SPAA Alumni Launch Networking Opportunities

School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) alumni, faculty, staff, students, and administrators gathered at the inaugural event for the SPAA Alumni Network (SPAAAN) on February 16, 2011, in Newark, NJ. SPAAAN, one of the RUAA’s  chartered alumni organizations, was created in 2008 to enhance the professional growth of alumni and students through networking, community engagement, and mentoring. About 75 people attended the inaugural celebration, at which Newark Mayor Cory Booker delivered an inspirational speech, “Managing in Difficult Times.” Rutgers–Newark Chancellor Steven J. Diner, SPAA Dean Marc Holzer, Professor Robert Shick, and Director of Development Nicole Altneu also gave brief remarks during the ceremony. The future is bold and bright for SPAAAN, which plans to hold biannual events for alumni, including a mentoring program. Visit SPAAAN on LinkedIn for updates.

The alumni pictured are members of the SPAAAN Steering Committee, which is organizing the launch of SPAAAN and working to elect officers for next fall. Pictured (back row, L to R) are Rutgers–Newark Chancellor Steven J. Diner; Kim Greene SPAA’10; Newark Mayor Cory Booker; Michael Dortu SPAA’07, GSN’10; Zahara Wadud-Pinkett SPAA’09; (front row, L to R) Janet Arias SPAA’10; and Jane Sharp SPAA’10.