The Political Science Department and Masters of Public Administration (MPA) Program recently celebrated the end of the semester and induction of current MPA students into Pi Alpha Alpha, the Global Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. Sabina Matos, the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island, spoke at the event and congratulated the students on their accomplishment.
There are more than 160 Pi Alpha Alpha chapters located around the world at the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) — the accrediting body of the URI MPA program.
Pi Alpha Alpha is run by NASPAA: The Global Standard in Public Service. The purpose of Pi Alpha Alpha is to encourage and recognize outstanding scholarship and accomplishment in public affairs and administration. Its objectives, such as fostering integrity, professionalism, and effective performance, promote the advancement of quality in the education and practice of the art and science of public affairs and administration. PAA membership identifies those with the highest performance levels in educational programs (3.7 GPA or higher) preparing them for public service careers. Becoming a member of PAA is recognition of the hard work and dedication students have maintained throughout their matriculation at URI.
The following MPA students earned an invitation to join Pi Alpha Alpha:
| Digna | Arias |
| Christine | Arouth |
| Tylia | Baptista |
| Conor | Barton |
| Juan | Bauza |
| Brenna | Berglund |
| Eliza | Brennan |
| John | Brindamour |
| Jennifer | Bustamante |
| Timothy | Caron |
| Stevent | Cleto Garcia |
| Heidi | Cooper |
| Josh | Cornell |
| Jonathan | Emard |
| Emma | Guglielmi |
| Christine | Imbriglio |
| Amber | Matson |
| Kendal | McCloskey |
| Jill | Olson Crowley |
| Conor | OBrien |
| Casey | Regan |
| Marvin | Salazar |
| Aimee | Salazar Martinez |
| Eugenia | Santos |
| Stephen | Stokes |
| Megan | Umbriano |
| Matt | Wood |