Every graduating class adds a new chapter to SPIA's story. As we celebrate our newest alumni and look back on a memorable year, including the culmination of SPIA's 25th anniversary celebration, we're proud to share examples of the work happening across our community. From student accomplishments and faculty research to alumni recognition, this newsletter showcases a legacy that continues to grow through the people who make SPIA what it is.

In April, over 300 SPIA alumni, friends, students, and faculty came together to commemorate the School's 25th Anniversary. The celebration included awards for public servants, alumni, and SPIA's founders. The event highlighted SPIA's tradition of leadership, service, and scholarship while looking ahead to the School's next chapter of impact.

A record-breaking 18 undergraduates at the University of Georgia were named Boren Scholars this spring, landing UGA at No. 1 among top-performing institutions for Boren Awards, based on total Boren Scholars and Fellows. Eleven of the eighteen students are SPIA majors. 

On May 8, we welcomed 485 new graduates to the SPIA alumni family during SPIA Convocation. The ceremony featured student speaker Nishat Nayla, a first-generation college graduate and double major in international affairs and economics whose leadership, service, and academic achievements exemplify the best of SPIA. Attendees also heard from keynote speaker Greg Bluestein, chief political reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and SPIA alumnus, who shared lessons on curiosity, integrity, and public service as our graduates embark on their next chapter.

Congratulations to SPIA’s 2026 40 Under 40 recipients! UGA’s 40 Under 40 celebrates young alumni leading the pack in their industries and communities. Our successful young alumni make known the value of a degree from the birthplace of public higher education. 

Katie Penland (AB ’13) • Blake Raulerson (AB ’15) • Brittany Cassell Raway (AB ’10) • Tiffany N. Wooten (AB ‘11, MPA ’15)

SAVE THE DATE:  SPIA Giving Day is Thursday, September 10th. Join SPIA alumni and friends from around the world as we come together to celebrate and support the meaningful work being done by faculty and students at the School!

For the first time ever, the University of Georgia Mock Trial team is national champions, defeating more than 800 teams from across the country at the National Championship Tournament. UGA Mock Trial is entirely student-run.

Sudhan Chitgopkar, a University of Georgia alumnus from Cumming, will merge his knowledge of computer science with studies in law as a 2026 Knight-Hennessy Scholar - a fully endowed, multidisciplinary leadership development program for graduate students at Stanford University.

Chitgopkar graduated summa cum laude from UGA in 2023 with bachelor’s degrees in computer science and international affairs from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Public and International Affairs. He then earned a master’s degree in computational science and engineering from Harvard University in 2024.

The University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) and Franklin College of Arts and Sciences have launched a new Undergraduate Certificate in Religion and Politics - a multidisciplinary program designed to help students better understand how faith and governance intersect across the globe. Drawing from both humanistic and social scientific perspectives, the program explores how religious ideas influence political behavior and how political systems, in turn, shape religious life. 

For decades, court-ordered community service has been used as an alternative to incarceration. The intention is to reduce costs, provide restitution to the community and support individual rehabilitation. But does it actually work?

A new study from the University of Georgia suggests it doesn’t.

“These goals aren’t really being met. It’s mixed,” said Rebecca Nesbit, lead author of the study and a professor in UGA’s School of Public and International Affairs. “If we want community service to live up to its potential, we need to think differently about how these programs are designed.”

Don't forget to submit your pet image by August 3 for a chance to have them featured in the Pets of SPIA 2027 calendar! We're still looking for slimy and scaly pets too, so don't be shy about including them!