Tuesday, October 27, 2026 5:30 - 730 PM Hinckley Institute of Politics Featured Lecturer: Dr. Jennifer Alexander We are pleased to welcome Dr. Jennifer Alexander, Visiting Professor in the School of Public Affairs, for a timely discussion examining the challenges and opportunities facing civil society, the pressures confronting nonprofit organizations, and their implications for the future of democratic governance. As nonprofit organizations navigate an increasingly complex political and social environment, this lecture will provide important insights into their evolving roles and the opportunities for strengthening communities and democratic institutions. Community Panel Conversation: From Insight to Impact Following the lecture, we will bring together nonprofit and community leaders for an engaging panel discussion that translates research into practice. Panelists will reflect on the challenges facing their organizations, share strategies for building resilience, and explore opportunities for advancing their missions in a changing environment. Our featured panelists include: * Felecia Maxfield, Former CEO, Utah Global Diplomacy * Linda Lartigue, Executive Director, Alliance Community Services * Merinda Cutler, Executive Director, Unsheltered Utah RSVP Today! We encourage you to attend this special celebration of our MPA Program’s 50th anniversary. Whether your interests lie in public administration, public policy, nonprofit leadership, advocacy, or international affairs, this event offers an opportunity to engage with important issues shaping the future of public service. Please register using the link below to help us plan for the event: 👉 ⁠CLICK HERE TO REGISTER We look forward to celebrating this important milestone with you and continuing the conversation about the future of public service, nonprofit leadership, and democratic governance. We hope to see you on October 27!

The University of Utah School of Public Affairs (SPA) congratulates Phil Dean, adjunct faculty member in SPA and Chief Economist and Public Finance Senior Research Fellow at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, on his election as a 2026 Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA). The National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) is one of the nation’s most prestigious organizations dedicated to advancing excellence in public service. Fellows are selected through a rigorous review process that recognizes significant contributions to public administration and public policy. At SPA, Dean brings his extensive professional experience in public finance, economics, and state and local policy directly into the classroom as an adjunct faculty member. His selection as a NAPA Fellow recognizes his contributions to public service and the expertise he brings to the education of future public-sector leaders. SPA congratulates Phil Dean on this distinguished national recognition and is proud to have him as a valued member of our faculty community. To learn more about the 2026 Class of Academy Fellows, visit https://napawash.org/news/national-academy-of-public-administration-announces-2026-class-of-academy-fellows

The University of Utah’s School of Public Affairs is introducing a new Nonprofit & Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) Concentration for graduate students in the Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Public Policy (MPP), and Master of International Affairs and Global Enterprise (MIAGE) programs.

Research summarized on Police Research Hub highlights that facial traits strongly influence who gets promoted in policing, raising concerns about the meritocracy of promotion systems. A two‑phase experiment using archival police academy photos found that respondents consistently judged perceived leadership ability based on facial characteristics, and those perceptions accurately predicted real‑world promotional outcomes at rates well above chance (AUC ≈ .70). The study shows that attributes such as perceived trustworthiness and dominance shape who is seen as leadership material, despite having no relationship to actual job performance, suggesting that extra‑legal, appearance‑based biases may meaningfully shape career advancement in law enforcement agencies. The study was co-authored by University of Utah Public Affairs and Political Science alumni Professors Ian Adams and Scott Mourtgos (University of South Carolina); SPA Professor Chris Simon, and Regents Professor Emeritus Nicholas Lovrich, Washington State University.