Pi Alpha Alpha

What is Pi Alpha Alpha?

Pi Alpha Alpha is a national honor society that recognizes outstanding scholarship and accomplishment in the field of public affairs and administration. Those universities and colleges which are members of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) are eligible to establish a Pi Alpha Alpha chapter. Pi Alpha Alpha is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, a national organization dedicated to encouraging fraternal and specialized honor societies in establishing and maintaining high standards, scholarship and achievement of their members.

The purpose of Pi Alpha Alpha is to encourage and recognize outstanding scholarship and accomplishment in public affairs and administration, and to foster integrity, professionalism and effective performance in the conduct of government and related public service activities.

Pi Alpha Alpha's membership identifies those with the highest performance levels in educational programs and prepares them for public service careers. Established in 1974, the society has grown significantly. Currently there are 99 chapters and over 15,000 members nationwide.

Who is eligible for membership?

Students, alumni and faculty of the Master of Public Policy Administration (MPPA) and Bachelor of Science in Public Administration (BSPA) Programs at UM-St. Louis are eligible to join Pi Alpha Alpha.

MPPA students who have completed 50 percent of the required coursework (a minimum of 20 semester hours) and have attained a GPA of at least 3.7 are eligible for induction into the UM-St. Louis Chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha.

Eligible BSPA students are those who have completed at least 75 credit hours, 15 semester hours of required coursework for the BSPA major, and attained a 3.5 GPA in all courses included in the BSPA major and at least a 3.0 in all other coursework.

MPPA and BSPA alumni who meet the GPA requirements are eligible for membership.

All MPPA and BSPA faculty members are invited and encouraged to join Pi Alpha Alpha.

What are Pi Alpha Alpha activities?

Each year at UM-St. Louis an induction ceremony is held for new Pi Alpha Alpha inductees. The most recent induction ceremony took place during the PPA Program's annual reception, which took place on Friday, October 19, at the UM-St. Louis Alumni Center. Four MPPA students were inducted: David R. Gipson, Maria C. Kerford, Mary E. Rocchio, and Janet K. Watson. The reception offered an opportunity to get acquainted with fellow students, alumni, and faculty.

The UM-St. Louis Chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha is student driven, which means that the groups' activities could perhaps include, for example, an orientation for incoming MPPA and BSPA students, tutoring services, and/or seminars, leadership conferences or lecture series.

Nationally, Pi Alpha Alpha sponsors the Pi Alpha Alpha Student Manuscript Award in Public Administration, an annual competition open to students attending a NASPAA member institution in public affairs and administration. Each year, at NASPAA's Annual Conference, two students are recognized and presented the award--one for the best Master's-level paper and one for best doctoral-candidate paper. Student entries are judged on the basis of relevance of the topic, appropriate use of methodology, quality of presentation, originality, innovativeness, clarity and academic quality.

The two awards include a plaque and a check for $200.

Membership Dues

A one-time membership fee of $40 is required by NASPAA.

Pi Alpha Alpha Inductees

2007
David R. Gipson
Mary E. Rocchio

2006
David M. Bardgett
James W. Knowles III

2005
Jeffrey V. Breuer
Katrina G. Lewison
Tyler G. Lewison
Glen A. MacDonald
Laura S. Winters
Patricia A. Zahn

2004
Colleen M. Bradford
Christian T. Bright*
Kevin P. Cummiskey*
Rhonda J. Ferrett
Dustin J. Heland
Brian T. Hoffman*
John P. Ringquist*
Carrie A. Trent

2003
Kendra L. Brown
David P. Hayhurst, Jr.*
Stephen A. Heinz*
M. Nicole Kreisel
Brian P. Luti*
Kelly Pollock
Natasha L. Radovich
Elizabeth A. Scioletti*
Lawrence E. Welty

2002
Elizabeth A. Kurila
Kurt K. Kysar
Elizabeth L. Mahoney*

2001
Sara B. Albright
Carol M. Bish
Tom G. Morrison
Donna T. Small

2000
Joseph G. Frank (Pol. Sci. Undergrad)
Daniel C. Reynolds

1999
Paul A. Fensterman
Holly E. Ingraham
Robert S. McClary
Mary G. Mobley
Gretchen W. Nichols
Mark E. Rudolph

1998
David G. Dolphus

1997
Joanne S. DeBernardi
Wendy M. Hopkins
Susan G. Mason
Susan A. Wofford

1996
Stacey A. Curry
Dean R. Darrough
John R. Houck, Jr.
Julie A. Jimenez
Robbyn G. Wahby
Bruce S. Weinberg

1995
Beth A. Battock
Randy Breese
William W. Chase
Cassandra Hickman-Walls
Kevin J. Jackson
Dexter C. Payne
Everett G. Phillips
S. Kristi Walker
Anita T. Yeckel

1994
Heather M. Beaven
Kathleen M. Freeman
J. Joseph Hardy
Lindsey Rutledge-Neas
Brian G. Scott
Mary J. Wilson
Joseph L. Yancey

1993
Timothy V. Arnett
David L. Blackburn
Denise F. Cale
Kenneth M. Crisler
Lisa C. DeLorenzo
Carol W. Kohfeld
Melissa T. Lange
Leslie A. Leip
Charles A. Letourneau
George J. McCall
Corinne B. Patton
Patricia A. Peck
Andrea L. Perr
Randall W. Sifers

*Ft. Leonard Wood MPPA student

For further information on the UM-St. Louis Chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha, please contact:

Professor Nancy Kinney
Pi Alpha Alpha Faculty Advisor
Master of Public Policy Administration
University of Missouri-St. Louis
One University Boulevard, 406 Tower
St. Louis, MO 63121-4400
ntkinney@umsl.edu
(314) 516-5420