The University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs (SPA) is proud to announce that Assistant Professor Felipe Blanco has received the 2026 NASPAA Social Justice Curriculum Award, a national honor recognizing excellence in integrating social justice principles into public service education.

Blanco was recognized at the 2026 NASPAA Global Conference, held Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 in Seattle, Washington. Presented by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the award honors a faculty member or faculty team whose innovative approach to teaching equips future public servants with the knowledge and skills needed to advance equity and substantive equality while addressing complex societal challenges.

"I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from NASPAA," said Blanco. "Public service education plays an important role in preparing future leaders to address complex challenges and serve increasingly diverse communities. My goal is to help students understand how principles of fairness and justice can inform public decision-making and strengthen public institutions, ultimately increasing substantive equality for everyone. I'm grateful to see that work recognized through this award."

Award-Winning Course Centers Equity in Public Service

Blanco received the honor for his work in PUAD 5001: Introduction to Public Administration and Public Service, a foundational course in the Master of Public Administration curriculum that introduces students to the field of public administration and the values that underpin public service. The course uses a social equity lens to help students critically examine how government actions affect different populations and how public institutions can advance fairness and justice for all.

Students in PUAD 5001 examine topics such as the constitutional, democratic, and cultural foundations of government, intergovernmental and intersectoral relationships, and public service delivery. To help students develop and apply an equity perspective across these areas, Blanco integrates scholarship focused on social equity in areas like representative bureaucracy, civic engagement, and public budgeting, among other topics throughout the curriculum.

Connecting Theory to Real-World Challenges

In PUAD 5001, students explore contemporary and historical case studies that demonstrate the ways public policies and institutions can reinforce or reduce inequalities. Class discussions examine issues such as the Flint water crisis, the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on affirmative action, and the evolving role and limits of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in public service.

The course also brings students into conversation with leading scholars and practitioners working to advance equity. Guest speakers have included experts in civic engagement, participatory budgeting, and equity-centered auditing, while students have opportunities to engage with nationally recognized public administration scholars through School of Public Affairs events and lectures.

“Dr. Blanco was able to cultivate an interactive and creative environment where important texts were combined with weekly guest speakers who could breathe life into the breadth of public administration,” said PUAD 5001 student Julia Stone.

Teaching That Makes an Impact

Students frequently point to the course's emphasis on equity as one of its most impactful features. Through critical discussions, applied projects, and engagement with practitioners, students develop what many describe as an "equity lens" that shapes how they approach public service and public policy work long after they leave the classroom.

“I enrolled in Introduction to Public Administration with Professor Felipe Blanco, a class that truly challenged me to think critically about social equity in government,” said PUAD 5001 student Any Chacon. “Equity is no longer just a concept to me; it lives in me and guides my daily work as a government employee.”

A Scholar Focused on Equity and Public Policy

A nationally recognized scholar, Blanco examines how ethnoracial inequalities are produced, reinforced, and addressed through public organizations and public policies. His research areas include social equity, representative bureaucracy, race and ethnicity in public administration, comparative public administration, and comparative public policy.

Before earning his PhD, Blanco worked extensively in academia and the public sector in both the United States and Mexico. His professional experience includes community organizing, research, consulting, and teaching in public administration and public policy.

Continuing a Tradition of Excellence

NASPAA previously recognized Blanco's contributions to the field in 2022, one of several honors he has received throughout his career. His numerous honors also include the NASPAA Staats Emerging Scholar Award, the American Society for Public Administration Founders' Fellowship, and recognition as one of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education's 2021 Diverse Rising Graduate Scholars.

“We are so fortunate that Felipe is on our faculty,” said Mary E. Guy, University of Colorado Denver Distinguished Professor at the School of Public Affairs. “His scholarship advances the School's mission to teach about good governance. Using equity and fairness as foundational concepts, his teaching is transformative, inspiring our students to critically assess the way things are and to see ways to improve. His dedication to rigorous inquiry and mentorship exemplify the highest standards of excellence.”

Advancing Equity Through Public Service Education

Through courses like PUAD 5001, Blanco is helping prepare the next generation of public servants to address complex societal challenges while centering fairness, inclusion, and equity in their work.

SPA at NASPAA: SPA's Mary E. Guy, Felipe Blanco, and Wendy Bolyard with Stephanie Newbold (Wichita State University, American Review of Public Administration) at 2026 NASPAA Global Conference. (Photos courtesy of NASPAA)