#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.

From Graduate Assistant to Graduation: 10 Questions with Jordan Oquendo

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The IMRP profiles staffer Jordan Oquendo who is among the School of Public Policy master’s candidates to receive their degree at Monday’s graduation ceremony. Jordan has been working with the IMRP since his enrollment, primarily with the Connecticut Sentencing Commission (CTSC).

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…

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…