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Tiffany Murray-Robertson

The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs will have a major presence at the 2025 NASPAA Annual Conference in Flagstaff, Arizona, with faculty and staff leading panels, roundtables and special events throughout the three-day gathering.

NASPAA — the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration — is the global accrediting body for master’s programs in public affairs, with more than 300 member institutions worldwide. Widely regarded as the premier professional association in the field, its annual conference sets the agenda for research, teaching and practice in public service education.

A highlight of the conference will be the presentation of the Nadia Rubaii Distinguished Service Award to RaJade M. Berry-James, senior associate dean of faculty and academic affairs and immediate past president of NASPAA. The award honors her sustained leadership and dedication to NASPAA’s mission, from advancing accreditation and social equity to fostering mentorship and collaboration across a global network of public service educators.

Berry-James is only the fourth individual ever to receive this award since its creation in 2023, placing her among a select group of leaders recognized for exceptional service to NASPAA. Her selection underscores both her own national leadership and the Wilder School’s impact on the future of public service education.

“Dr. Nadia Rubaii exemplified what it means to serve a profession with both intellect and heart,” said Susan T. Gooden, dean of the Wilder School and past president of NASPAA. “Her dedication to mentorship, excellence and inclusion strengthened NASPAA in ways that continue to guide us today. To see Dr. Berry-James honored with an award that bears Dr. Rubaii’s name is deeply meaningful. It celebrates a shared legacy of leadership rooted in service, collaboration and care for the next generation.”

Berry-James’ recognition comes as the Wilder School once again fields a strong delegation at NASPAA.Gooden, who served as NASPAA president in 2021–22, will also represent the Wilder School at two sessions this year. She will join Anthony Starke, assistant professor of public administration, in a panel on Voices at the Crossroads: Faculty from Historically Underrepresented Groups in Public Administration and Social Equity in a Shifting Political Landscape. Gooden will also take part in What’s in a Name? Deans and the Namesakes of Their Schools. Together, these contributions highlight the Wilder School’s leadership in advancing equity and institutional innovation.

Wilder School Delegation Highlights

The delegation will be active across the agenda, with representation in sessions that span governance, equity, innovation, fundraising and global engagement:

  • Governance Under Pressure: Bureaucracy, Trust, and Trade in a Global Context – RaJade Berry-James, senior associate dean of faculty and academic affairs.

  • Teaching and Testing AI in Public Affairs – Brie Haupt, associate  professor of homeland security and emergency preparedness, and RaJade Berry-James, senior associate dean of faculty and academic affairs.

  • Fundraising for Engagement: Advancing Public Affairs Education Through Alumni and Development Strategies – Stevan Dozier, senior director of development and alumni relations.

  • Cultivating Public Service Excellence Through AI Technology, Experiential Learning and Self-Directed Learning – Lindsey Evans, assistant professor of public administration.

  • What MPA and MPP Educators Can Make Possible in the Face of National Policy Changes – Lindsey Evans, assistant professor of public administration.

  • Research-Practice Partnerships: Insights from Urban Serving Universities – Myung Jin, associate professor of public administration.

  • Amplifying Public Affairs Excellence – David Slipher, director of communications and external relations 

In addition to her award, Berry-James will play central roles in multiple leadership forums, including the NASPAA Town Hall and the Annual Business Meeting, before closing out the conference by chairing a session on NASPAA’s Global Footprint.