Dean's Message: Welcome to Fall 2026
Dear SPAA Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Welcome—and welcome back—to Rutgers SPAA!
As we begin the Fall 2026 semester, I am delighted to welcome new members of our community and to welcome back our returning students, faculty, and staff. I hope the summer provided opportunities for rest and renewal, and that we begin this academic year with energy, purpose, and a shared commitment.
We enter this semester at a consequential moment. Public institutions are navigating rapid political, social, technological, and economic change. Artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education and public management, while society continues to wrestle with polarized discourse and questions about public value. For a school of public affairs and administration, these challenges make our mission more vital than ever: preparing leaders and generating knowledge that strengthen public institutions and serve our communities.
To fulfill this mission, I encourage our community to focus on three shared commitments this year:
- Constructive Dialogue: Universities must remain spaces where difficult questions are asked, competing ideas are rigorously examined, and disagreement occurs with mutual respect. We grow intellectually when we listen carefully, evaluate evidence, and remain open to new perspectives.
- Thoughtful Innovation: As artificial intelligence evolves, we must approach technological change with curiosity and responsibility—embracing its potential for public management while prioritizing ethics, accuracy, and human judgment.
- Inclusive Community: Our varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are a foundational strength. SPAA is at its best when every member feels welcomed, supported, and connected.
Fulfilling these commitments belongs to all of us. Students shape the civic life of our classrooms; faculty foster rigorous, open inquiry; and staff make every aspect of our educational experience possible.
I encourage our students to immerse yourselves fully in the intellectual and community life of SPAA, to engage with new ideas and one another, and to make the most of your time here. I also thank our faculty and staff for your dedicated service to our students and mission.
I look forward to seeing you across campus and wish everyone a productive, rewarding, and meaningful academic year.
Warm regards,
Kaifeng Yang, PhD
Dean and Professor
Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA)