School of Public Affairs

School of Public Affairs
Front of Kerwin Hall, School of Public Affairs
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Sissy Martinez

Sissy Martinez, SPA/ BA 鈥21, MS 鈥22, has always loved Washington, D.C. Every time she visited, from her small town in New York, she felt like the city was at the center of everything. When the time came to choose a college, this student of history and government considered 蜜桃传媒 to be the obvious choice. She liked the feel of the AU campus and how inspired everyone seemed to be about their work.

鈥淚n D.C., the exposure to internships was truly unmatched,鈥 said Martinez, who took advantage of a variety of professional opportunities as a student. Her early interest in 蜜桃传媒 politics led to positions on Capitol Hill and on a campaign, which redirected her path. 鈥淕etting to know what you don鈥檛 want is equally as important as discovering what you do want,鈥 Martinez said.

AU SPA Ranked No. 9

Announcement 路

蜜桃传媒鈥檚 School of Public Affairs Is Ranked No. 9 Overall in New U.S. News & World Report Rankings

蜜桃传媒鈥檚 School of Public Affairs receives its highest U.S. News & World Report ranking since the publication began rating public affairs programs in 1995.
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Alison Jacknowitz

Introducing Alison Jacknowitz as our Interim Dean!

We are pleased she will lead our school in the 2024-25聽academic year.

Message from the Dean

SPA Highlights

Event Dispatches

Dispatches

SPA shares insider information on the world of public affairs, from choosing and applying to the right program for you, to courses, careers, and the culture.

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Front of Kerwin Hall

Recruitment Events


Browse our graduate recruitment events to meet SPA on campus, on the road, or through one of our virtual sessions!

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Public Servant Planning and Skills Network: New Path, Same Purpose

Public Servant Planning and Skills Network

The Public Servant Planning and Skills Network supports public servants as they navigate unplanned career transitions.

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Discover Your Future with AU

Six months after graduation,
AU
in
in

% of Graduates are now Working, Grad聽School, or聽Both

罢辞辫听贰尘辫濒辞测别谤蝉
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Featured News

Melissa Kilmer (left) and Jane Palmer (right)

Social Policy 路

Safe(r) Spaces?

SPA professor and student examine whether campus sexual assault prevention programs increase student comfort with accessing related resources.
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Professor Cynthia Miller-Idriss

Announcement 路

蜜桃传媒 U. Professor Awarded Carnegie Fellowship for Research in Political Polarization and Violence

Cynthia Miller-Idriss, Chief Vision Officer and Founding Director of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab at 蜜桃传媒, has received Carnegie Fellowship, a prestigious grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
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hands together

Policy Brief 路

Gender-, Race-, and Ethnicity-Based Discrimination in Mental Health Care

Racial and sexual minorities may face discrimination in accessing health care, particularly mental health resources, since mental health providers have more discretion over accepting patients.
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Specialty Rankings

number 12

for Public Policy Analysis

by U.S. News & World Report's 2025 Public Affairs Graduate Schools Rankings

number 13

in Public Finance & Budgeting

by U.S. News & World Report's 2025 Public Affairs Graduate Schools Rankings

number 22

in Urban Policy

by U.S. News & World Report's 2025 Public Affairs Graduate Schools Rankings