American University School of Public Affairs

We asked #PMRC2026 participants what government job they think AI could never replace. Hear what scholars from around the world think👂! Do you agree? Share your thoughts in the comments!

(1/2) Talk about a full-circle moment. ✨ Years ago, Pablo (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 AU SPA.

SPA's Prof. Ken Meier is chairing a session titled "Equity in Program Design: Representative Bureaucracy, Discretion, and Administrative Burdens" — a strong continuation of #PMRC2026 Day 2!

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!

We're #SPAProud of our PhD students presenting their research papers at #PMRC2026! 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".

We're starting the day at #PMRC2026 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.

SPA & @pmra-1991.bsky.social have a shared vision of advancing the public management sector in govt orgs and nonprofits globally. Hosted by SPA in DC, #PMRC2026 is THE place to strengthen links among scholars & explore innovative solutions to complex challenges. Hear from the PMRA board!

(1/2)Today, Provost Associate Professor @nathanfavero.com is leading a workshop at #PMRC2026 titled "Politics, Administration, & Management (PAM): U.S. Executive Administration".

What a beautiful day to be on the American University campus for #PMRC2026!

It's today! #PMRC2026 has just kicked off with the pre-conference workshops, & our Dean @ajacknowitz.bsky.social, PMRC co-chairs Khaldoun @abouassi.bsky.social, Anna Amirkhanyan, @jocelynjohnston.bsky.social, & Dept. of Public Admin. & Policy Chair, @twmorrissey.bsky.social, all welcome you to SPA.

#SPAProud of our PhD students & candidates who will be presenting their research papers & participating in the Public Management Research Conference! Connect with them at the PhD Welcome event & over the next few days for insightful conversations & collaborations. #PMRC2026

SPA is proud to host #PMRC2026, with pre-conference workshops kicking off tomorrow. We’re excited to welcome public management scholars from around the world—including many of our own SPA alumni and faculty—back to campus for an inspiring week of collaboration and connection!

Congratulations to DPAP Professor Anna Amirkhanyan, who received a 2026 Outstanding Review Award from the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory (@jpart1991.bsky.social), recognizing her exceptional reviewing work done in 2025. #SPAProud

Congratulations, Liz Suhay! SPA Prof. Elizabeth Suhay is the winner of the Best Book in Political Psychology award from the @ispp-pops.bsky.social for her new book “Debating the American Dream: How Explanations for Inequality Polarize Politics.” Learn more about the award here: bit.ly/4x0PkF9

✨ Congratulations, Alison Jacknowitz (@ajacknowitz.bsky.social), on your first official day as Dean of SPA! We look forward to the future and all that we will accomplish together. Learn more about Dean Jacknowitz here: bit.ly/4nTJ6mf

#PMRC2026 is almost here! 🎉 SPA’s leading public management experts are ready to share groundbreaking research and spark big conversations with scholars from around the world. Connect with them at the conference! #SPAProud @nathanfavero.com @neosheeling.bsky.social @vwilkins.bsky.social

👏 Congrats, Jessica Waters! SPA Senior Scholar in residence Jessica Waters presented her paper “A Case for Affirmative Conscience Protections for Reproductive Health Care Providers” at the @lawandsociety.bsky.social Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA. #SPAProud

From learning how to brand herself as a rising leader to identifying the strategic asks for fundraising, Soraya Moreau shares her favorite aspects of @au-wpi.bsky.social's WeLead Program at SPA. 👉 Join WeLead2027 to help close the gender gap in political leadership - APPLY TODAY: bit.ly/448wJaS

Thank you to our #PMRC2026 Co-Chairs—@abouassi.bsky.social, @jocelynjohnston.bsky.social, and Anna Amirkhanyan—for the leadership and hard work behind this year’s conference at SPA in Washington, DC. Your vision is bringing the public management community together. 👏

Nominations are open for the Key Executive Leadership Programs 2026 Roger Jones Award for Executive Leadership, honoring federal career executives in the Senior Executive Service for outstanding leadership & commitment to developing future managers. Learn about the nomination here: bit.ly/4e4zkKC

Looking back at #ASEBP2026, SPA is proud to have hosted such a diverse group of people dedicated to bridging research, policy, and practice in policing and public safety, which reflects SPA’s mission to enhance the lives of communities through evidence-informed solutions. @asebp.bsky.social

We're so proud of our PhD students who presented their research posters at the @asebp.bsky.social 2026 conference, which was hosted at SPA last week. Listen to @moriahtsharpe.bsky.social discuss a policy change that came about through the collaboration of a community and its law enforcement agency.

This Memorial Day, SPA honors and remembers the brave service members who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. 🇺🇸

👏 Congratulations to our SPA faculty on well-earned promotions & tenure appointments! We’re grateful for your dedication to your students, your leadership in the field, & the impactful research you continue to produce for meaningful change. @sharangrewal.bsky.social, @janepalmer.bsky.social

Day 3 of #ASEBP2026 at SPA — Where Research + Policing = Solutions that address the source of the problems to effect positive change to the police force members AND the communities they serve. @asebp.bsky.social

SPA proudly announces that Jhacova Williams has been named a faculty research fellow by the National Bureau of Economic Research (@nber.org). SPA now has five NBER affiliated scholars on our faculty. Learn more about her research here: https://bit.ly/3RSZdo2

Are you a PhD student or first time attendee of the Public Management Research Conference? SPA's PhD Vibe Committee invites you to a special welcome reception on 6/3 to network, make connections, and have a great time! 👉 Check your inbox for more details. See you soon in Washington, DC! #PMRC2026

#ASEBP2026 Day 2 is off to a great start with discussions around Tucson's problem-oriented precision policing results, data analyzing body work cameras, field outcomes of virtual reality de-escalation training, and more! @asebp.bsky.social

Maureen McGough, co-founder of the @30x30initiative.bsky.social, highlights the issues and solutions that will be discussed on the panel on Advancing Women in Policing Across Borders, chaired by SPA's Prof. John Firman at #ASEBP2026. @asebp.bsky.social

The 10th @asebp.bsky.social Conference just kicked off! Opening remarks from ASEBP President @chiefjasonpotts.bsky.social, SPA Dean @ajacknowitz.bsky.social, & Prof. Janice Iwama emphasized the importance of asking hard questions to enhance community safety & policing w/ evidence-based solutions.

With the primaries in full swing & the midterms just around the corner, @ccps.bsky.social fellow Eve Silberberg has developed the perfect tool for you to keep up with every floor speech—on your own time. Visit congressondemand.us, watch your rep., & make an informed vote.

From village building to learning about campaigning and running for office from well-established speakers, NJ Ugwa shares her favorite aspects of @au-wpi.bsky.social's WeLead Program at SPA. 👉 Join WeLead2027 to help close the gender gap in political leadership - APPLY TODAY: https://bit.ly/448wJaS

One last walk, one last toast, one unforgettable week. 🎓✨ Here’s a look back at graduation week at SPA. Consider this our official sign-off to the Class of 2026—we can’t wait to see where you go next. 🦅 💙❤️ #OnceAnEagle #SPAProud #Classof2026

#PMRC2026 is just 3 weeks away! ⏳ Thank you to our Gold Partners for helping make this global gathering of public management and policy scholars possible. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to #PMRC2026 — are you ready? ✨ @iuioneill.bsky.social @uscprice.bsky.social

What’s YOUR favorite SPA memory? 🎓✨ As the Class of 2026 wraps up their journey, they’re reflecting on the moments that shaped their experience—from faculty with real-world expertise to hands-on opportunities that open doors. That’s the SPA difference. #SPAProud

The Women & Politics Institute (@au-wpi.bsky.social) at SPA is excited to announce that registrations for the WeLead program are open! Join WeLead2027 to help close the gender gap in political leadership - APPLY TODAY: https://bit.ly/448wJaS

SPA Class of 2026 🎓 Your instructors have a message for you: Congratulations, we’re so #SPAProud of you! You’ve accomplished so much here at SPA, we can’t wait to see what the future holds ✨🦅

"The changes you face now require thoughtful adaptation. You are prepared not just to manage institutions, but to reimagine them — to design policy, to build fair systems, and to hold leaders and technologies accountable." - Interim Dean @ajacknowitz.bsky.social

🎓 Congrats, SPA Class of 2026! We're extremely proud of your achievements and can't wait to see you soar in whatever you have planned next! 🦅 #SPAProud #Classof2026

Are you graduating today? Stay in touch with your Alma Mater! Update your contact information for the latest on alumni events, career opportunities, & more! 👉 tinyurl.com/NewAlumInfo

It's almost time to spread those wings, Eagles 🦅! Commencement is 1 day away, and we can't wait to celebrate you! #SPAProud #Classof2026

"You never know who you'll meet in SPA, someone with an interesting background who can really provide you with the right connections in the field you want to get into." Hear from undergraduate Sherman Award winner Rodrigo Velasco-Hernandez about how SPA set him up for success. tinyurl.com/AUSuccess

A heartfelt thank you from all of us at SPA to Prof. Saul Newman for his leadership as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education and Chair of the Washington Semester Program. We’re grateful for your impact and wish you all the best as you return to teaching and work on your next book!

Sparked by a student's question about the lack of radical environmental terrorist acts, SPA's Thomas @zeitzoff.bsky.social started on a quest – with 150+ interviews & a database of 1,300 incidents – to trace the rise and decline of environmental activism. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4uzF9Wa

Don't miss SPA Prof. Jessica Waters TONIGHT on the Joy Reid Show live on YouTube at 6:30 PM ET. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@thejoyreidshow.bsky.social

#PMRC2026 is 4 weeks away—pre-conference workshops kick off June 3! Dive into timely topics like AI in public admin. research, state capacity vs citizen-state interactions, & advancing theory in public mngmt research. ⚠️ No on-site registration—book your spot by May 23: american.edu/spa/pmrc2026/

🎓 The countdown to the Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony has begun! We can't wait to celebrate our graduates this Saturday 🤩, with graduate speaker Natalia Toro and undergraduate speaker Bryce Allers. #SPAProud

Studying for finals? Lock in with a few simple habits: create a study schedule, put your phone away, take regular breaks to stay sharp, stay hydrated and eat well, and set realistic goals. You’ve got this—finish strong 💪📚

Finals week doesn’t have to mean burnout 😰. Take it from Interim Dean @ajacknowitz.bsky.social: prioritize sleep, use campus resources, and reach out to your professors when you need support. Finish strong—you’ve got this. 💪

Choose the path that takes you further 🌍—choose SPA this fall! Hear from alumna Erin Fuller, who turned her SPA experience into a global career w/ nonprofits & advocacy organizations. Through SPA, her hands-on D.C. internships led her to a perspective with global impact.

👏 Congrats to the SPA undergraduate and graduate recipients of the Professor Elizabeth A. Sherman Prize for the Advancement of Social Justice, presented by SPA’s Department of Justice, Law & Criminology. Your commitment to equity and impact inspires us all. #SPAProud

Join SPA's Department of Public Administration and Policy for the annual Levine Lecture, which will be delivered by @princeton.edu's Prof. Seema Jayachandran (@seema.bsky.social), followed by the awards ceremony. 🗓️ Fri. 5/1 🕑 6 - 8 PM📍MGSC 128 👉 RSVP: american-spa.swoogo.com/LevineLecture-2026

At this week’s SPA Toast to Graduates, double Eagle Alyssa Levin reflected on a defining choice: even in a daunting moment, this class stepped forward—to study democracy, ask hard questions, do the work, and help build a better America. We're #SPAProud of you, congratulations!🎉

Finals week doesn’t have to mean burnout 😰. Take it from Interim Dean @ajacknowitz.bsky.social: prioritize sleep, use campus resources, and reach out to your professors when you need support. Finish strong—you’ve got this. 💪

How do you navigate real-world ethical dilemmas in public service? In SPA’s PUAD 619, Prof. Scott Bass prepares you to lead with integrity by examining case studies and encouraging student-led discussions to explore ethics in action. Register here: https://bit.ly/4eisSQS

Join SPA's Department of Public Administration and Policy for the annual Levine Lecture, which will be delivered by @princeton.edu's Prof. Seema Jayachandran (@seema.bsky.social), followed by the awards ceremony. 🗓️ Fri. 5/1 🕑 6 - 8 PM📍MGSC 128 👉 RSVP: american-spa.swoogo.com/LevineLecture-2026

It's that time of the year again! ⛽ Fuel up for finals with an SPA tradition at Late Night Breakfast🥞 🗓️ Tuesday, 4/28 🕑 10 PM - Midnight📍Kerwin Hall Lobby 👉 Save your seat: american-spa.swoogo.com/LNB-Spring-26 (link in bio)

Do you dream of managing campaigns for the nation's biggest political candidates? SPA's Center for Congressional & Presidential Studies' Campaign Management Institute gives you the tools to learn from top pros. Student Jordan Jarrett shares her favorite aspects of the program. Link in bio.

(1/2) Register for the #PMRC2026 pre-conference workshops on June 3rd to join important conversations around Using Generative AI in Public Administration Research, State Capacity VS Citizen-State Interactions, Advancing Theoretical Contributions in Research, & more!

Join SPA’s @triciabacon.bsky.social for the launch of her new book, "The Counterinsurgency Dilemma: Foreign Fighter Influence on Insurgencies in Afghanistan and Somalia", w/ Bruce R. Hoffman. 🗓️ 4/27 🕑 6:30📍The Studio Theater (1501 14th St NW) 👉 RSVP: bit.ly/47PpYiG

Calling all SPA grads this May 🎓 Celebrate with faculty & staff before Commencement—remarks from a student, alum, and Interim Dean, plus food & drinks (feat. Colada Shop). 🗓️ Mon. 4/27 🕑4:30 - 5:30 PM📍MGSC 128 👉 RSVP: american-spa.swoogo.com/toast-to-grads-2026 *Graduating students only; no guests.

It's that time of the year again! ⛽ Fuel up for finals with an SPA tradition at Late Night Breakfast🥞 🗓️ Tuesday, 4/28 🕑 10 PM - Midnight📍Kerwin Hall Lobby 👉 Save your seat: american-spa.swoogo.com/LNB-Spring-26 (link in bio)

Calling all SPA grads this May 🎓 Celebrate with faculty & staff before Commencement—remarks from a student, alum, and Interim Dean, plus food & drinks (feat. Colada Shop). 🗓️ Mon. 4/27 🕑4:30 - 5:30 PM📍MGSC 128 👉 RSVP: american-spa.swoogo.com/toast-to-grads-2026 *Graduating students only; no guests.

Not to be missed! The second #ASEBP2026 plenary session at SPA on Thur. 5/21 will feature Assoc. Prof. Janice Iwama, with a panel of field experts, will explore the emerging evidence from Minneapolis on "Immigration, Community Trust, and Policing". 👉 americansebp.org/page/annual-conference

Join SPA’s @triciabacon.bsky.social for the launch of her new book, "The Counterinsurgency Dilemma: Foreign Fighter Influence on Insurgencies in Afghanistan and Somalia", w/ Bruce R. Hoffman. 🗓️ 4/27 🕑 6:30📍The Studio Theater (1501 14th St NW) 👉 RSVP: bit.ly/47PpYiG

👏 Congrats to our Government and Public Administration and Policy PhD students who are presenting their research at @mpsa.bsky.social #SPAProud #ResearchMatters

Join SPA's Department of Public Administration and Policy for the annual Levine Lecture, which will be delivered by @princeton.edu's Prof. Seema Jayachandran (@seema.bsky.social), followed by the awards ceremony. 🗓️ Fri. 5/1 🕑 6 - 8 PM📍MGSC 128 👉 RSVP: american-spa.swoogo.com/LevineLecture-2026

We're celebrating our Department of Government faculty, as well as our Department of Public Administration and Policy faculty, who are sharing their research at the 83rd Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference (@mpsa.bsky.social) held in Chicago. #SPAProud #ResearchMatters

Hear from leaders advancing local reparations and community-based racial justice. This panel explores grassroots efforts like the Greenbelt Experience, key challenges, and the role of universities—plus a Q&A. 🗓️ 4/28 🕑 5 - 7 PM 📍Kerwin 301 👉 RSVP: american-spa.swoogo.com/local-reparations-efforts

#PMRC2026 is six weeks away! Don't miss your chance to join the leading gathering for scholars dedicated to advancing knowledge in public management in Washington, DC – the epicenter of policy and politics. Register and learn more here:www.american.edu/spa/pmrc2026/

Calling all SPA grads this May 🎓 Celebrate with faculty & staff before Commencement—remarks from a student, alum, and Interim Dean, plus food & drinks (feat. Colada Shop). 🗓️ Mon. 4/27 🕑4:30 - 5:30 PM📍MGSC 128 👉 RSVP: american-spa.swoogo.com/toast-to-grads-2026 *Graduating students only; no guests.

It's that time of the year again! ⛽ Fuel up for finals with an SPA tradition at Late Night Breakfast🥞 🗓️ Tuesday, 4/28 🕑 10 PM - Midnight📍Kerwin Hall Lobby 👉 Save your seat: american-spa.swoogo.com/LNB-Spring-26 (link in bio)

Join SPA’s @triciabacon.bsky.social for the launch of her new book, "The Counterinsurgency Dilemma: Foreign Fighter Influence on Insurgencies in Afghanistan and Somalia", w/ Bruce R. Hoffman. 🗓️ 4/27 🕑 6:30📍The Studio Theater (1501 14th St NW) 👉 RSVP: bit.ly/47PpYiG