End-of-Year Awards, Spring 2021

Barry Bluestone “Think and Do” Award
The Barry Bluestone “Think and Do” Award recognizes the Capstone project that embodies our ideal of timely, evidence-based, policy-focused research that addresses an important problem for a client with an intent of positive social change.

Fall 2020 | Policies to Ameliorate the Impact of Student Off-campus Housing on Roxbury’s Housing
Client: The American City Coalition
Team Members: Elizabeth Biskar, Helen Hemley, Dylan Ricker, Lin Zhai
Spring 2021 | Assessing the Feasibility of an Unarmed Emergency Response Unit in Lynn, MA
Client: New Lynn Coalition
Team Members: Georgia Hamilton and James English

Graduate Student Leadership Award
The Graduate Student Leadership Award is given to a student who demonstrates not only the desire to build a strong community among SPPUA students, but also the will to follow through on that desire. –

Meghan Ryan, Master of Public Policy

Community Impact Award
The Community Impact Award is given to a student who demonstrates a deep commitment to partnering with others to address community issues and thereby bring about transformative change.

Mehrnaz Amiri, MS in Urban Informatics
Delorean Sheridan, Master of Public Administration
Sebastian Zapata, MS in Urban Planning and Policy

Outstanding Academic Performance Award
The Outstanding Academic Performance Award is given to the graduate (Master’s or PhD) with the highest GPA.

Jillian Jacobson, MA in International Affairs
Yuan Ji, Master of Public Administration
Christopher Klem, MS in Urban Planning and Policy
Dylan Ricker, Master of Public Policy
Xin Shu, MS in Urban Informatics

School Spirit Award
The School Spirit Award recognizes a student who with their academic achievements, outstanding service to the University and larger community, and commitment to putting research into practice embodies the SPPUA spirit.