The School of Public Affairs in the News

The School of Public Affairs was featured in ASU Insight, ASU's newspaper of record.

Urban planners draw upon School of Public Affairs
expertise
It may not seem like the Valley has much in common with cities in the Middle East or Australia. But large urban areas springing up in desert locales share many common issues – water supply, pollution problems and affordable housing – among them.

That’s where the School of Public Affairs in the College of Public Programs can make a difference, through partnerships and by recognizing those who serve the public good. The school was instrumental in recently nominating David Smith, Maricopa County manager, for a National Public Service award that he ultimately won. Smith spearheaded a major turnaround in Maricopa County from a place that was described as a “poster child for bad government” in Governing Magazine about 10 years ago into a county described by the same magazine as one of the two best-run county governments in the United States.

“The award is a premier award for a public service practitioner,” says Robert Denhardt, director of the School of Public Affairs. “It’s considered a lifetime achievement award. It really is wonderful recognition.”

Read more at ASU Insight!