Wichita State University Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs

We engage faculty, staff and students in applied learning and research to benefit the community.

HISTORY
The Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs reflects the vision of its namesake, Dr. Hugo Wall, a professor who served the University for forty-two years, from 1929 to 1971. In the mid-1940s, Professor Wall began envisioning an academic unit that would link the University and the community. Professor Wall's vision first emerged when the University established the Center for Urban Studies to con

duct applied research and community service under Dr. Wall's direction. Stable funding for the Center began in 1965, shortly after the transition of the University of Wichita into Wichita State University. City of Wichita voters approved the adoption of a citywide mill levy dedicated to the new state university, and the University allocated a portion of the mill levy to the Center for Urban Studies for research and service focused primarily on the city. An instructional component, the Master of Urban Affairs (MUA) degree, was added in 1972, the first degree being awarded in 1974. The MUA was a multi-disciplinary, problem-centered program drawing faculty and resources from a number of academic units across the university. Over time, the MUA began to focus more and more on public policy and on the administration of policy. In 1979, public administration faculty who had been a part of the department of political science moved to the Center for Urban Studies and additional faculty positions were added to the program. The MUA curriculum was revised in the early 1980s to better reflect the public administration emphasis of the program and its faculty. In 1983, the Center was named after Professor Hugo Wall, founder of the Center and national leader in city management professionalism. In 1984, the Kansas Board of Regents approved changing the MUA to the Master of Public Administration (MPA). Through the spring of 1993, the Hugo Wall Center for Urban Studies operated as a separate, integrated academic unit, offering instruction and conducting research and service, and reporting directly to central administration of the University. In Fall 1993, in response to preferences that the Center be housed in a degree-granting college and as part of several university-wide organizational changes, the Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs was created and placed in Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Initially the School housed the MPA program and the Center for Urban Studies (now the Public Policy and Management Center), as well as graduate and undergraduate programs in gerontology and criminal justice, and undergraduate programs in minority studies and social work. In 1994, the Kansas Public Finance Center was created as an additional research and service unit in the School. As a result of changing requirements in 1999, the Hugo Wall School was split into three units - a School of Social Work; a School of Community Affairs containing criminal justice, gerontology and minority studies; and a school that housed the Master of Public Administration degree program, which retained the name Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs. In 2015, the Center for Urban Studies was renamed the Public Policy and Management Center to reflect our mission of advancing excellence in public service.

Photos from Wichita State University Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs's post

06/11/2026

🎉 A momentous occasion at the City of Wichita- Government Council meeting! Dr. Newbold and Dr. Umeri had the privilege of presenting plaques to the city's employees who completed the 2026 MiniMPA program. 🎓👏 We are so proud of their hard work and happy to celebrate this achievement together! 🌟

Therapies & Special Education for Pediatric Neurodevelopment

05/22/2026

We are thrilled to share that our esteemed school director, Dr. Stephanie Newbold, has been appointed to Heartspring's Program Committee! Heartspring is an incredible therapeutic school and pediatric clinic in Wichita, dedicated to uplifting children who are often underestimated. Their mission is to assess, diagnose, treat, educate, and inspire children with neurodevelopmental needs. 💛🖤💛

The newly formed Program Committee will play a vital role in ensuring that Heartspring’s services align with its mission and strategic goals.

Congratulations, Dr. Newbold! This is a fantastic honor, and we can’t wait to see the positive impact you’ll make! 👏🫶

Therapies & Special Education for Pediatric Neurodevelopment Heartspring provides life-changing therapies and special education for children and teenagers with neurodevelopmental challenges, including autism and ADHD.

05/14/2026

Did you know we keep a list of recent job opportunities in the public and nonprofit sectors on our webpage?! 🌐💼 Take a look and discover your next great opportunity! 🚀✨

https://www.wichita.edu/academics/fairmount_las/hugowall/Employment_Opportunities.php

05/13/2026

Last week, students in our MiniMPA™ program completed their capstone presentations, which addressed critical issues in today’s public sector, including:

➡️ Communication practices to bridge generational differences
➡️ Adaptive hiring practices
➡️ Strategic change management
➡️ Strengthening collaboration across departments and communities

We are proud of this cohort’s dedication to thoughtful leadership, applied learning, and service to communities. Congratulations to our 2026 MiniMPA graduates on this achievement! 👏🎓

05/06/2026

We are proud to celebrate this year’s exceptional KACM scholarship recipients from Hugo Wall School! Congratulations to Nathan York, our 2026 KACM Scholarship recipient, and Luke Grimes, who has earned the prestigious Virgil Basgall Scholarship. 🏆

This marks the third consecutive year that HWS has secured 2 out of the 3 KACM scholarships, and for the second year in a row, a student from HWS has received the Basgall Scholarship. 👏

Both Nathan and Luke are dedicated to serving Kansas communities, with Luke currently making an impact as the city administrator of City of Ulysses and Nathan aspiring to work in state and local government after graduation. 💛🖤💛

A heartfelt congratulations to Nathan and Luke on your well-deserved achievements!

04/29/2026

The City of Haysville Kansas is seeking an Economic Development Director to lead initiatives that drive business growth and enhance economic vitality. ✨ This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real impact in a great community! Check out the full job description!⬇️

🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4404790224/

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a resume to [email protected].

04/20/2026

🚨 Last week, our MiniMPA participants had an incredible opportunity to visit the Sedgwick County Government Emergency Management Center and the 911 Center! 🌟

Students gained valuable insights into disaster preparedness and the essential behind-the-scenes work that keeps our community safe. A huge thank you to Julie Stimson, director of Sedgwick County Emergency Management, and Jackie from the 911 Center for the informative and engaging session! 🙌

Experiences like this provide extraordinary applied learning opportunities for our students. We are so proud of our brave alumni and students who work to make our communities safer and better for all. 💛🖤💛

04/10/2026

🚨 Exciting Job Opportunity for Hugo Wall Alums/Students🚨

The City of Dodge City - Government is looking for an Assistant to the City Manager! This dynamic and fast-paced role involves working closely not only with the City Manager but also with all City Departments.

Key responsibilities include:
✅ Assisting with grant writing
✅ Supporting the Finance Department with budget planning
✅ Managing various analytical and special projects assigned by the City Manager’s office

Requirements:
🎓 Master’s degree in Public Administration or related field
🗓️ Minimum of 4 years of local government experience (or equivalent education)

Apply now at http://www.dodgecity.org and join a fantastic team of public servants! 🌟

04/08/2026

🎉 Have you heard the news?! 🎉 We’re thrilled to announce that our public affairs graduate program has achieved its highest ranking ever, now sitting at #92 according to U.S. News and World Report for the 2026-2027 academic year! 🌟 Our specialty in public finance and budgeting is also shining bright at #17, tying with Harvard! 🎓

Not only did we climb from 96th place, but we also ranked #16 among public affairs programs in the Midwest and secured the 2nd position in Kansas! 🏆

Huge shoutout to our dedicated faculty, staff, students, alumni, and everyone at the Wichita State University Environmental Finance Center and Kansas Public Finance Center. Your hard work and commitment to public service are making a real difference! 💪

Let’s celebrate this incredible achievement! 🎈✨
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-public-affairs-schools/wichita-state-university-156125

03/03/2026

The Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs is launching 🌟NEW🌟 undergraduate courses in public and nonprofit management for Summer/Fall 2026! If you are enthusiastic about public service and eager to make a difference in your career, these courses are essential! 🎓

🤔 Why Enroll? 👇

💼 Career Opportunities: Ideal for students considering careers in government, public service, or nonprofit work.

🌎 Real-World Skills: Gain valuable real-world skills, including analytical problem-solving, understanding and discussing policies, and writing and presentation skills.

🌐 Network of Excellence: Tap into the Hugo Wall School’s tight-knit network of accomplished faculty, adjuncts, and alums—connections that can open doors to internships and job opportunities!

Visit our webpage to view the complete list of courses and their descriptions: https://wichita.edu/HWS

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Location

Wichita

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Website

http://www.wichita.edu/hugowall

Address

1845 Fairmount Street
Wichita, KS
67260

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm