Welcome from the Dean

Let me take this opportunity to welcome you to the SPEA web site. There is much here to explore, but before you do, I’d like to share some insights about the School.

What attracts students to SPEA? It is the fact that we offer flexibility—with rigor. Here you can design a career path that matches your needs and passions. Here you will be immersed in real-world problems and solutions, and by the time you graduate you will have the knowledge and skills to be successful. At SPEA you’ll get a 360-degree approach to solving complex world problems, and our ability to bridge policy and science is truly one of SPEA’s greatest strengths.

At SPEA you will find professors who are accessible and committed, professors who conduct relevant research and engage in communities from local to global. And you’ll find students who are passionate and fearless about fixing the world’s problems.

Now, what does this mean for you? It means that SPEA graduates are trained to make an immediate impact by analyzing and solving complex world problems. It means that our faculty are engaged in research and service activities that lead to truly innovative solutions. And it means that everyone affiliated with SPEA, from our professors, to our students, to our alumni are dedicated to the SPEA mission: smart policy and sound science for stronger communities.

So please browse our site and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you on campus.

Best regards,
C. Kurt Zorn
Interim Dean