In 2024, Lauren Curry MPA ’99 made history as the first female chief of staff in the Georgia governor’s office. Just two decades before, however, she was a recent college graduate looking for a master’s program.
Lauren Curry made history in 2024 as the first female chief of staff for the state of Georgia. She works for the office of the governor in Atlanta. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)
While planning that next step in 1997, Curry noticed UGA’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA). Its public affairs program was ranked No. 6 in the nation at the time.
“That really drew me in,” Curry says. “The reputation definitely came through with the quality of experience that I had, with professors, internships, and courses. I wouldn’t have wanted to go anywhere else, and the fact that I ended up at this level and have this opportunity to try and do so much good, I owe to SPIA.”
#4 Best Public Affairs School U.S. News & World Report 2024
A Sterling Reputation
SPIA has consistently housed a top 10 public affairs program for more than 20 years. U.S. News and World Report recently ranked the program fourth in the country in 2025.
The Department of Public Administration and Policy is the home of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program. Within MPA fields of study, its public management and leadership specialization ranks second, public finance and budgeting specialization ranks third, and local government management specialization ranks fifth.
“We want to make sure that we maintain or enhance our reputation for excellence in the rankings and elsewhere,” says SPIA Dean Matthew Auer. “We have a correlation between the quality of our programs, the scholarly and research talents of our faculty, and the outcomes for our students.”
Aashna Monga MPA ’24 saw that excellence and chose UGA when looking for a graduate program to suit her. Now a development impact consultant at the World Bank, Monga knew UGA was for her when faculty members went out of their way to reach out to her.
Aashna Monga chose to attend UGA because of SPIA. She now works at the World Bank. (Photo by Special)
“What motivated me to join SPIA was just how invested the faculty was in your growth,” Monga says. “I remember even before coming to the U.S., I had calls with people from the program. That gave me confidence that these people are really there to help you out and figure out everything along the way.”
Faculty investment is a point of pride for SPIA.
“Some say a faculty member’s job is teaching, research, and service,” Auer says. “At SPIA, we think mentoring is the fourth leg ofthe stool. The result is that students develop knowledge and skills, but they’re also job-ready and life-ready.”
Beyond personalized mentorship and welcoming research participation, Curry recalls her professors readying her for anything a career in public administration could throw at her.
“In anything you’re going to do in public administration, you’re going to have to know how to manage a budget. You’re going to have to understand policy implementation, top-down versus bottom-up. Administration is a very wide umbrella,” she says. “And SPIA is just so practical. You’re going to see problems you practice in your future in an academic setting. I pulled so much of that experience once I got into the working world.”
I wouldn’t have wanted to go anywhere else, and the fact that I ended up at this level and have this opportunity to try and do so much good, I owe to SPIA.” — Lauren Curry, Chief of Staff in the Office of Gov. Brian Kemp
Curriculum Based for the Real World
SPIA’s public affairs program trains aspiring public servants, whether they end up at a nonprofit or a branch of local government. Students learn the theories of public strategy, ethics, leadership, and problem solving, and then connect that through hands-on field work to make the community a better place.
“Whether it is a role in politics, city planning, or nonprofit work, it’s super important for us to walk that walk and make sure our graduates are actually public servants and that they’re serving the interests of the state,” Auer says. “I need to be able to make that impression on ordinary, traditional taxpayers who may have no connection to the University of Georgia. They need to understand the value that our students bring to what they do in a very tangible way.”
Dean Matthew Auer also teaches a course in SPIA and encourages other faculty to teach and explore research. (Photo by Chamberlain Smith/UGA)
Monga cherishes the variety in her coursework and experiential learning most of all. While working toward her degree, she explored everything from international policy and budgets to program management. Now, thanks to the MPA program, Monga can handle anything at the World Bank from a policy inspection to data and economic analysis.
“Everything was relevant to my journey as a public administrator going forward,” Monga says. “I could tailor my degree according to my own needs. My UGA journey gave me a sense of what I wanted to explore and strengthen in my work.”
At a state level, Curry is responsible for communicating to the public, managing policy agendas, and coordinating with teams across all levels of government. Handling the expected and unexpected is what is required of her, and it’s a skill not easily taught.
“The world is a very imperfect place. But SPIA faculty always tried to show us that there are departments and people trying to improve things,” she says. “People have now said to me, ‘Oh, we see how hard you work and how passionate you are about what you do.’ And I try to tell them that there are a lot of folks out there, like me, who are very passionate about what they’re doing.”
Even when the going gets tough, Curry emphasizes the importance of public servants. Most people rely on them daily even if those same people rarely notice.
“We need to recruit good folks in this area because it’s just such positive work. If you’re part of the solution, you’re leaving a legacy and trying to make things better,” she says.
