New research by Katherine Willoughby, Andrew Grandage, Robert Hines & Mathew Hauer: What drives local governments to plan for sea level rise?.💸Financial resources.👥Population size.🌎Future risk.🗳️Political leanings shape how much they plan. 📖Read here:

Georgia’s Pre-K program gives kids a strong start, but a UGA study finds the academic boost fades by 4th grade. The biggest impact is on low-income students, helping close early gaps. Experts say the challenge is sustaining these gains past early childhood

🗳️ New Research Alert!. Dr. Shane Singh finds that compulsory voting boosts men’s turnout more than women’s—challenging past assumptions. Read more:

Congrats to SPIA’s Harrison P. Frye for winning the 2025 Russell Award for Excellence in Undergrad Teaching! Known for fostering open debate & critical thinking, he’s making a lasting impact on students.

UGA is redefining education! With active learning, SPIA students become problem-solvers & leaders through real-world simulations & interactive experiences. Shaping the next generation of thinkers!

New research from Dr. Inkyu Kang & Su Young Choi finds that allocating law enforcement revenues to local nonprofits can reduce budgetary self-interest, boost public trust, and benefit communities—while preserving fines as an enforcement tool.

SPIA’s PADP program, ranked among the top 10 for 20+ years, equips students with practical skills in public service. Alumni like Lauren Curry and Aashna Monga thrive thanks to mentorship, real-world experience, and strong faculty support. @ugapadp

AI's growing role in communications poses ethical threats like misinformation, bias, and privacy violations. A new study co-authored by SPIA undergraduate Anna Rachwalski highlights the need for strategies to manage AI risks and improve transparency in crisis management.

Congratulations to Kellie Brownlow (MPA '00) on her appointment to the Board of Corrections.

RT @SPIADean: Congratulations to Courtney Dove on her appointment to the State Board of Education!

New study from Dr. Anastasopoulos & Dr. Kang introduces a framework for understanding how causal effects evolve over time in public admin research, focusing on interventions like leadership training & tech adoption. It uses Bayesian Changepoint Models to analyze treatment effects.

UGA’s Institute for AI has awarded its first interdisciplinary seed grants to 4 projects advancing AI research. The initiative fosters collaboration across fields, building on 40 years of progress. Congrats to Andrew Whitford, Jason Anastasopoulos, and Gregory Porumbescu!

New research from @DrZeemering shows that municipal associations and universities can collaborate to create service-learning opportunities, linking students with local government careers. Strong communication, clear entry points, and faculty engagement are key.

New study by Dr. Kang in PAR examines body-worn cameras (BWCs) & police arrests. Analyzing data from 697 U.S. agencies (2008–2019), researchers found BWCs didn’t impact overall arrests but influenced officer discretion, shaping police decision-making & enforcement.

Join us on Wednesday, February 19 at 6 p.m. for a special screening of Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid. Afterwards, James Carville and director Matt Tyrnauer will participate in an exclusive Q&A session. Registration is required:

Dean Matthew Auer warns that rising insurance costs are driven by natural disasters, higher reinsurance costs, and construction price hikes. He predicts continued rate increases and insurers pulling out of California due to wildfire losses.

New research, co-authored by Dr. Willoughby, explores how US state & local governments are using budget actions to promote social equity, especially for marginalized groups, & offers recommendations for folding equity into budgeting processes to support broader societal goals.

RT @universityofga: The COVID-19 pandemic panic that characterized the early 2020s may be gone. But the SARS-CoV-2 virus is continuing to w….

Dr. Z is quoted in an article discussing Clean Energy Columbus, a grassroots group advocating for the city of Columbus to adopt a 100% clean energy resolution by 2035. He emphasizes the importance of public support in driving sustainability initiatives.

A University of Georgia study shows long COVID worsens financial struggles, especially for low-income Americans, causing food insecurity, unpaid bills, and utility shutoffs due to job loss, reduced hours, and fewer savings or remote work options.