Inaugural Stamford Executive-Track cohort recognized as program creates new opportunities for working professionals across Fairfield County
Earlier this week, the University of Connecticut School of Public Policy celebrated a milestone in Fairfield County public service education as the inaugural Stamford cohort of its Executive-Track Master of Public Administration program completed their degrees.
The cohort, which enrolled in Fall 2024 as the first Stamford-based “MPA Fellows” class, was among the 97 students recognized during a May 11 ceremony at Infinity Hall in Hartford.
Stamford now joins Hartford as one of two UConn locations where students can complete the School of Public Policy’s Executive-Track MPA program.
For over 50 years, UConn has offered a Master of Public Administration degree, home to Connecticut’s only NASPAA-accredited public administration program. The Executive-Track format was introduced in Hartford in 2017 to provide professionals with a flexible pathway to graduate education without stepping away from the workforce. Students complete the two-year program through weekend coursework designed to accommodate professional schedules.
“We have an obligation to serve the entire state,” said Mohamad Alkadry, professor and former director of the School of Public Policy, who helped launch the Stamford-based Executive-Track MPA program as part of the school’s post-pandemic strategic plan.
“Working professionals in Stamford and Fairfield County, as well as Westchester County, previously did not have a high-quality, accredited, and accessible option that fit their needs,” Alkadry said. “Now, professionals around the state are within a one-hour drive to a highly competitive program at one of our campuses.”
The Executive-Track program offers the same rigorous 36-credit curriculum at both locations. UConn Hartford provides students with direct access to the state legislature, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and policy leaders. Stamford, located in one of Connecticut’s major economic centers with proximity to New York City, connects students to corporations, nonprofits, and municipal agencies throughout the region.
“Our students are already seeing the program’s impact on their careers,” said Dr. Angela Eikenberry, professor and director of the School of Public Policy. “It is not uncommon for working professionals to advance in their organizations before they even graduate. We are offering not only a degree, but also professional development opportunities and paid internships in local government and nonprofit settings.”
Graduates from the inaugural Stamford cohort represent a broad range of organizations and municipalities across southern Connecticut, including the cities of Stamford, Norwalk, and Danbury, as well as the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and the Arts Council of Greater New Haven. Among the Stamford graduates is a studentdeployed in the Middle East with the U.S. Army National Guard, whose family attended the ceremony in their honor.
The school’s expansion was thoughtfully planned through partnerships in the area. “We meet regularly with local governments and nonprofit organizations throughout the region,” Eikenberry said. “Employers know the quality of the MPA program and the preparation our students receive.”
Separate from the Executive-Track cohort, the Class of 2026 also included the first Stamford-based students participating in the School of Public Policy’s accelerated Fast-Track MPA program, a combined 3+1 undergraduate and graduate pathway. These students completed their undergraduate studies at UConn Stamford before transitioning to UConn Hartford for the final year of graduate coursework required for the MPA degree.
Program leaders say the School of Public Policy is intentionally serving two distinct populations: students continuing directly into graduate education and experienced professionals seeking to expand or transition their public service careers.
“We serve undergraduate students who want to maximize their studies and complete both degrees in four years instead of five,” Eikenberry said. “At the same time, we serve working professionals, many of whom may not have initially considered a career in public service.”
Eikenberry pointed to the school’s 97 percent placement rate for graduates. “We’re not only training the next generation of public service professionals but helping meet workforce needs in all corners of the state with qualified public service professionals.”
For more information about the MPA Fellows program at either location, visit the School of Public Policy’s Executive-Track Master of Public Administration program webpage.
For media inquiries, please email: publicpolicy@uconn.edu.