On January 31, the University of Maryland School of Public Policy hosted an appreciation reception in the House of Delegates Building in downtown Annapolis, Md., for policy alumni working in state and local government. The event was attended by alumni, elected officials, current students, staff, faculty and friends of the school.
SPP Dean Robert C. Orr addressed the importance of the event, saying, “Why are we having this event in Annapolis? Because this is where the action is.” He also thanked the alumni in the room for representing the school well as they work to change the world. Orr went on to thank Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. for his support of the School of Public Policy.
Director of the Maryland Governor’s Office of Performance Improvement Mike Morello also spoke to attendees about his experience working with SPP graduate students in his office and the importance of SPP’s Maryland Gateway Initiative, through which SPP provides hands-on education on state government operations through research, internships and graduate assistantships.
Maryland State Delegate and SPP Alumnus Jazz Lewis also attended the event and made remarks to the attendees. “I think it’s so important for SPP to host events like this to highlight the program to the state and build linkages between the school and its elected leadership,” he said. “I would encourage more current students and alumni to attend events like these. It is a great opportunity to reconnect with the school, potentially connect with a future employer, and an opportunity to share what skills alumni gained after the program that might inform the current program.”
“I just want to thank Dean Orr for taking the time to organize this event and bring the faculty to Annapolis,” Lewis added. “The faculty is a dream team of experts that could provide great advice and counsel to legislators and committee staff on major issues affecting the state.”
You can view photos from the event on the SPP Flickr account.