Wichita State University Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs

Earlier this week HWS faculty met to prep for the fall semester. Here's to the start of another great year!

We are excited to share that Dr. David Guo, Hugo Wall School Regents Distinguished Professor of Public Finance, has been elected the 2025 Vice Chair by the Association for Budgeting & Financial Management (ABFM). 🎉This is a momentous accomplishment for Dr. Guo, who will also serve as Chair-Elect and conference chair in 2026 and as Chair in 2027. 🌟 Congratulations, Dr. Guo! 🌟

The Association for Budgeting and Financial Management is a section of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA). ABFM aims to promote the professional development of budgeting and financial management in the public and non-profit sectors.

We are excited to share that Dr. David Guo, Hugo Wall School Regents Distinguished Professor of Public Finance, has been elected the 2025 Vice Chair by the Association for Budgeting & Financial Management (ABFM). 🎉 This is a momentous accomplishment for Dr. Guo, who will also serve as Chair-Elect and conference chair in 2026 and as Chair in 2027. 🌟 Congratulations, Dr. Guo! 🌟

The Association for Budgeting and Financial Management (ABFM) is a section of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA). ABFM aims to promote the professional development of budgeting and financial management in the public and non-profit sectors.

🌟 Congratulations to Hugo Wall School alum Kyle Fiedler on his new role as the Community Development Director at the City of Valley Center. 👏

Valley Center Hires Kyle Fiedler as New Community Development Director!

For More Information
https://www.valleycenterks.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=861

🌟 Hugo Wall School alum Daniela Rivas shares her path to leadership, her goals for Latina representation in public service, and the story of her parent’s journey to the U.S. in this interview with KMUW. 🙌

Latinas are underrepresented in city management. Daniela Rivas wants to see – and be – that change. Rivas was hired as Newton's city manager in January, after working throughout south-central and southeast Kansas. She’s a graduate of Wichita State University.

📢 Exciting News! 🎉 The Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs proudly welcomes Dr. Stephanie Newbold as its new director. Dr. Newbold is an internationally recognized scholar in public administration, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role.

"I am deeply honored and incredibly excited to join the Hugo Wall School community as its next director,” Newbold says. “The Hugo Wall School is filled with vibrant energy focused on educating the next generation of public servants with the knowledge, skills, and capacities to make meaningful impacts in communities across Kansas and throughout the country. I look forward to building upon this most excellent legacy and working to advance the mission and values of this distinguished program."

🌟Please help us welcome Dr. Newbold to Wichita State and the ! 🎓

Yesterday, we celebrated Page Achilles at the City of McPherson Local Government Commission's Meeting for completing her MiniMPA certificate. Congratulations, Page, on your momentous achievement! 👏

👏 Congratulations to our MiniMPA graduates who received certificates from Sedgwick County Government! This recognition of your hard work and dedication is well-deserved.

Pictured below are our MiniMPA graduates with the council commissioners, Sedgwick County Manager Tom Stolz, Hugo Wall School Interim Director Dr. David Guo, and MiniMPA Coordinator Dr. Mercy O. Umeri.

🎓🌟 Congratulations to our MiniMPA graduates! 🌟🎓 This week City of Wichita- Government presented certificates to each of our MiniMPA 2024 participants. Special thanks to Wichita Mayor Lily Wu and council members for their support. Wishing all our students a bright future after completing this momentous achievement! 🎉👏

If you are a local government or nonprofit professional ready to assume the next level of responsibility in your career, learn more about our MiniMPA™ program by visiting www.wichita.edu/miniMPA or contacting Dr. Umeri at [email protected].

🎓 Nathaniel completed his Master of Public Administration degree online. He says his studies at Hugo Wall School helped him advance his career and excel on tasks integral to his work, like grant budgeting.

“I have really enjoyed my time at WSU for many reasons, but the main one was class sizes. I really enjoyed having extra support from my professors,” Nathaniel says.

Nathaniel works at Alvis, Inc. as the Program Director for the Reentry Center, a 100% grant-funded workforce development center in Columbus, Ohio. With his MPA, he aspires to further his growth in the organization and secure a senior management role.

Congrats Nathaniel! 🥳 Best wishes for your next chapter! 📖

🎓 Mike completed the MPA program with certificates in Economic Development and Public Finance. He particularly enjoyed Phil Nelson’s “Planning Process” course during his studies.

Mike is the Director of Communications at Krucial Rapid Response, an Overland Park-based non-profit that provides medical personnel and resources to communities nationwide, primarily in natural disaster circumstances. After graduating, Mike plans to continue his work in the nonprofit sector.

Congratulations Mike! 🎉 Best wishes for your future!

🎓 After James finished his undergraduate degree at Kansas City Community College, he spent the next decade exploring opportunities in fundraising, strategic communications, operations, and campaign management. All those experiences had one thing in common: a connection to public service and a desire to contribute solutions to the challenges we face as a community.

James was eager to explore and understand the technical knowledge that informed policy-making, management, and public service when he entered the Hugo Wall School MPA program.

“My professors and instructors helped connect me with like-minded people, introducing me to the many ways public administration is practiced,” said James. “I am grateful for the experiences I gained in classes with talented, dedicated people who bring diverse perspectives and backgrounds to the classroom. They made me proud to be a part of the future of public service.”

James is a Strategic Initiatives Manager at the WSU Public Policy and Management Center. 👏Well done, James! 👏 We are happy to be a part of your journey and know you will leverage your passion for public service to significantly impact the communities you serve!

🎓 Lizeth Ortega graduated with her MPA and certificate in Economic Development. While at Hugo Wall School, she became interested in studying sustainable urban development topics.

She works at the City of Wichita- Government as a Senior Environmental Specialist, where she helps the city focus on environmental goals. She looks forward to growing in her role with the city after earning her Master of Public Administration degree.

🎉Congratulations on your achievement, Lizeth, and thank you for your invaluable work that has made Wichita a healthier, greener place for all to enjoy! 🌱

🎓 Ryan is one of our outstanding spring 2024 graduates. In addition to earning his Master of Public Administration degree, Ryan earned four certificates in City/County Management, Nonprofit Management, Public Finance, and Economic Development. Ryan also served as a graduate research assistant for the Wichita State University Environmental Finance Center.

During school, Ryan was employed by the City of Bellingham, Washington - Government in the Public Works Department Development Section. After graduation, Ryan will become the Water Department Director for the Nooksack Indian Tribe.

One of the things that Ryan appreciated most about his time at the Hugo Wall School was the collaboration and relationships that were built with his classmates and peers, as well as the interactions and guidance from WSU employees such as Bethany Kennedy and faculty such as Dr. Ruowen Shen, whose service and guidance were instrumental to his success.

Way to go, Ryan! 🎉 We are so proud of your achievements and look forward to following the next steps in your career! 👏

🎓 As a former foster child, Shylee decided to use her education and experiences working in child welfare. After years of direct service, she decided to enter the MPA program with an interest in nonprofit management to expand her impact. Shylee completed her MPA with certificates in Nonprofit Management and Public Finance. She also represented the Hugo Wall School in the 2024 NASPAA Student Simulation. She plans to use her education to manage nonprofits and lead initiatives that uplift the disadvantaged and foster positive change to contribute to a brighter, more equitable world.

🥳 Congratulations Shylee! Wishing you all the best as you continue to make a meaningful impact on the world. Keep up the fantastic work! 🎓🌟

🎓 Travis graduated with his MPA in Nonprofit Management and Public Finance. His interest in public administration focused on nonprofit management and public trust. He is currently the Assistant Director at the Upward Bound Wichita Prep program. He plans to advance his career to ultimately become the director of a non-profit aiding low-income and first-generation students.

“My most-valued classroom experience at Hugo Wall School involved collaborating with capable peers and gaining insights applicable to my career,” says Travis.

🎉Congratulations, Travis! We can’t wait to see you continue your career journey.

🎓 Margy Clem graduated with her MPA and earned certificates in Economic Development and City-County Management. Her long-term goal is to progress to an upper management role in local government after gaining experience in economic development.

"My most valuable classroom experiences at the Hugo Wall School involved learning from working professionals who shared practical advice and insights from their careers," Margy says.

🙌 Margy was promoted to Deputy Director of Community & Development Services at the City of Salina, KS Government in January 2024. 🙌 Congratulations, Margy! We wish you and your fellow grads all the best in the next chapter, and we are happy you will remain close by to keep in touch!

🎓 Salman graduated from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and then worked with a2i - Aspire to Innovate, a pioneering initiative in Bangladesh focusing on digitalizing government services. Later, he joined the Hugo Wall School as a Graduate Research Assistant for Dr. David Guo. He participated in various research projects and presented collaborative research on Public Finance and Budgeting at conferences like the World Social Science Association and the Association for Budgeting & Financial Management.

"Throughout my time at the Hugo Wall School, I have experienced several impactful classroom moments and enjoyed classes that blend real-world experiences with academic rigor. I particularly enjoyed classes related to public finance, budgeting, and methodology. For my capstone project, I collaborated with classmates on a group project addressing homelessness in Wichita/Sedgwick County," Salman said.

Salman graduated with an MPA and a certificate in Public Finance. Salman plans to pursue a Doctoral Degree in Public Policy focusing on Public Finance and Budgeting at the University of Maryland, College Park.

🎉 Congratulations Salman! We wish you and your fellow grads the best of luck in your future endeavors.

🎓 Congratulations to all 31 students who completed the MiniMPA 2024 session! 🎉 Today, the students completed their final assignment by presenting their capstone projects.

Our class represented various cities and counties across the state, including Valley Center, Hesston, Wichita, Belle Plaine, Maize, Sedgwick County, McPherson, and Dodge City. Throughout the 16-week program, the students received guidance from 16 talented facilitators who are experts in local government subjects such as budgeting, communication, human resources, strategic planning, utility management, and more!

We are proud of how our MiniMPA students have grown and excelled throughout the semester, and we wish all our students the best of luck in their future careers! If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the MiniMPA program next year, please visit www.wichita.edu/MiniMPA for more information!

🥳 We take pride in the exceptional faculty, staff, students, and alums that distinguish our program among the best. Our graduate program has been ranked near the top third of all public affairs graduate school programs in the United States by U.S. News & World Report for the 2024-2025 academic year. 🏆 We emerged in 99th position, moving up from 118th place last year. Additionally, the public affairs program’s specialty area of public finance and budgeting has been ranked 27th in the country. Our program is ranked second in Kansas, and 18th in the Midwest.
Read more: https://bit.ly/HWS100

Our MiniMPA students got an interactive field trip to tour NetApp Wichita, a local software company specializing in innovative cloud storage solutions and intelligent data infrastructure. The tour was led by NetApp's Business Services Program Manager for Workplace Experience, Katie Dawes, a Hugo Wall School alum! She presented NetApp's services for local and international clients during the tour. NetApp is highly engaged in the Wichita community and provides many hands-on learning experiences for Wichita State students. NetApp is located on Wichita State’s innovation campus and has a public cafeteria that can be enjoyed for breakfast and lunch; check it out sometime!

Our MiniMPA class got the opportunity to tour the Sedgwick County Government Emergency Management Center, including the 911 dispatch center, and it was an eye-opening experience! They got to hear a presentation by the Director of the Center, Julie Stimson, and learned about the amazing work they do behind the scenes to prepare for disasters and hazards. Seeing their dedication to building, sustaining, and improving Sedgwick County's capabilities in disaster prevention and response was inspiring.

Want to learn more about applying for a Community Development Block Grant?

Kansas Department of Commerce CDBG team is touring the state to provide opportunities to discuss the types of projects funded, eligibility, and requirements for successful applications in these areas: Youth Job Training, Early Child Education and Care Facilities, Community Facilities and Services (parks, libraries, sidewalks, and trails), and Architectural Barrier Removal (making buildings accessible). There will be time for project planning discussions and questions with Commerce staff and staff from regional planning agencies. Find an upcoming road show near you!

CDBG Roadshow 2023 The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Roadshow allows the Department of Commerce to promote new and exciting funding options that are available, connect community partners with resources needed to support a successful CDBG application, discuss potential barriers for application and work towar...

➡️ Hugo Wall alums on the move! In case you missed it, Ty Lasher, City Manager of Bel Aire, will retire this March. Ted Henry was chosen as Ty's successor and will begin his new role in April. According to Lasher, "Bel Aire is in a great place with a bright future. I felt it was time to step aside and allow someone with new energy and ideas to lead the community into the future."

Ty has served in local government for over 35 years, 17 years as City Manager of Bel Aire. Ted Henry joined Bel Aire in 2016 as the Finance Director and has since handled IT, HR, finance, and has been the Assistant City Manager for the past three years. Let's congratulate both Hugo Wall alums on their professional advancements. 👏🎉 City of Bel Aire - Government

There is a new job opportunity with the Heartland Environmental Justice Center located within the Wichita State University Environmental Finance Center at the Hugo Wall School. Looking for a candidate with grant writing experience to work with communities, municipalities, and nonprofits on environmental and energy justice topics. Learn more: https://heartlandej.org/careers

Dr. Mercy Umeri took five graduate research assistants to attend the Kansas Association of City/County Management (KACM) Conference in Dodge City. They had a wonderful and valuable time learning from and networking with many city leaders from across the state. We also ran into some alums! (And yes, we traveled all the way from Wichita in that covered wagon...now that's Shockers arriving in style...😄) Dodge City Convention & Visitors Bureau of Dodge City - Government

➡️ Hugo Wall grad on the move! We are very proud to share that alum Daniela Rivas has been appointed Newton’s new city manager. 👏👏👏

Daniela Rivas has been appointed Newton’s new city manager. The City Commission approved her contract Tuesday evening.

“We were blessed to have several excellent candidates,” Mayor Leroy Koehn said. “Daniela rose to the top of our list with her experience in local government administration and finance and her obvious passion for public service. We think she will be a great fit for our community and a wonderful leader for the organization.”

MORE: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/KSNEWT/bulletins/37af05c