News and Accolades

University of San Francisco, McLaren Conference Center June 1 – 3 SAN FRANCISCO: LEADING THE DIALOGUE ON SOCIAL EQUITY California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom speaker at USF Social Equity Leadership Conference 2016 This year’s keynote speaker will be Lieutenant Governor of California and former San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom. GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY! Established by […]

Civic leaders drive initiatives that promote a better quality of life for every person living in a community. Their goals are certainly noble, but it’s easy to take their efforts for granted. Discover why civic leadership is so important and why it matters to people today. There’s a World Without Civic Leadership Image via Flickr by dhendrix73 […]

Broadly speaking, public engagement is an aggregate reading of the population’s views and attitudes on a given issue. A range of factors affect it, from demographics like income, race, age, gender, and level of education, to external influences like the media and voices of cultural and political leaders. While strong leaders play a role in […]

As the presidential campaign season heats up in the United States, candidates, pollsters, and others in public administration are working hard to determine which issues Americans are most concerned about. While data can change quickly in response to current events, overall trends point to a renewed focus on domestic issues, even as concerns over global issues become […]

Civic leadership is vital for ensuring society progresses toward equality for all. Change is never easy, and working in civic leadership can be thankless at times. However, the achievements of the four important civic leaders mentioned below should serve as inspiration for anyone looking to pursue a career in this field. Martin Luther King Jr.: […]

Ethical responsibility and public leadership are two of the cornerstones of public administration. Generally, these qualities work hand in hand, but on occasion these terms seem to be at odds with one another. Learn more about these two important elements of public administration. What Do These Terms Really Mean? Ethical responsibility is one’s duty to take […]

It sounds easy enough — you’ve a got a message to communicate, and an interview scheduled to do just that. What if you find yourself in front of the public unable to answer their questions, or you’re just having a hard time staying focused? These five tips will help you stay on message when the […]

Studies show that the average adult makes about 35,000 decisions every day. Many of these decisions are of little consequence, but when your decisions impact the people around you and the broader community, making the right ones is imperative. The following four tips will help you feel confident that you’re making the right decisions. Research and […]

The word “leadership” often conjures up images of corporate CEOs and first-place runners. However, in a public policy and management context, leadership is about creating systems and structures that empower others and solve problems that may not be glamorous or high-profile, but make a significant difference in the quality of life of the people and […]

The desire to effect change drives many individuals who pursue an MPA degree. The goal of many nonprofit organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and government agencies is to address issues of injustice and inequality at local, national, and global levels. As leaders in public service, MPAs are uniquely prepared to pursue social justice throughout their careers. […]

Not all companies have a Human Resources (HR) department, at least not right away. Small businesses built from the ground up rely solely on the owner or manager to do all the hiring and training that the company requires. Having an HR program comes with certain challenges, but when it manages the challenges well, an […]

When faced with complex public policy and management issues, it’s important to understand that not all problems and problem-solving strategies are the same. In the 1970s, researchers coined the term “wicked” to refer to the kinds of problems faced by public administrators, such as problems with multiple stakeholders, unclear parameters, variable constraints, limited resources, and […]

Obtaining an MPA degree is the ideal preparation for assuming a leadership role in today’s public and nonprofit sectors. MPA graduates are in demand in agencies and organizations that focus on topics as diverse as healthcare policy and international relations. Here are just six examples of leadership positions perfect for a qualified MPA graduate. City […]

Establish Goals and Timeline Creating and sticking to a budget is a skill everyone should learn. But creating and adhering to a budget in a public policy context is very different from managing personal income and expenses. Organizational budgets serve as financial roadmaps, communication tools, and instruments by which to measure progress and ensure accountability. […]

An Educated Politician Before Woodrow Wilson became president, he was a scholar of politics and history. To this day, he is the only U.S. President to have acquired a Ph.D. His knowledge led him to publish many important essays in Political Science Quarterly, including his most influential work, “The Study of Administration,” published in 1887. […]

Many of the emerging technologies that influence public administration fall under the broad heading of IT (Information Technology). The term IT includes any technology, software, or hardware, used to transmit, store, and manipulate information in the form of data. Having a more efficient IT infrastructure equipped with new technologies allows public administration systems to get […]

In June of 2013, The University of San Francisco selected the San Francisco Free Clinic to receive the 2013 University of San Francisco California Prize for Service and the Common Good. The San Francisco Free Clinic provides free, accessible medical treatment to those without health insurance. Doctors Tricia and Richard Gibbs, founders of the clinic, […]

The University of San Francisco has been selected as one of the five universities in the nation as a 2012 Higher Education Civic Engagement Award recipient. The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars presents the award to recognize institutions that have achieved a high degree of civic engagement through sustained and transformative partnerships that […]

The University of San Francisco once again made it to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for 2013. The honor roll is published annually by the Corporation for National and Community Service and is the highest federal recognition a university or college can receive for strengthening communities. The Honor Rolls recognized USF for […]

In May of 2013, the University of San Francisco was recognized by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education as number one in diversity for a non-historically black college or university, for its high graduation rate for minority students, and its diverse student body. The student population is 40 percent minority, and the school graduates 74 percent […]

2013 has been a good year for USF recognition. U.S. News and World Report ranked USF in the top 10% of National Universities. The Princeton Review has named USF a Best Western School, and Washington Monthly, which evaluates colleges based on their contributions to social mobility, research, and service to the common good, has recognized […]

Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Assistant Professor in the Politics department at the University of San Francisco, was honored by the White House on January 30th, 2012, as a Champion of Change. The Champions of Change is a presidential initiative that honors and promotes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional innovative practices, achievements, and leadership to bring change […]

Racing Toward Justice: The Importance of Social Issues Here in the United States, social activism has made an indelible mark on our country. It is part of our nation’s groundwork to afford rights to persons who have been marginalized by race, gender, or other human characteristics. There have been several social movements that have facilitated […]

How Social Issues Have Set the Political World on Fire Social issues have long been intertwined with political action. Passionate arguments exist on both sides on today’s most contentious issues. There is very little middle ground in our opinions as a society as we work to do the right thing for the right reasons. Professor […]

Budgeting for the public sector is fundamentally different from budgeting in the private sector. They differ in their purpose, their processes, and their accounting methods. If you’re a prospective financial manager, or if you want to make the challenging transition between these two worlds, then it’s important that you understand the differences of these two […]

About 76 percent of senior executives believe their organizations need global leadership that will lead them to greater success around the world. Unfortunately, only about 7 percent of those executives think their organizations are very effective at global leadership. That’s a huge gap that companies need to fill if they want to keep expanding across […]

Students pursuing their MPA degrees often plan to work for the government; however, there are many companies in the private sector that are looking to hire graduates with these degrees. Everyone from Wal-Mart to DreamWorks need MPA grads to help analyze their processes and structures. As a result, being able to analyze an organization is […]

In the world of business, a strong mission statement helps define the reason the company exists, and all goals and objectives should organically grow from that statement. The same holds true for those who labor in the field of public administration. A strong mission statement is critical to its success just as in any other […]

Washington, D.C. is a great place to visit, but are you sure you want to live in that area? Many people looking for government jobs in the U.S. assume that a move to the nation’s capital will eventually be in the cards, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Many important government agencies are […]

Maybe an MPA student’s coursework sounds interesting to you, but a career in government service is less appealing. Don’t drop that program brochure just yet. There are many job options for a highly qualified MPA, and not all of them involve government offices. Here are some private business interests that seek out graduates with an […]

Once you graduate with a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA), you can look forward to many high-paying job opportunities, ranging from city government to non-profit agencies. According to Payscale.com, the following four Public Administrative Jobs earn the biggest bucks. 1. City Manager As a City Manager, your job will be very similar to that of […]

Working for a non-profit organization is an attractive career option for those who are passionate about making a meaningful impact on the world. Many people gravitate toward this type of work because it provides a more fulfilling and satisfying option than working for corporate America. However, there are other factors that make non-profit jobs an […]

As a public administration graduate, you leave college with a vast amount of knowledge. The information that you have learned makes you extremely versatile in the workplace and allows you to pursue many different career paths in both public and private sectors. There is an expected increase in government work for those with public administration […]

Since the formal launch of the United Nations Development Program’s “Gender Equality in Public Administration” report in June of this year, increased attention, activism, and interest has been given to addressing gender equality in public administration. The report includes research about equality, and proposes policy and programming recommendations to advance women’s equal participation in public […]

It’s easy to forget that the people we see on television were once faced with questions like “What major should I choose?” and “Should I go to grad school?” These famous folk chose to change the world by pursuing a master’s degree in public administration. Ashley Judd Backs up Celebrity Activism with a Degree from […]

As a student of Public Administration, you probably dream of working in a job that will allow you to contribute to society in a meaningful way. Working in the public sector is a great way to realize that goal. However, landing these types of jobs can be difficult without any work experience, and internships provide […]

When you look at the code of ethics of the ASPA (American Society for Public Administration), the first thing that it says is to always advance the public interest, but what exactly does that mean? Why is it important? More importantly, how can you as an MPA student act in the public interest? The following […]

Public administration majors study how policies and laws are created and enforced on a local, state, and federal level. This means that required class subjects include history, political science, sociology, and psychology. During your studies, web databases will be useful in giving you additional insights into your field. Here’s a list of the top five […]

Although you may not think it, public administration has been an active part of society since Alexander the Great ruled the Greek kingdom of Macedon. With a history that dates back all the way before Christ, there’s bound to be some pretty interesting public administration facts. With societal management in mind, here are five compelling […]

Your public administration degree is a huge asset for many employers, but it won’t necessarily get your foot in the door. The public administration sector is always looking for qualified candidates, but you may have to follow a few employment pointers to land your ideal job. In order to help you get hired, here are […]

Subscribers to Harvard Business Review rated the ability to communicate number one as the most important contributor in making someone promotable. They rated it above ambition, education, and hard work. Public administrators serve a variety of people and will often find themselves working in groups throughout their careers. In addition to coursework, a Public Administration […]

Public administrators must conduct themselves in a manner that shows the public that they are trustworthy. This means adhering to core values for the safety and good of the public. There are four core values established by the NASPAA: professional, democratic, ethical, and human. Take a closer look at what each of these public service […]

In the mid-90s the US government embraced performance measurement. The National Performance Review, which later became the National Partnership for Reinventing Government, made the term “performance measurement” part of every public administrator’s vernacular. While performance measurement has its critics, the program brought many positive aspects to public administration including: Clearly Communicated Expectations With expectations outlined […]