The School of Public Policy celebrated 124 Maryland public officials who completed the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance during a September 27 graduation ceremony. The Academy provides municipal and county officials with practical knowledge to support their work in local government. Participants complete core and elective courses addressing issues they encounter in public service, including ethical standards and effective governance.
The program is designed to deepen participants’ understanding of local government while strengthening the knowledge and skills that inform policymaking and help public institutions better serve their communities.
“I believe very strongly in the role a great public university can play in public life,” said Dean Gustavo Flores-Macías. “One of the things that has become increasingly important to me is making sure that our School is just as deeply connected to the State of Maryland and to the communities across it. And there is probably no better illustration of that connection than the Academy.”
We don't want simply to study public institutions; we want to work alongside them.Gustavo Flores-Macías Dean, University of Maryland School of Public Policy
“The Academy reflects what we want the School of Public Policy to be,” added Flores-Macías. “We don't want simply to study public institutions; we want to work alongside them.”
The Academy is a partnership among the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, the Maryland Municipal League, the Maryland Association of Counties and the Local Government Insurance Trust, supporting professional development for local government officials across Maryland.
