The SPA PhD Student Association (SPAPSA), along with sponsorship from SPA, the Student Government Association (SGA), and the Graduate School, is hosting its 6^th annual Prominent Public Affairs Scholar event. The Prominent Scholar Series exposes students to cutting-edge public affairs theory and research and facilitates networking to link students to ‘up and coming’ scholars in the most prestigious contemporary policy and public administration departments.

This year’s Prominent Public Affairs Scholar Series award winner is Dr. Amanda Rutherford, Assistant Professor at Indiana University Bloomington’s O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Her research interests include the following areas: managerial values and decision making, performance management, organization theory, representative bureaucracy, higher education policy, and research methodology. Dr. Rutherford has also published prolifically in high-impact academic journals. The two-day April event includes a welcome dinner with students on the first day (Thursday, 4/25) and student paper workshops, Dr. Rutherford’s research presentation, one-on-one meetings with Dr. Rutherford, and an award dinner on the second day (Friday, 4/26).