2026 Founders' Fellows

 

ASPA's Founders' Fellows program supports the next generation of public service leaders through a series of professional development opportunities. The Fellows attend and present at the Annual Conference on a subject matter paper on an issue related to their scholarship or work, which is also published in PA TIMES Online if they wish.

Open to graduate students as well as new professionals in the first three years of their public service career, this program is geared toward accelerating careers of promising, rising stars in the discipline. This is ASPA's flagship program for the next generation of public service leaders and professionals, providing results that could last throughout your career.

"The Founders' Fellows experience has given me an unrivaled opportunity to build strong relationships in public administration. Our diverse backgrounds paved the way for a beneficial dialogue and outstanding exchange of ideas."

 - Ana-Maria Dimand, Florida International University, 2018 Founders' Fellow and 2019-2020 ASPA Student Representative

Underwriting Sponsors

ASPA thanks the following institutions for their generous support of the Founders' Fellows program. These institutions have made five- or ten-year funding commitments to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability and vitality.
  • Arizona State University
  • Association for Budgeting and Financial Management and Public Financial Publications, Inc.
  • California State University—San Bernardino
  • Carnegie Mellon University, Heinz College
  • Friends of Diane Disney
  • George Mason University, Schar School of Policy and Government
  • The George Washington University
  • Indiana University-Indianapolis and Indiana University-Bloomington
  • Northeastern University
  • Section on Personnel and Labor Relations
  • University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service
  • University of Baltimore
  • University of Central Florida
  • University of Illinois Chicago
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • University of Nebraska at Omaha
  • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Wichita State University, Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs

2026 Founders' Fellows Program

ASPA is pleased to announce the Class of 2026 cohort. Click on the link below to view the full list of names and visit our conference website for more details about their 2026 conference participation.

Critical Links:

    "I think the program is an excellent way to link practitioners and academics, which I feel is one of the most important aspects of ASPA."
     - Peter Federman, University of Kansas, 2015 Founders' Fellow