SPIA Alumni Newsletter Fall 2021
School of Public and International Affairs Fall Newsletter
Welcome to the biannual Virginia Tech School of Public and International Affairs online alumni newsletter. This fall issue highlights our school's accomplishments and initiatives, including an introduction to an alum, and some of the research our faculty and students are doing to impact our community.
Discvoer the SPIA spirit in action!
The great Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci once said, “It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” The alumni, current students, staff, and faculty that make up the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) are the type of people who “happen to things.” In the stories in this newsletter, you will discover this spirit in action. Read more >
FEATURES
Learning on the Front Lines of Virginia Government
Each year, the Governor’s Fellows Program provides a select group of rising and graduating college seniors and graduate students the opportunity to experience firsthand the administration of the Virginia government for two months. The application process is very competitive, and the program only accepts those enrolled in Virginia higher education institutions or who are residents of the commonwealth. Students must excel in academics, demonstrate leadership skills, and participate in extracurricular activities and community service. Read More >
Researcher Focuses on Succession, Employee Management in Government Agencies
Strategic succession management, so important in the business world, is also critical within government agencies and other nonprofit organizations. Sponsored research projects through the College of Architecture and Urban Studies (CAUS) are addressing these key issues and making a lasting impact on state government and beyond. Read More >
Meet an Alum: Jessica Agnew
Planning, Governance, and Globalization (PGG) alumna, Jessica Agnew, has six years of experience working in market-based approaches to nutrition and food security in an international context. Her research and on-the-ground experience has involved improving the competitiveness and commercial viability of small and medium-sized enterprises that sell nutritious foods to low-income populations, as well as identifying ways that the market can contribute to improvements in nutritional status more generally. Read more >
Professorial Promotions
The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors met on June 8, 2021, to approve faculty promotions and tenure. SPIA is happy to announce that two of our faculty members were among those recently promoted. Read more >