L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

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Seven from Wilder School to Present at 2017 NASPAA Conference

Daytime image of Washington, D.C. skyline.
Daytime image of Washington, D.C. skyline.

By Tiffany Murray-Robertson

Seven Wilder School faculty, students and alumni are set to present a wide-range of topics next week at the 2017 Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) Conference in Washington, D.C. At least four faculty members, one doctoral student and two alumni have had their submissions accepted and will be featured during the summit October 11-14.

A leading authority on public policy education for the last 47 years, NASPAA is the membership and accrediting body for graduate education programs in public policy, public affairs, public administration, and public and nonprofit management. Each fall, the non-profit organization convenes representatives from nearly 300 member intuitions—located across the U.S. and in 14 countries—for an annual conference on public policy education. 

This year’s conference boasts more than 600 registrants and will explore the theme, “Confidence in Public and Nonprofit Institutions: How is it Built, How is it Lost and How is it Regained?” Headliners for the event include; Joe Biden, former vice president; Tonia Ries, Edelman executive director of intellectual property; and Tim Delaney, president of the National Council of Nonprofits. Participants will also have the opportunity to hear from Wilder School Dean John Accordino, Ph.D.

Accordino will convene a panel on the subject of bridging the gap between academic expertise and policy makers featuring Dietra Trent, Ph.D., Virginia secretary of education and a Wilder School alumna, and Grant Rissler, assistant director of programs for the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute (CEPI).

A list of participating Wilder School faculty, students and alumni as well the topics and what they are presenting on are as follows.

John Accordino, Ph.D., dean, professor and AICP Fellow; Dietra Trent (M.P.A. ‘97, Ph.D. ‘07), Virginia secretary of education; and Grant Rissler (Ph.D., ‘17), CEPI assistant director of programs.

“Strengthening the Bridge: Strategies for Aligning Public Affairs Institutions to Serve Policy Makers’ Need for Timely Research”

Susan Gooden, Ph.D., professor and NAPA Fellow 

“Engagement in an Urban Setting: Smart Practices for Students and More”

Blue Wooldridge, Ph.D., professor and NAPA Fellow

“Increasing the Number and Percentage of Underrepresented Minority (URM) Faculty in MPA/MPP Faculties”

“Flint Water Crisis and Beyond”

Lindsey Evans, (M.P.A.,‘08), doctoral candidate

“The Role of Trust in the Research Process: Implications for Underrepresented Populations”

Anthony Starke, (M.P.A., ‘14), doctoral candidate, University of Nebraska at Omaha 

Integrating Critical Gender, Race, and Class Discourses in Public Affairs Education