CU Denver School of Public Affairs

School of Public Affairs Climbs National Rankings, Leads Colorado Once Again!

The University of Colorado Denver’s School of Public Affairs (SPA) has once again been recognized among the nation’s top Public Affairs graduate programs, earning No. 20 (tied) in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings.

Read more: https://publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu/news-and-events/news-article/newsroom/school-of-public-affairs-climbs-national-rankings--leads-colorado-once-again

Careers with Impact: A Public Service Career Fair

📅April 8, 2026
⏰10am - 2pm
📍Tivoli Turnhalle

Discover Careers That Make a Difference!

Welcome to the Auraria Campus Spring 2026 Careers With Impact: A Public Service Fair. Co-hosted by University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and the Community College of Denver (CCD), this event is a unique opportunity for students to explore meaningful career paths in public service, nonprofit organizations, law enforcement, government agencies, and more.

Why Attend?

🔹Connect with Socially Impactful Employers

Meet recruiters from a diverse range of industries that focus on public service and social change. From federal and state agencies to community-based organizations and local government, you’ll have the chance to network with employers who are making a difference in their fields—and looking for students like you to join them.

🔹Explore Career Paths that Matter

Whether you’re passionate about community service, public safety, nonprofit work, or environmental advocacy, this fair allows you to explore jobs and internships that align with your values. Employers are eager to discuss career options that contribute to the public good, so come ready to learn how you can make an impact.

🔹Access Job and Internship Listings

Whether you're looking for a summer internship or full-time employment after graduation, you can apply directly to positions that fit your skills and aspirations.

👉 Register: https://ucdenver.joinhandshake.com/events/1909229/share_preview

SPA Students Explore International Development in East Africa Through Transformative Study Abroad Program

This January, Associate Teaching Professor Wendy L. Bolyard, Ph.D. nine University of Colorado Denver students on an immersive study abroad experience in Rwanda and Uganda as part of PUAD 4600/6600: International Development and Social Entrepreneurship in Rwanda and Uganda. Most participants were Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Public Policy (MPP) students seeking to deepen their understanding of global development systems while building cross-cultural leadership skills.

The 10-day program was delivered in partnership with the Global Livingston Institute (GLI). GLI was founded by SPA PhD alum, lecturer, and SPA advisory board member, Jamie Van Leeuwen, and it remains a valued collaborator for the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs. The program allowed students to examine international development through a systems theory lens while learning directly from community leaders, entrepreneurs, public officials, and local partners across East Africa.

“These experiences change how our students see their work, their communities, and themselves as future public service professionals,” Bolyard said. “East Africa offers powerful lessons in resilience, innovation, and community-led leadership.”

Read more: https://publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu/news-and-events/news-article/newsroom/spa-students-explore-international-development-in-east-africa-through-transformative-study-abroad-program

📣 Join us for February’s First Fridays with University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs: Education Finance at a Crossroads in Colorado

📆 Friday, February 6
⏰ 8:30–10:00 a.m.
💲 Free
👉 Register: https://cvent.me/mRnRxZ
📍 In-Person: Terrace Room (2nd floor), Lawrence Street Center, 1380 Lawrence St, Denver, CO 80204
💻 Virtual: Zoom link provided upon registration

This First Friday event will examine education funding in Colorado, a relatively wealthy state that nonetheless invests comparatively little in its education system. Recent national data show that Colorado’s K–12 teachers are the lowest paid in the country when compared to similarly educated professionals, a challenge shaped in part by the constraints of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR).

Speakers include:
- Paul Teske, University of Colorado Denver SPA (moderator)
- Parker Baxter, University of Colorado Denver SPA
- Brenda Dickhoner, Ph.D., Ready Colorado
- Daniel G. Thatcher, J.D., National Conference of State Legislatures
- Tracie Rainey, Colorado School Finance Project (CSFP)

The panel will explore Colorado’s education spending levels across the continuum, including early childhood education, K–12, and higher education, with particular attention to recent K–12 school finance legislation that changes how funds are allocated across districts (HB24-1448 and HB25-1320). Panelists will also discuss allocation of funds within districts.

This conversation comes at a pivotal moment. Colorado is experiencing a decline of more than 1% in student enrollment, with even sharper drops in many metro-area districts. These trends are reshaping the fiscal landscape and the future of education statewide.

👉 Register: https://cvent.me/mRnRxZ

🌟 SPA Alumni: Help Admitted Students Choose CU Denver!🌟

Choosing the right college is a big deal—and you can make that decision feel a little easier for CU Denver’s newly admitted students.

CU Denver is looking for Milo Mail volunteers to send a short personal note or video to prospective students, encouraging them to join the Lynx family. As SPA alumni, you represent the very best of what CU Denver has to offer. Your story, your journey, and your encouragement could be the reason a student chooses to become a Lynx for life.

✔️ You can select the types of students you want to connect with—graduate or undergraduate students, transfer students, first‑generation students, or even students from specific Colorado high schools.

📅 Sign up by February 27!

And there’s more—CU Denver just launched a new CU Denver Volunteers platform where you can easily track your engagement, including Milo Mail, and discover more ways to give back. Whether you want to volunteer once a year or once a month, you’ll find flexible opportunities that match your interests and availability.

🔗 Create your CU Denver Volunteer Profile https://volunteer.ucdenver.edu/

Let’s show the next generation what it means to be part of the CU Denver and SPA community. 💛🐾

CU Denver Alumni
University of Colorado Denver

✨ Upcoming Event: First Fridays with the School of Public Affairs
📣 Education Finance at a Crossroads in Colorado
📅 Friday, February 6
⏰ 8:30–10:00 a.m.
📍 In-Person Location: Terrace Room (2nd floor), Lawrence Street Center, 1380 Lawrence St, Denver, CO 80204
💻 Virtual Option: Zoom link is provided upon registration

This First Friday event will examine education funding in Colorado, a relatively wealthy state that nonetheless invests comparatively little in its education system. Recent national data show that Colorado’s K–12 teachers are the lowest paid in the country when compared to similarly educated professionals, a challenge shaped in part by the constraints of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR).

The panel will explore Colorado’s education spending levels across the continuum, including early childhood education, K–12, and higher education, with particular attention to recent K–12 school finance legislation that changes how funds are allocated across districts (HB24-1448 and HB25-1320). Panelists will also discuss allocation of funds within districts.

This conversation comes at a pivotal moment. Colorado is experiencing a decline of more than 1% in student enrollment, with even sharper drops in many metro-area districts. These trends are reshaping the fiscal landscape and the future of education statewide.

👉 Register today: https://calendar.ucdenver.edu/event/spa-first-friday-february-2025

Congratulations to Julia Fisher Cummings, PhD! 🎓

The University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs proudly celebrates Julia’s PhD achievement and her impactful research on how policy narratives and imagery shape civic engagement.

Julia has been a trusted leader in strategic communication for University of Colorado Denver and CU Denver School of Education & Human Development since 2007 and now shares her expertise through teaching and research that empowers future public leaders.

We’re excited to see what she accomplishes next! 👏

Read more: https://publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu/news-and-events/news-article/newsroom/julia-cummings--a-leader-in-strategic-communication-and-public-engagement

Tanya Heikkila is a SPA Professor, Program Director of the Master of Public Policy, and Co-Director of the Center for Policy and Democracy. She co-founded Conference on Policy Process Research with Christopher Weible. Her research and teaching focus on policy processes and environmental governance.

Sessions @ COPPR:
Panel 8: Building Theory of Policy Conflicts
Panel 17: Building Measures of Policy Conflicts
Panel 20: Policy Learning
Panel 67: Give Me Shelter: Policy Studies of Housing and Childcare

Current students, faculty, and alumni of the School of Public Affairs (SPA) will take part in the 2026 Conference on Policy Process Research (COPPR), held January 21–23, 2026, at the University of Bern in Switzerland. A pre-conference workshop for early-career researchers will be held on January 20 and will be co-led by SPA.

https://publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu/news-and-events/news-article/newsroom/from-denver-to-bern--spa-continues-its-leadership-in-policy-process-research

Christopher Weible is the Interim Dean and a University of Colorado Distinguished Professor at the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs. He is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Center for Policy and Democracy (CPD). He co-founded COPPR with Tanya Heikkila.

Sessions @ Conference on Policy Process Research:
M1: Modeling Coalitions: Theoretical and Methodological Insights from the Advocacy Coalition Framework (Pre-conference workshop)
Panel 19: Coalition Dynamics
Roundtable 45: Emotions in Public Policy
Panel 46: Using the ACF to Study Environmental Issues
Roundtable 62: The Advocacy Coalition Framework - What's Needed, New, and Coming?
Panel 73: The Coalition Architects - ACF workshop

Current SPA students, faculty, and alumni will take part in the 2026 Conference on Policy Process Research (COPPR), held January 21–23, 2026, at in Switzerland. A pre-conference workshop for early-career researchers will be held on January 20 and will be co-led by SPA.

Nico Punkar is a current Ph.D. candidate at University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs and Data Analyst at University of Colorado Anschutz. His research and professional background examine how movement building, culture change efforts, and policy advocacy drive systems change to advance social equity. He is particularly interested in how coalitions and cross-sector collaborations influence policy outcomes for marginalized communities.

Session @ Conference on Policy Process Research:
Panel 73: The Coalition Architects - ACF workshop

Current students, faculty, and alumni of the School of Public Affairs (SPA) will take part in the 2026 Conference on Policy Process Research (COPPR), held January 21–23, 2026, at the University of Bern in Switzerland. A pre-conference workshop for early-career researchers will be held on January 20 and will be co-led by SPA.

Learn more: https://publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu/news-and-events/news-article/newsroom/from-denver-to-bern--spa-continues-its-leadership-in-policy-process-research