This week, students in SPA's International Homeland Security class are in Madrid to see international security collaboration in practice. Led by Profs. Trace Lasley and Bryan Arva, they're meeting with experts on aviation security, cyber defense, transnational crime, and counterterrorism.
Despite increasing polarization in today's politics, some lawmakers are choosing compromise over division. Join @ccps.bsky.social and Professor David Barker as they explore why some lawmakers still cross the aisle and what we can do to spark more cooperation.
RSVP: bit.ly/4rXh8r9
Only 3 weeks left of early bird registration for #PMRC2026! On June 4-6, witness scholars and practitioners shape the future of public management right here in Washington, D.C.
👉 Register: bit.ly/4oiinOY
👉 Become a sponsor: https://bit.ly/3MREMG4
Get ready for SPA's Metropolitan Policy Center's first Urban Speaker Series! MPC welcomes Dr. Willow Lung-Amam from University of Maryland, College Park to talk about the uneven costs and benefits of redevelopment for DC's residents.
RSVP: https://bit.ly/4d76fyc
Join SPA faculty and Arnold Ventures for a dynamic panel on how funders, academics, and policymakers can turn research into real-world policy solutions. Hear insights on timing, transparency, and producing evidence that meets urgent societal needs.
RSVP: https://bit.ly/3NeDLIb
Research shows that women politicians influence policy priorities and work culture, but what about city budgets and leadership?
This Thursday, join DPAP and Lang (Kate) Yang, Assoc. Prof. at GWU, as she shares how women on city councils influence hiring and pay across local government.
In today's polarized era, compromise has become a dirty word on the Hill. Yet, some lawmakers still cross the aisle to solve problems. @ccps.bsky.social and Prof. David Barker will unpack what drives them to do so and how we can encourage more politicians to as well.
RSVP: https://bit.ly/4rXh8r9
SPA Prof. and Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow David Barker weighed in on the Texas primaries, noting that today's political divide isn't between moderates and ideologues, but positive-sum and zero-sum views of the democracy.
Read more: https://bit.ly/4b9Xsch
Curious about the impact progressive prosecutors really have on the justice system? Join JLC and Rachel Bowman, Asst. Prof. at Indiana University, as she breaks down how prosecutors use charging and plea-bargaining to influence punishment severity.
RSVP: https://bit.ly/4rcPuoA
Check out our new policy brief for SPA faculty Derek Hyra and David Schwegman's study on how rent-control policies affect tenant outcomes. They find that rent caps are associated with fewer households moving and higher median citywide rents.
Read the full brief: https://bit.ly/4rdN6xW
SPA students are presenting their research tomorrow evening at the ACJS meeting! They'll dicuss important issues like well-being in prisons and missing data in PIRUS datasets. We're proud of them for contributing fresh insights that furthers criminal justice research.
The Washington Forum on Northern Ireland brings together leaders, scholars, and students to reflect on the peace process in Northern Ireland. This year's panels explore divided societies, Irish migrants in American history, and more.
Register here: https://bit.ly/4aTEHLn
Why did Reconstruction fail? Robert Mickey (Univ. of Michigan) says the real answer lies in local conditions, not Washington's interventions. Join PTI for an insightful conversation on America's first attempt to foster a multi-racial democracy.
RSVP: https://bit.ly/4u9nB3y
SPA faculty and students take the stage again at the ACJS meeting tomorrow! They will present on topics like officer peer support, representation in policing and traffic stop policy. We're excited for them to present their research and help push the criminal justice field forward!
To kick off Women's History Month, SPA's @au-wpi.bsky.social welcomed female ambassadors to the U.S. to discuss women's political participation worldwide. We thank them for their unique perspectives that highlight women's global impact.
Stay tuned for the recording to see the full dicsussion!
This event has been rescheduled and will take place on Thursday, March 19.
Check out these SPA faculty and students at 63rd annual @ACJS_National meeting! From panels to book talks and reentry workshops to sentencing reform, our community is presenting research, leading discussions, and and contributing to the broader conversation on criminal justice.
SPA Asst. Prof. Brandyn Churchill and PhD candidate Kathryn Johnson's newly released @nber.org study links wider internet access to more time online, worsened self-image, bullying among girls, and higher rates of suicide ideation among teens.
Read more: https://bit.ly/4u7WE00
Research shows that women politicians influence policy priorities and work culture, but what about city budgets and leadership?
Join DPAP and Lang (Kate) Yang, Assoc. Prof. at GW Univ., as she shares how women on city councils influence hiring and pay across local government.
Join @au-wpi.bsky.social as they kick-off Women's History Month with a special conversation about women's political participation around the world with female ambassadors to the United States!
#ICYMI SPA Prof. @talisajcarterphd.bsky.social hosted a book talk for her new book "Corrections at Work," an examination of how institutions impact staff and inmates. During the talk, she also shared what she learned early as a corrections officer that contradicted her expectations.
SPA Prof. Taryn Morrissey wrote a guest article for the Briefing Book Substack about the recent changes to SNAP, or food stamps, one of the U.S.’s largest safety net programs. The changes shift costs onto states and risk shrinking participation and benefits.
Read more: https://bit.ly/4aVkp2F
AU alum Jesse Rauch (SPA/MPP'08) was featured in American magazine for turning a retired Metro railcar into metrobar, one of DC's most creative bars. From work events to pre-wedding parties, metrobar has become a community staple.
Read more: https://www.american.edu/magazine/next-stop-merriment.cfm
Pi Sigma Alpha kicked off their National Student Research Conference today at AU! Through tomorrow, students can share their research, attend workshops, and network with peers.
If you haven't already, you can register for the conference on site at AU's Constitution Hall.
SPA is proud of the work our faculty undertook in 2025 to advance public affairs research in a variety of areas. Ranked #4 overall by U.S. News & World Report, our public management and leadership research continues to shape discourse in the field.
Competing with degenerative myopia, AU wrestler Max Leete (SPA/BA ’25, MPA ’26) had no idea goggles were an option for him. Through determination and adaptability, he has redefined what's possible on the mat.
Read more about his journey: https://www.american.edu/magazine/eyes-on-the-prize.cfm
Thank you, Eagles! Over 36 hours, our community showed up for AU with incredible spirit and generosity. Your gifts keep AU accessible, fuel opportunity, and empower
students to soar. This is what impact looks like. That's how we show up for AU! 🦅💙
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Still have not made your first gift to SPA? Give now, help us reach our goal, and maximize your impact! http://bit.ly/4cb0rU2
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