspective
To mark the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Rutgers SPAA hosted a remembrance panel with alumni and community partners to reflect on the importance of being a public servant amidst a tragic situation. Panelists shared their perspectives on the events of that day, and the lessons in diversity, competency, knowledge, ethics, and service that emerged through the process of collaborative rebuilding and healing. SPAA alumni Michael Brown (MPA’05) and Anthony Gardner (MPA’09), and Margarita Gravesande, a community partner of the school, participated as panelists and the session was moderated by the director of public engagement at Rutgers SPAA, Sharon Stroye.
https://go.rutgers.edu/spaa-9-11
SEPTEMBER 28, 2021
Rutgers Helps Bring New Jersey Governor's Debate to the Public
Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy will face off against Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli in the first gubernatorial debate tonight, an event Rutgers helped make happen. John Weingart, director of the Center on the American Governor at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, and Charles Menifield, dean of the School of Public Affairs and Administration, talked to Rutgers Today about the university’s role in the debate and how it all comes together.
https://spaa.newark.rutgers.edu/newsroom/rutgers-helps-bring-new-jersey-governors-debate-public
OCTOBER 1, 2021
Rutgers SPAA Partners with Brookdale Community College
Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) and Brookdale Community College recently signed a transfer articulation agreement that enables Brookdale’s A.S. Business Administration, A.A. Humanities, or A.A. Social Science degree holders to transfer seamlessly into a Bachelor of Arts in Public and Nonprofit Administration from Rutgers University–Newark.
https://spaa.newark.rutgers.edu/newsroom/rutgers-helps-bring-new-jersey-governors-debate-public
OCTOBER 7, 2021
Meet the 2021-2022 Rutgers SPAA Student Ambassadors
The 2021-2022 cohort of SPAA Ambassadors consists of 10 students currently enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degrees across traditional and online programs in SPAA who are earning their BA, Master of Public Administration (MPA), and Executive MPA (EMPA).
https://spaa.newark.rutgers.edu/2021-2022-spaa-ambassadors
OCTOBER 14, 2021
Rutgers SPAA Panel Discusses Creating a Pipeline of Hispanic/Latinx Leaders in Nonprofit Organizations
In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the 15th anniversary of SPAA, and the 75th anniversary of Rutgers University–Newark, SPAA hosted a panel to discuss the importance of diverse representation for leaders in the nonprofit sector.
https://go.rutgers.edu/spaa-hhm-2021
NOVEMBER 3, 2021
Rutgers SPAA and The Citizens Campaign Establish Partnership to Advance Citizen Leadership in Greater Newark
The School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) at Rutgers University–Newark and The Citizens Campaign announced the establishment of a partnership designed to train students and members of the community in no-blame, pragmatic problem-solving skills and provide opportunities for them to put their training to use as “citizen leaders” working to better their communities and our country.
https://go.rutgers.edu/spaa-citizens-partnership
NOVEMBER 9, 2021
Rutgers SPAA Receives 2021 Diversity Award from NASPAA
The School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) at Rutgers University–Newark was awarded the 2021 Diversity Award by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) during a ceremony at the annual NASPAA conference held virtually this year. The award recognizes a NASPAA-accredited program that exemplifies the highest standards in promoting and supporting diversity through research, teaching, and service by faculty and staff.
https://go.rutgers.edu/2021-diversity-award-naspaa
NOVEMBER 11, 2021
Rutgers SPAA Classes of 2020 and 2021 Come Together to Celebrate Commencements In-Person
Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration graduates from the classes of 2020 and 2021 finally had the opportunity to celebrate their commencements in-person after missing out on the rite of passage the last two years due to the pandemic. Rutgers University–Newark officially conferred degrees via virtual graduations on May 20, 2020 and May 16, 2021, and SPAA virtually celebrated the classes of 2020 and 2021, but on November 8, 2021, SPAA graduates were at last able to walk across the stage at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and commemorate the occasion alongside family, friends, and the school's administration.
https://go.rutgers.edu/spaa-in-person-grad
DECEMBER 7, 2021
SPAA Service Day 2021 Features Exemplary Public Service Leaders
On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the School of Public Affairs and Administration hosts its annual SPAA Service Day. This year, SPAA family and the community had the opportunity to join in discussion with a panel of exemplary leaders working as dedicated public servants.
https://go.rutgers.edu/spaa-service-day-2021
DECEMBER 14, 2021
Rutgers-Newark Debate Team Judges Bard Prison Initiative Debate for Second Time
The Rutgers University–Newark Debate Team was invited to judge a Bard Prison Initiative debate for the second time. Considered a rematch from 2016, the debate between the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) Debate Union and Morehouse College took place December 3 at the Eastern Correctional Facility in Napanoch, NY.
https://go.rutgers.edu/run-debate-bard-2021
DECEMBER 21, 2021
Rutgers SPAA Marks End of Year-Long 15th Anniversary Celebration with Hybrid Event
On December 9, Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) marked the end of its year-long 15th anniversary celebration with a hybrid in-person/virtual event highlighting some of the activities SPAA undertook this past year and recognizing its amazing students and alumni.
https://go.rutgers.edu/spaa-15-celebration
FEBRUARY 28, 2022
SPAA Recognizes Black History Month via a Conversation with Community Leader Darrell K. Terry Sr., President and CEO of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children's Hospital of New Jersey
In recognition of Black History Month, Rutgers SPAA engaged Darrell K. Terry Sr., President and CEO of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children's Hospital of New Jersey, in a conversation about being a strategic leader during a global pandemic. Terry is a 25-year employee of RWJBarnabas Health and has more than 35 years of experience in healthcare administration at three major New Jersey healthcare organizations.
https://go.rutgers.edu/spaa-bhm-terry
MARCH 29, 2022
Rutgers SPAA Secures Top Spots in NJ, Metro NY/NJ, Northeast, and Nationwide in U.S. News 2023 Public Affairs Rankings
The School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) at Rutgers University–Newark continues to be recognized among the nation’s outstanding higher education institutions for public affairs and administration, ranking #29 out of nearly 300 schools surveyed in the U.S. in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Public Affairs Programs. In specialty areas, SPAA was nationally ranked #7 in Urban Policy; #13 in public management and leadership; #15 in nonprofit management; #16 in public finance and budgeting; and #20 in Local Government Management.
https://go.rutgers.edu/2023-rankings
MAY 13, 2022
Hudson County Community College and Rutgers SPAA Sign Transfer Agreement for Public and Nonprofit Administration Degree Program
Hudson County Community College (HCCC) and Rutgers University School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) have entered into an agreement that enables students who graduate from HCCC with an Associate of Science degree in Human Services to transfer seamlessly and attain their Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers SPAA.
https://spaa.newark.rutgers.edu/newsroom/hccc-rutgers-spaa-transfer-agreement
MAY 25, 2022
Rutgers SPAA Celebrates the Class of 2022
On May 16, more than 250 School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) graduates were recognized as part of Rutgers University–Newark’s Commencement held in person at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Preceding the university commencement ceremony, SPAA held a virtual 2022 Graduation Celebration on May 12, during which graduates, Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society inductees, 2022 SPAA Award Winners, and SPAA scholarship winners were honored.
https://go.rutgers.edu/spaa-grads-2022
JUNE 6, 2022
Charles E. Menifield Stepping Down as Dean of Rutgers SPAA
Dr. Charles E. Menifield, dean of the School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) at Rutgers University–Newark since 2017, has announced that he plans to step down from the position at the end of June.
https://go.rutgers.edu/menifield-stepping-down