AU School of Public Affairs

AU School of Public Affairs The AU School of Public Affairs was established as part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal. From knowledge to action to impact.

From FDR's vision for "practical contacts between the collegiate and educational world, and the operations of government;" SPA was born. In 1934, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt began implementing New Deal programs that, among other things, sought to increase “practical contacts between the collegiate and educational world and the operations of government.” He believed that the intersection of

academia and public service would result in better-informed decision making, not only for Depression-era America, but also for future generations to come. From his vision, the School of Public Affairs (SPA) at American University was born. Over the past eight decades, SPA has embraced FDR’s vision as it cultivated a culture of lasting impact -- to empower those who seek knowledge, to conduct and apply research, to build a bridge between academic thought and policy planning, and to inspire change at every level. Today, with more than 1,600 current students and more than 20,000 alumni, SPA’s faculty and students continue to tackle complex issues with thoughtful research that educates, informs, and promotes change across a broad field of study.

06/04/2026

Talk about a full-circle moment. ✨

Years ago, Pablo Sanabria-Pulido (Universidad Icesi) read an article titled "Who Wants to Work for the Government?" It sparked a research interest, helped shape his academic path, and ultimately led him to pursue a doctorate at the American University School of Public Affairs.

The twist? The article's author was Greg Lewis (Georgia State University), who taught at SPA for 11 years. Despite that connection, the two didn't meet until , right here in Kerwin Hall.

A reminder that the ideas we encounter today can shape the opportunities, relationships, and careers of tomorrow.

Up Next: While Prof. Lewis Faulk is joining the Editors' roundtable on Publishing in Public and Nonprofit Management, Pr...
06/04/2026

Up Next: While Prof. Lewis Faulk is joining the Editors' roundtable on Publishing in Public and Nonprofit Management, Prof. Jocelyn Johnston will be discussing Governance and Competence in Public Contracting through a multi-dimensional lens.

06/04/2026

SPA's Prof. Ken Meier is chairing a session titled "Equity in Program Design:
Representative Bureaucracy, Discretion, and Administrative Burdens" — a strong continuation of Day 2!

06/04/2026

What are the implications of public organizations using generative AI? Prof. John Marvel and PhD student Sangwon Ju will share findings of their research analyzing how Large Language Models perform with human biases. Catch this timely session!

06/04/2026

We're of our PhD students presenting their research papers at !
Yuhe Gu will share insights on the effects of govt funding to large nonprofits on small organizations as part of "Managing Strategies and Outcomes towards Financial Sustainability in Nonprofits".

06/04/2026

We're starting the day at w/ Assoc. Prof. Lewis Faulk & PhD student Jaleesa Hall's research paper on "Crossing the Line: IRS Thresholds and Nonprofit Capacity", as part of the "Managing Strategies and Outcomes towards Financial Sustainability in Nonprofits" session.

06/03/2026

SPA and the Public Management Research Association have a shared vision of advancing the public management and public policy sector in government and nonprofit organizations globally. Hosted by the School of Public Affairs in Washington, DC, is the perfect place to strengthen links among interdisciplinary scholars and explore innovative solutions to complex societal challenges. Hear from the PMRA board!

06/03/2026

Today, Provost Associate Professor Nathan Favero is leading a workshop at titled "Politics, Administration, & Management (PAM): U.S. Executive Administration". Alongside colleagues Prof. George A. Krause (University of Georgia), Assoc. Prof. of Law Jennifer Selin (Arizona State University), and Assoc. Prof. Suzan Miller (Arizona State University), participants will have the space to deeply explore research on politics, administration, and management in the context of a polarized and increasingly politicized U.S. administrative state.

06/03/2026

What a beautiful day to be on the American University campus for !

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