School of Public Affairs

School of Public Affairs
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Ben Schumann

SPA/MPP '23

Ben Schumann, a Manager, Data & Research at Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), enjoys developing creative solutions that help modernize government analytics. The former Navy analyst credits SPA with preparing him to create deliverables that support public service goals. “SPA was a great place to polish my technical skills and ensure I had what I needed to work as a data analyst in the federal space,” he said. “I also gained a lot of context and understanding regarding the opportunities and constraints our policymakers and implementers face every day.”

#12 Overall for Public Affairs

Achievements ·

American University’s School of Public Affairs is Ranked No. 12 in the Nation by U.S. News & World Report

This is the seventh consecutive year that SPA ranked among the top 5 percent of public affairs schools in the country, and the sixth year in a row that the school has held the distinction of the highest rated school in Washington, D.C.
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SPA Highlights

Event Dispatches

Dispatches

SPA shares insider information on the world of public affairs, from choosing and applying to the right program for you, to courses, careers, and the culture.

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Front of Kerwin Hall

Recruitment Events


Browse our graduate recruitment events to meet SPA on campus, on the road, or through one of our virtual sessions!

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Public Servant Planning and Skills Network: New Path, Same Purpose

Public Servant Planning and Skills Network

The Public Servant Planning and Skills Network supports public servants as they navigate unplanned career transitions.

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Discover Your Future with AU

Six months after graduation,
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% of Graduates are now Working, Grad School, or Both

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Featured News

She Votes 2026

Announcement ·

SheVotes: Inflection Point

He survey from the Women in Politics Institute finds that women voters head into the midterms frustrated, still want more women in office, and see a higher bar for a woman president.
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Jenn White engages with a guest in-studio. Photo by Jeff Watts.

Journalism ·

Inside a Day with WAMU’s 1A

As DC’s top radio station—owned and licensed by American University—marks its 65th anniversary, go behind the scenes with the flagship program that reaches millions across the country on NPR each week.
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Anna Amirkhanyan, Rui Wang, and William Prince

Public Management and Leadership ·

Making Public Participation Equitable Across Race and Employment Sectors

Policy Brief: SPA professor and alumni find persistent racial differences in how Americans participate in governance
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Specialty Rankings

number 11

for Public Policy Analysis

by U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Public Affairs Graduate Schools Rankings

number 12

in Public Finance & Budgeting

by U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Public Affairs Graduate Schools Rankings

number 18

in Social Policy

by U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Public Affairs Graduate Schools Rankings