Metropolitan College of New York MPA Student Receives ASPA National Scholarship

New York, March 4, 2012 — MPA student Tywan Mata was one of two national recipients of the national Section on Professional and Organizational Development (SPOD), American Society of Public Administration’s annual scholarship. The national conference took place from March 3 to  March 6, 2012 in Las Vegas Nevada.

Mr. Mata is the fourth MCNY recipient of this national award. Pictured in the attached photo (left to right) are: Dr. Philip M. Dodd-Nufrio, MCNY; Tywan Mata, MCNY; Dr. Gigi Harris of Portland State University and  SPOD Chair; Captain David A. Moran, USMC; Dr. Cynthia Lynch and Dr. Pamela Ransom, MCNY.

Each year, the Section on Professional and Organizational Development (SPOD) confers at least two (2) scholarships to the most deserving doctoral and master level students who are actively

enrolled in the study of public affairs, public administration, public policy or public service at accredited institutions of higher learning. The scholarship money is used to defray the costs of student attendance at the national ASPA conference. President Vinton Thompson’s office also contributed funds to cover Mr. Mata’s expenses.

The SPOD scholarship is designed to help facilitate learning to advance students’ academic work and interests in finding solutions to public organizational challenges. The scholarship is also  intended to introduce students to the work of ASPA and SPOD and to serve as a conduit for encouraging students to become involved in the various activities of  ASPA and the Section.

Mr. Tywan was also a student volunteer at the national conference. He and Dr. Ransom plan to  co-author a paper to be submitted,  with other national conference attending PA students, as  part of an initiative to publish student papers in the peer-reviewed journal Public Administration Quarterly. Mr. Mata’s paper is based on his current Constructive Action.

Students wishing to inquire on the 2013 award and nomination process should contact Dr. Nufrio at Pnufrio@metropolitan.edu. The 2013 conference will be held in March, 2013 in New Orleans LA.