UCF School of Public Administration

05/28/2026

👏🏼Congratulations to Emergency Management student Daisy Cadet for her recent article featured in Domestic Preparedness!

Her piece, “Bridging the Accessibility Gap in Emergency Management,” highlights the importance of inclusive practices and accessibility in disaster preparedness and response.

See article: https://www.domesticpreparedness.com/articles/bridging-the-accessibility-gap-in-emergency-management/?utm_source=DomesticPreparedness&utm_campaign=72d0647eb6-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_1_14_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-bea7c13990-604836561&mc_cid=72d0647eb6

We are proud to see our students contributing meaningful perspectives to the field of emergency management. 🌎🚨

05/27/2026

🚨🌴 The School of Public Administration is heading to the Florida Training for Emergency Management Symposium next week!

Three of our faculty members will be presenting our school, Dr. Claire Connolly Knox, Ph.D. Dr. Romeo Lavarias, and Dr. Sanam Aksha, Ph.D.

📍 Be sure to stop by Booth 505 on Tuesday and Wednesday to learn more about our Emergency Management programs, connect with our faculty, and explore the impactful work happening at SPA.

👉 Learn more here: https://web.cvent.com/event/ceb90fe1-0519-4d89-95e1-708fc564583b/websitePage:353a7424-bfd6-4ea0-bad4-20e1534f303b

We look forward to connecting with emergency management professionals, students, and partners from across the state!

05/26/2026

🌏🇰🇷 Learning beyond the classroom!

Last week, our graduate students participated in the Governance Field Study: Metropolitan Governance in Seoul through the Seoul Case Study Program (SCSP), an immersive international experience hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the University of Seoul.

Through site visits, policy discussions, and firsthand exposure to Seoul’s innovative governance and city management strategies, students are gaining a global perspective on public administration, urban leadership, and metropolitan governance. 🌆📚

Experiences like these prepare future public service leaders to think globally, lead strategically, and create meaningful impact in their communities. ✨

Pictures from Day 1 - Cultural Orientation - Korean Cultural Experiences
Faculty Lead Dr. Seongho An

05/26/2026

🌏🇰🇷 Learning beyond the classroom!

Last week, our graduate students participated in the Governance Field Study: Metropolitan Governance in Seoul through the Seoul Case Study Program (SCSP), an immersive international experience hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the University of Seoul.

Through site visits, policy discussions, and firsthand exposure to Seoul’s innovative governance and city management strategies, students are gaining a global perspective on public administration, urban leadership, and metropolitan governance. 🌆📚

Experiences like these prepare future public service leaders to think globally, lead strategically, and create meaningful impact in their communities. ✨

Pictures from Day 1 - Cultural Orientation - Korean Cultural Experiences
Faculty Lead Dr. Seongho An
Group: Ashley Benedict, Rhianna Botelho, Lindy Madden Anderson, Gianna P. Suchana P.
Selena Slaughter

05/21/2026

🎓✨ May is a month of celebration, milestones, and well-deserved recognition as we continue honoring the incredible achievements of our students.

Congratulations to our Spring graduates from the Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning (MSURP)! 🌎🏙️ 💛
Your hard work, dedication, and passion for shaping stronger and more sustainable communities have led you to this exciting accomplishment.

We are proud to celebrate this milestone with you!

05/21/2026

🙌🏽🎓🌟 Graduation Season 2026!

05/19/2026

🌟 A proud moment for the School of Public Administration!

During our Spring celebration, we also had the honor of recognizing and inducting our newest members of Pi Alpha Alpha (PAA) and Epsilon Pi Phi (EPP)—students who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and a strong commitment to public service. 🚀

Congratulations on this well-deserved achievement. Your dedication to excellence continues to inspire our SPA community, and we can’t wait to see the impact you will make. 💛 👏

Inductions by Dr. Akeem Sadiq and Dr. Romeo Lavarias

PublicService StudentEngagement PiAlphaAlpha EpsilonPiPhi UCFGraduates

05/19/2026

🌟 A proud moment for the School of Public Administration!

During our Recognition Day celebration, we also had the honor of recognizing and inducting our newest members of Pi Alpha Alpha (PAA) and Epsilon Pi Phi (EPP)—students who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and a strong commitment to public service. 🚀

Congratulations on this well-deserved achievement. Your dedication to excellence continues to inspire our SPA community, and we can’t wait to see the impact you will make. 💛 👏

Inductions by Dr. Akeem Sadiq and Dr. Romeo Lavarias

05/15/2026

👏🏼👏🏼 Congratulations to Dr. Knox and Dr. Emrich! Charge on!

UCF School of Public Administration professors Claire Connolly Knox and Chris Emrich have been hand-selected by FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency for its Vanguard Executive Crisis Leaders Fellowship — a senior-level leadership program focused on strengthening emergency management and crisis leadership across sectors.

Emrich joins the 11th cohort and Knox the 12th, making UCF one of the only universities to place two faculty members in the program across consecutive cohorts. The two also play instrumental roles in UCF's Homeland Security and Emergency Management graduate program, which was named U.S. News and World Report's top-ranked program of its kind for the third consecutive year.

See what's next for these leaders in emergency management 👇
https://www.ucf.edu/news/ucf-emergency-management-faculty-selected-for-prestigious-fema-fellowship/

05/14/2026

🎓✨ Recognition Celebration Recap!
What a special morning celebrating our Spring graduates from the School of Public Administration!

This milestone represents years of hard work, resilience, service, and commitment to making a difference in our communities. We are incredibly proud of each student who has reached this chapter and is now ready to lead, serve, and create impact in the public and nonprofit sectors.

A special thank you to our faculty and staff for their mentorship, dedication, and unwavering commitment to investing in the next generation of public service leaders.

Congratulations, graduates—your journey is just beginning, and the future of public service is brighter because of you.
Charge On! 💛🎉

📸All attendees will receive an email to access the photo album.



UCF College of Community Innovation and Education

05/06/2026

🛎️See you tomorrow! ✍️

You're invited to a virtual open house with the MSURP Program Director and Academic Advisor as we prepare for the Fall 2026 admission cycle. Join us to get answers to your most frequently asked questions about the program curriculum, application requirements, and more.

⏰Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 12:00 PM until 12:45 PM Eastern
👉Register here: https://applynow.graduate.ucf.edu/register/?id=ed4b1e16-c937-48ae-9f24-93b2eae7679c