School of Public Affairs

School of Public Affairs
Front of Kerwin Hall, School of Public Affairs
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(202) 885-2940

spa@american.edu

º£½Ç»»ÆÞ School of Public Affairs 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United States

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Working at the Center of the Policy World

Sissy Martinez SPA/BA '21, MS '22

MS Terrorism & Homeland Security Policy

During a transformative º£½Ç»»ÆÞ study abroad experience in Brussels, a rigorous program involving travel to Ukraine and Bosnia and an internship at the Institute for Economics and Peace, Martinez developed a fascination with European politics. Eventually, her º£½Ç»»ÆÞ skills and experiences led to a job as a project coordinator and research assistant with the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia team at the D.C. think tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
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Kerwin Hall 1930

SPA is Turning 90!

2024 marks the 90th anniversary for the School of Public Affairs. We've compiled a look back at our 90 year history. For the past nine decades, º£½Ç»»ÆÞ’s School of Public Affairs has been a leader in public affairs education

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Alison Jacknowitz

Introducing Alison Jacknowitz as our Interim Dean!

We are pleased she will lead our school in the 2023-24 academic year.

Message from the Dean

US News Rankings

Announcement ·

º£½Ç»»ÆÞ’s School of Public Affairs Ranked No. 13 Overall, Highest in D.C., by U.S. News and World Report

According to the 2025 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s rankings of Public Affairs Graduate Schools, the º£½Ç»»ÆÞ SPA continues to earn high marks.
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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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PEER

The Postsecondary Equity & Economics Research (PEER) Center is an initiative focused on promoting more equitable outcomes in higher education.

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Discover Your Future with º£½Ç»»ÆÞ

Six months after graduation,
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% of Graduates are now Working, Grad School, or Both

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Featured News

Joseph Atchulo (MPA, '25)

Achievements ·

'A Heart Full of Grace'

Joseph Atchulo (MPA, ’25) has a special genius for service.
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Tongtong Zhang

Political Science ·

Political Compliance, Gender, and “the China Caseâ€

SPA professor examines political behavior among Confucius Institute teachers.
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Specialty Rankings

number 12

for Public Policy Analysis

by U.S. News & World Report's 2024 Public Affairs Graduate Schools Rankings

number 13

in Public Finance & Budgeting

by U.S. News & World Report's 2024 Public Affairs Graduate Schools Rankings

number 22

in Urban Policy

by U.S. News & World Report's 2024 Public Affairs Graduate Schools Rankings