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Dept. of Public Admin & Policy

@ugapadp

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Ranked among the top 10 Public Affairs Graduate Program in the Nation!
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Congratulations to MPA alum Jared Benko (MPA ’07), who has been named the next Director of Athletics at Iowa State University! Benko brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in collegiate athletics to the position. Most recently, he served as Executive Deputy Athletic Director at Auburn University, and his career has also included leadership roles at Georgia Southern University and Mississippi State University. A native of Watkinsville, Georgia, Benko earned both his bachelor’s degree and Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia. We’re proud to see where your UGA MPA has taken you. Congratulatory graphic featuring a professional headshot against a red background. Text reads, “Congratulations! Jared Benko, MPA ’07, Director of Athletics, Iowa State University.”
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Come see what the program is really like. Join us for MPA Visitation Day on Friday, October 23 in Athens! You’ll hear from MPA faculty and staff, connect with current students over lunch, learn about internship and career opportunities, and hear directly from alumni about where their MPA has taken them. The day will wrap up with an optional tour of UGA’s North Campus. 📍 Baldwin Hall, University of Georgia 🗓 Friday, October 23 🔗 Register at the link in our bio! Graphic promoting UGA MPA Visitation Day on Friday, October 23 in Athens, Georgia. The graphic features a sunny view of UGA’s campus with students walking outside and reads, “MPA Visitation Day: Discover Athens & UGA’s MPA program.” The University of Georgia Master of Public Administration logo appears at the bottom.
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Congratulations to Eric Zeemering on his election as a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), one of the nation’s highest honors in the field of public service. “I am honored by this recognition,” Zeemering said. “Public administration is a rewarding field of research because we have so many opportunities to collaborate with government professionals for the improvement of public services. I look forward to contributing to the Academy’s work to advance effective, efficient, transparent and accountable government.” SPIA also extends its congratulations to Rob Gordon, director of UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government, who was elected to the 2026 class alongside Zeemering. To learn more click the link in our bio. Eric Zeemering with banner that says "Zeemering named 2026 NAPA Fellow".
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Catch SPIA at NASPAA 2026! We're proud to see Dean Matthew Auer, Keith Dougherty, Eric Zeemering, Katherine Willoughby, Michelle Lofton, and Aaron Redman sharing their expertise at this year's conference. If you're attending NASPAA, be sure to stop by and connect with the Bulldog public affairs community. Graphic promoting UGA SPIA's participation at the 2026 NASPAA conference. Features Uga the Bulldog wearing a red UGA jersey with text reading "Find our experts at NASPAA."
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This summer, Amunet interned with the City of Hartwell, where she gained firsthand experience in local government, economic development, and community engagement. One of her most memorable projects was supporting the Smithsonian's Voices and Votes: Democracy in America exhibit, which brought together city leaders, community organizations, volunteers, and residents to create a meaningful experience for Hartwell. "I'm grateful that the Ralston fund was able to make this opportunity possible." We're proud to support students like Amunet as they gain valuable experience serving rural communities across Georgia. To learn more about the Ralston Scholarship, reach out to SPIA at spia@uga.edu 📷 @artcenterofhartwell Portrait of 2026 Ralston Scholar Amunet Berry-Blunt wearing a light-colored blazer and glasses against a gray backdrop. Graphic text in the lower left corner reads, “2026 Ralston Scholar Amunet Berry-Blunt.”
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40 UNDER 40 ‼️ From a panel discussion with our SPIA Ambassadors to the UGA 40 Under 40 reception and tailgate, we loved hearing their stories, learning from their experiences, and recognizing their achievements. Congratulations to our 2026 honorees: Katie Penland, Blake Raulerson, Brittany Raway, Tiffany Wooten 🎉 We’re proud to call you SPIA alumni and can’t wait to see what you accomplish next.
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Join MPA students, alumni, and friends for a Morning Forum exploring the opportunities, challenges, and future of AI in the public sector. Enjoy a continental breakfast and an engaging discussion about what public service professionals can expect as AI continues to evolve. November 13, 2026 9:00-10:30 a.m. UGA Gwinnett Campus This event is free and open to all friends of the MPA program. Register at the link in our bio. Graphic promoting the University of Georgia Master of Public Administration Alumni & Friends Morning Forum. The graphic features the MPA and University of Georgia logos at the top left. Large text reads, "Exploring AI in Public Service." Event details state: "Nov. 13, 2026, 9:00-10:30 AM, Gwinnett Campus." A note at the bottom reads, "Open to all friends of the MPA program." The background includes light gray digital-themed graphics with binary code and abstract network connections.
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SPIA and UGA faculty and students are sharing research on public administration, governance, budgeting, and more at SECoPA/NECoPA 2026. We’re proud to see so many faculty and students representing UGA on the program. ➡️ Swipe to see the full presentation schedule. SECoPA & NECoPA UGA School of Public and International Affairs
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Meet Enrique! This summer he served as a Legislative Intern in the Washington, D.C. office of U.S. Senator Mark Kelly. During the 10-week internship, Enrique supported the legislative team through policy research, constituent correspondence, and legislative projects while attending congressional hearings and briefings. The experience provided firsthand insight into the federal policymaking process and the day-to-day work of a U.S. Senate office. Enrique credits Dr. Emily Bell for helping guide him through the internship search and application process. Internship Highlight graphic featuring SPIA student Enrique Rodriguez Garced, who served as a Legislative Intern in U.S. Senator Mark Kelly's Washington, D.C. office. The graphic includes a photo of Enrique standing beside Senator Kelly in an office setting.
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Join Dr. Becky Nesbit on September 25th to learn more about the MPA and careers in nonprofit administration. Friday, September 25 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Zoom Register at the link in our bio. Open to all students. Promotional graphic for the University of Georgia Master of Public Administration program. Background image shows the UGA Arch on campus. Text reads: “MPA Informational Webinar” and “Discussion on the MPA and careers in Nonprofit Administration.” A headshot of Dr. Becky Nesbit appears on the right. Additional text reads: “with Dr. Becky Nesbit,” “25 September,” “Zoom,” “12:00 PM - 1:00 PM,” and “MPA.UGA.EDU.” The University of Georgia Master of Public Administration logo is displayed at the top.
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Meet Meghan! She is an MPA student who spent her summer as the Programming and Operations Fellow at @historicathens Through her SPIA-funded internship, Meghan combined her love of history and commitment to public service by supporting event planning, research, nonprofit management, and community engagement efforts. She developed interactive educational activities for the Historic Athens Juneteenth Celebration that introduced hundreds of children and families to Athens' rich African American history, and she also contributed to planning efforts for the 2026 Historic Athens Porchfest, which attracts more than 35,000 attendees each year. We're proud to see our students applying their skills to strengthen communities and preserve local heritage. Graphic from the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs Internship Highlight series featuring Meghan Mundy. The graphic includes a portrait of a student seated outdoors holding a graduation cap and wearing a red graduation stole. Text reads: "Internship Highlight," "Meghan Mundy," and "Programming and Operations Fellow, Historic Athens."
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Congratulations to SPIA's own Eric Zeemering for being one of four UGA faculty members named SEC Academic Leadership Development Program Fellow. The program prepares promising faculty members and early-career administrators from the SEC’s 16 universities for executive leadership roles in higher education. Learn more at the link in our bio. Eric Zeemering named SEC Academic Leadership Development Program Fellow
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