MPP

SPP Celebrates Class of 2026

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On Monday, May 11, the Class of 2026 gathered at Infinity Hall in downtown Hartford to celebrate the completion of their master’s degrees.

97 students, representing the School’s largest graduating class since 2022, included graduates from the MPA, MPP, and MPA Executive-Track (“MPA Fellows”) programs, along with two students who earned the Master of Arts in Survey Research and Data Analysis, a program the School has since retired. The event featured a keynote address from Matt Ritter, Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives. Ritter reminded graduates about the importance of in-person dialogue over online communication and emphasized the value of human connection in public service, especially when working across partisan divides.

Class of 2026: Get Ready for Graduation!

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You’ve worked hard and earned your degree. Now it’s time to celebrate! Monday, May 11 is the School of Public Policy’s Ceremony to Honor Our Graduates. The festivities will take place at Infinity Hall in Hartford from 3:00 – 5:00 pm with a reception following afterwards at the Hartford Times Building Atrium.

Larisa Kottke, MPA’13, President & CEO of Leadership Greater Hartford, will serve as ceremony host, and Matt Ritter, CT Speaker of the House of Representatives will provide the keynote address.

A helpful timeline for students and guests follows…

UConn School of Public Policy Ranked Among Top in Nation

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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.

Blending History, Education, and Community Service into a Meaningful Career Path

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MPA student Noah Hurt has always been drawn to spaces that educate and support the community. Through his IPP, Hurt serves as Intern for Advancement at COMPASS Youth Collaborative which works with vulnerable youth to provide them with tools to succeed in education, employment, and life.

Post-Graduate Spotlight: A Two-Year Research Journey with the Boston Federal Reserve

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Nick Hall graduated from UConn in May 2023 with a degree in Economics and Political Science and earned his Master of Public Policy a year later. Thanks to the SPP’s outreach and networking opportunities, soon after his May 2024 graduation, he began a two-year research associate position with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston…

From Classroom to Commission: Finding the SPP 4+1 “Fast-Track” to Success

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A chance encounter with a fellow undergrad introduced Tommy Dowd to the 4+1 program. A course that sounded interested introduced him to the IMRP and a research opportunity that would lead to his current role as the program assistant for the Connecticut Sentencing Commission. Read on to see his MPP “Fast-Track” to his first professional role…

SPP Students Gain Policy Experience in Washington, D.C. 

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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.

MPP Student Wins at NASPAA Simulation Site

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Congratulations to Masters of Public Policy (MPP) student Madeline Doyle & her teammates for recently winning their Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) Simulation Competition site! The theme for 2025’s simulation was Pandemic and called upon, “University teams [to] balance the economic, political, and public health fallout of a deadly disease outbreak, […]

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MPP Student Emma Paynter Attends the SNEAPA Conference

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Second year Master of Public Policy (MPP) student Emma Paynter recently received conference funding from the School of Public Policy (SPP) to attend the Southern New England APA Conference (SNEAPA). It is organized by the Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island Chapters of the American Planning Association (APA). The conference serves as an annual event that brings […]

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