School of Public Affairs & Administration will receive 4 national awards

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Public Affairs & Administration (SPAA) received word it would be recognized for outstanding public service education, given by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration at its annual conference next month in Atlanta.

“We value the hard work that public service education faculty, administrators and students put into teaching, researching and practicing public service. It is a pleasure for us to highlight their contributions," said Laurel McFarland, executive director of NASPAA.

Two KU faculty members will receive awards: Professor Alfred Tat Kei Ho will receive the Leslie A. Whittington Excellence in Teaching Award, and Professor Steven Maynard-Moody will receive the William Duncombe Excellence in Doctoral Education Award. 

Additionally, doctoral candidate Angela Park will be awarded the Staats Emerging Scholar Award, and David Toland (MPA ’01), CEO of Thrive Allen County, Kansas, will receive the first-ever NASPAA Alumni Spotlight Award. 

“This is an honor for all of us here at SPAA,” said the school’s director, Rosemary O’Leary. “it speaks to our strength that every aspect of our program has been recognized, our students, our faculty and our alumni for the work they go on to do in their communities. To see KU compete with schools all over the country and be awarded top honors by our peers is exciting and humbling.” 

More information about all the awards is available online.

NASPAA is the membership organization of graduate education programs in public policy, public affairs, public administration, and public and nonprofit management. NASPAA is also the recognized accreditor of master's degree programs in these fields. Its nearly 300 members are located across the U.S. and in 24 countries around the globe.

The School of Public Affairs and Administration at KU offers both academic and workplace-based professional development education to strengthen the provision of public services in society. It is the No. 1-ranked best graduate school in the nation in Local Government Management and among the top nine graduate schools in the nation in Urban Policy and Public Management and Leadership, based on 2017 rankings by U.S. News & World Report.