UConn’s School of Public Policy continues to earn national recognition, ranking among the top public affairs programs in the country in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.
The School ranked No. 44 nationally, No. 1 in Connecticut, and No. 2 in New England, reflecting its strong reputation and leadership in public service education. It also placed No. 12 in public budgeting and finance and, new this year, No. 24 in nonprofit management.
After graduating from Springfield College in 2021 with a degree in psychology and a minor in biology, Bridget Foley-Johnson went to work at Hartford HealthCare, supporting adults with substance use disorders and other mental health challenges.
“I set out to help individuals,” she said. “But during my three years at Hartford HealthCare, I also got a look at the policy side of medicine and how decisions made behind the scenes affect clinicians, patients, and entire systems.”
That realization, along with a desire to “make a difference at a population level,” led her to explore advanced degrees in public policy and social work. She’s now pursuing both a Master of Social Work and a Master of Public Administration through UConn’s School of Social Work and School of Public Policy.
“I could see how intertwined the two fields are,” she said. “It made sense to study them together, especially with the internship opportunities and the range of career paths it opens up.”
“We all have this perception of what an incarcerated person looks like,” said Chidi Nwuneli, a 2025 MPA graduate of UConn’s School of Public Policy and the current Grants and Contracts Specialist at the Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division of Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management (OPM). “In Norway, the focus is on humanizing the person, not the punishment.”
Two students from UConn’s Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Public Administration (MPA) programs traded classroom work for the nation’s capital this summer, immersing themselves in federal policy work. Read more about their experiences in higher education access and election integrity.
Tim White joined the School of Public Policy (SPP) as a Fast-Track student while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Connecticut (UConn). His admiration for public service began at home where he saw his parents work for the State of Connecticut and volunteer with nonprofits. Tim explains, This admiration motivated […]
The Graduate Association of Public Policy (GAPPS-ICMA) – International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is the primary organization for the UConn School of Public Policy (SPP). Its goal is to serve as a social and intellectual forum for students pursuing a degree or certificate in the School. GAPPS-ICMA is committed to public service, professional development, and having […]
The Graduate Association of Public Policy (GAPPS-ICMA) – International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is the primary organization for the UConn School of Public Policy (SPP). Its goal is to serve as a social and intellectual forum for students pursuing a degree or certificate in the School. GAPPS-ICMA is committed to public service, professional development, and having […]
Adjunct faculty Anne McIntyre-Lahner teaches “Program Development & Evaluation” and frequently conducts Public Service Executive Leadership Collaborative (PELSC) workshops on program evaluation and performance management. Anne is also the President of a performance management consulting firm called Action to Outcomes. Dr. Ron Schack teaches “Performance Accountability and Management” and “Advanced Quantitative Methods,” and is the Managing […]
UConn School of Public Policy (SPP) Director of Nonprofit Outreach and Adjunct Professor David Garvey recently penned a piece about SPP alum Barry Simon. Check out Dave’s article below. Barry Simon, MPA ’92 serves as the President & CEO of Oak Hill and Board Chair of the Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance spoke to thousands of nonprofit practitioners at a Connecticut State House […]
Full Name: Kellie Ann Sartoris Title and Organization: Academic Policy and Administration Intern, Office of the Provost, UConn SPP Degree and Graduation Year: MPA, ‘24 Kellie Sartoris received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Connecticut in 2023. As an undergraduate, she […]