Empowering student leaders is essential to achieving APPAM's mission of improving public policy and management by fostering excellence in research, analysis and education. Learn more about how students can get involved in APPAM below.
The Policy Council works on behalf of thousands of APPAM members to improve public policy and management by fostering excellence in research, analysis and education. The Policy Council is the association’s main governing body, or its Board of Directors. Serving on the Policy Council is one of APPAM’s ultimate honors because of the responsibilities it confers. Policy Council leaders set the organization’s overall agenda and execute its strategic plan.
Two seats for student members of APPAM are available on the Policy Council. The two seats are staggered, and one of the current two students members will complete their term and rotate off the Policy Council at the end of the year. Candidates for Student Representative must be nominated and selected for the Policy Council.
Nominations:
- Any student candidate must student needs be a current student member in good standing of APPAM.
- Candidates must be a student at the time of appointment but not necessarily throughout their entire two-year term.
- Only current institutional members are able to nominate students.
Additional information can be found here.
Current Student Representatives:
The Student Activities Committee (SAC) oversees student activities, programs student sessions at the Annual Fall Research Conference, and considers ways to strengthen the representation of students in all APPAM activities and events. The committee is responsible for reviewing student research papers and posters, hosting professional development webinars throughout the year, hosting the Fall Conference Student Mixer and professional development sessions, and supporting other student activities. The committee is comprised entirely of students and includes one of the student members on the Policy Council.
How to join:
- SAC members are selected from a pool of Student Representative to the Policy Council applications.
2024 Student Activities Committee Members
- Antonia Vazquez, The University of Texas at Austin (SAC Chair)
- Jessica Geiger, Claremont Graduate University
- Eric Henderson, ACLU
- Warren Lowell, Duke University
- Melanie Nadon, University of Chicago
- Izzy Sederbaum, University of Washington, Seattle
- Cody Taylor, North Carolina State University
- Ellie Terry, University of Washington
- Angela Wyse, University of Chicago
The APPAM Annual Fall Research Conference can be an overwhelming experience, particularly for first-time attendees and students who may not know how to make the most of their conference experience and the opportunities it offers.
The APPAM Student Ambassadors Program is designed to make the annual meeting more approachable and provide a positive welcoming experience for conference attendees.
Ambassadors are active student members that are highly knowledgeable about the association. They are willing to commit to volunteering: serve as panel chairs, serve as Ignite Session hosts, assist conference attendees, and serve and support the conference where needed.
Become an APPAM Ambassador and share your knowledge about APPAM, your graduate program, your research and a little of your time by volunteering to help with one or more tasks during the conference.
Applications to open in April 2025.
Program Benefits:
- Opportunity to attend the 2024 APPAM Fall Research Conference.
- Waived conference registration fee.
- Opportunity to connect with a member of APPAM leadership.
- A personal letter from the President-Elect to your dean to acknowledge your contributions.
Eligibility:
- Must be enrolled in a Masters or PhD program. Postdoctoral students are not eligible for the Student Ambassador Program.
- Must be an active APPAM student member for at least two years.
- Must have attended at least two APPAM conferences.
- Willingness to serve in various volunteer roles.
Time Commitment:
- One hour orientation prior to Fall Research Conference.
- Leading and speaking at one informal Ignite Chats at the Student Lounge (30 minutes)
- Facilitating a Peer Roundtable (30 minutes)
- Chairing a panel session of your choosing (90 minutes)
- Providing support to APPAM staff during the conference; this can include working at the APPAM booth, taking room counts for sessions or directing attendees in between events (1 hour)
- The term for all Ambassadors lasts the duration of the Annual Conference
For more information, contact lofori@appam.org