The Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs

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Creating Futures: Preparing Leaders and Pursuing Ideas to Transform the World

In a time when the responsibilities of the public, nonprofit, and private sectors no longer have distinct boundaries, our society demands innovative thinkers and highly skilled communicators to achieve successful cross-sector collaborations.

The Evans School plays a leading role in improving the quality of public and nonprofit service. The School is the pre-eminent school of public policy and management in the Northwest--and in the top tier nationally--because every member of our community is selected for his or her capacity to aspire to new heights, lead people, and, ultimately, transform communities. These exceptional individuals, in turn, lend their talents to help vitalize our region's economy.

By bringing together scholars of national and international prominence, we help our students learn about public policy issues that impact all our lives. As part of one of the world's premier research universities, we leverage the strengths that the University of Washington offers for interdisciplinary education and research. Our graduates go on to lead public, private and nonprofit organizations both here and abroad where they shape policies that improve: how we steward our urban and natural environments, how we educate our children, how we deliver services to those in need, how we engage in international affairs, and much more.

Driven by a commitment to serve the common good, we measure our successes by our ability to find real solutions to real problems. To continue this tradition of excellence, and to meet the challenges of the future, the Evans School must make a significant investment today in our programs and our people.

The Evans School has launched an eight-year comprehensive campaign to raise private gifts and grants from alumni and friends. This campaign goal includes a high priority to raise $10 million for new endowed graduate fellowships and endowed professorships and chairs.

Student Support

As graduate tuition continues to rise, graduate fellowships have become increasingly important for providing opportunities to the next generation of students. To continue the Evans School's long-held tradition of excellence, and to attain our vision for the future, we need the resources to recruit the best and brightest students. To accomplish this, the School seeks private support for:

• 10 Endowed Graduate Fellowships
• Goal: $4 million

Distributions from the endowed fellowships allow the School to offer more competitive recruitment awards that attract the best and brightest students and provide opportunities for students who might not otherwise be able to attend the Evans School. Graduate fellowships enable Evans School students to focus on their education, lessening the anxiety of enormous debt or frenzied work schedules.

Faculty Support

Our faculty carry on the tasks central to an educational institution - teaching the next generation of leaders, thinking hard about big, tough public policy issues, and using new knowledge to serve the common good. As state support continues to dwindle, it has become increasingly difficult to attract, retain and reward quality faculty. To address this need, the School is seeking:

• 5 Endowed Chairs and Professorships
• Goal: $6 million

Distributions from the endowments enable the School to offer competitive salaries, support research, travel, hire research assistants, and publish-all deepening the quality of research and teaching at the school.

Annual Support

The Evans School of Public Affairs serves our region and the world by training the next generation of leaders in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. With your support, we are redefining excellence and leadership in the public interest, and have both the strategy and support to carry this further:

• The Evans School is now ranked 14th in the nation. We leapt an unprecedented twelve places to be ranked 14th in the nation among schools of public affairs by US News and World Report. We're also tied for a sixth place ranking among public schools of public affairs. This brings us closer to our goal of becoming the number one public school of public affairs in America.
• Increased summer internship funding for our students. This summer 14 students pursued unpaid or low-paying internship opportunities because of fellowship support. These Master of Public Administration (MPA) students spent their summers in places like Kenya, Seattle, Peru, and Washington, D.C.
• The Evans School's new Speaker Series commences a busy schedule of events. This fall it will feature Orin Smith on October 6, 2008. Smith's career bridged the public and private sectors - he retired as CEO of Starbucks, and served as chief policy and budget officer for two Washington state governors. Additional alumni receptions will be held across the country throughout the winter.

The Evans School of Public Affairs strives to create innovative learning opportunities and real-world experiences for its students. However, without the help of our alumni and friends, many students would not be able to afford to continue their education. Scholarships make a real difference in the lives of students like these:

• Jessica Avina feels her generation faces "overwhelming environmental challenges, but also incredible opportunities for change and innovation." She plans to work for a small nonprofit promoting environmental education after completing her Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Evans School. Because of graduate fellowship funding, Jessica has been able to concentrate on her studies and accept an unpaid internship with a local nonprofit. As a student, Jessica has become more aware of opportunities for government and private industry to combat global climate change.
• Kyle Shoecraft's interest in pursuing a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree began while working in the Seattle Fire Department's Fire Marshal's Office. There he witnessed the impact the Fire Marshal's Office has on local businesses and new construction, particularly where there are "special hazards." "Receiving the fellowship lifted the monetary burden of tuition," said Kyle, "but to leave it at that would be a disservice, because receiving the award was more like a shot of confidence." The Evans School provides Kyle with tools to identify solutions and opportunities to address needs he sees in the workplace.
• Michael Xenakis enjoyed his involvement with nonprofits through volunteering and board service and chose to pursue a graduate degree at the Evans School and transition to a new career after 11 years as a software engineering consultant. He plans to use his consulting experience to provide strategic, organizational management and leadership expertise to nonprofit organizations after completing his Master of Public Administration (MPA). As a fellowship recipient, Michael was able to focus on his studies and accept an unpaid internship with a local foundation. Michael says, "fellowship funding has been invaluable and I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue this new direction."

You can help make more success stories like these possible by making a gift. Your generosity will have a profound impact on the lives of students and faculty, rewarding them for their accomplishments and helping them realize their aspirations.

Recognition Levels

The President's Club ($2,000+)
Dean's Circle ($1,000+)
Dean's Club ($500+)

Contact Information

For more information about helping the Evans School achieve its campaign goals, please contact:

Lynn E. Wetzler
Assistant Director of Development & Alumni Relations
Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs
Box 353055
Seattle, WA 98195-3055
206.685.2882

More Information

For more information on the Evans School, visit our web site at http://www.evans.washington.edu.