Public Policy & Society

Public policy is the language used to formalize a society’s priorities and commitments to its members. The School of Public Affairs faculty conduct research in a wide range of substantive policy areas, such as education, health, and urban policy, as well as the social impacts of policies on marginalized populations and the nature of the policy process itself in a democratic society.


Latest News About Public Policy & Society


Alumni Stories

Our School of Public Affairs alumni make a huge impact in Colorado and beyond! Read their stories.


  • Six Questions for MPA ’09 Alum Melanie Lewis Dickerson, Director at Community Solutions

    Jan 31, 2024 by Ellen Patterson
    As a Director at Community Solutions, Melanie works directly with communities and partners to build and improve systems to end homelessness using data, quality improvement and problem-solving tools from multiple sectors. She is a leader on the Built for Zero team, where she oversees a portfolio of large-scale change partnerships and social impact investments in the United States and abroad. Prior to joining Community Solutions in 2014, Melanie spent six years with the City and County of Denver where she served as the Partnerships Manager for Denver’s Road Home, focusing on policy development, regional collaboration and strategic partnerships.
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  • Six Questions for MPA ’22 Alum Deena Duwaik, Language Access Planner at the Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships, City and County of Denver

    Jan 24, 2024 by Ellen Patterson
    Over the past decade, Deena Duwaik’s unwavering commitment has been directed towards serving diverse communities, spanning regions across the globe – Jordan, Morocco, Thailand, and Kenya. Coming from a family of Palestinian refugees, Deena has a special place in her heart for immigrant and refugee communities that feeds her passion for this work. In her current role with the Human Rights and Community Partnerships Agency at the City and County of Denver, Deena is dedicated to supporting government entities in cultivating the most inclusive and accessible processes for their programs. This involves navigating the intricate web of policies to ensure that services effectively reach and serve diverse community members.
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  • Alaina McWhorter headshot (1)

    Six Questions for SPA Alum Alaina McWhorter, Special Projects Manager at the Denver Department of Parks and Recreation

    Dec 6, 2023 by Ellen Patterson
    Thanks to her credentials from CU Denver as a Master of Public Administration and Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP), Alaina McWhorter catapulted her public service career from an entry- to mid-level financial analyst to a government affairs specialist advising executive leadership at the State Legislature, the City and County of Denver, and numerous nonprofit partners on best practices to achieve policy goals and program outcomes.
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  • Tracy Altman headshot

    Six Questions for SPA Alum Tracy Altman, Founder and Executive Director at Museum of AI

    Nov 8, 2023 by Ellen Patterson
    PhD in Public Affairs alumna Tracy Altman is the founder and Executive Director at Museum of AI, which produces immersive experiences and informal learning programs about artificial intelligence. Their mission is to explain AI so people are aware of its potential and pitfalls, and can apply it in their work and daily lives. Besides algorithms, they emphasize creative uses, decision making, public policy, and ethical considerations. They aim to improve technology learning through experience design.
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