Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration Graduates First Class, Honors Highest Achievers

(NEWARK, NJ July 16, 2007) Sixty-five graduates received masters degrees recently during commencement ceremonies for the inaugural graduating class of the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration, founded in 2006. The school also recognized the graduate who had the highest grade-point-average in the public administration program, as well as 30 high-achieving students who were inducted in Pi Alpha Alpha, the national honor society for public affairs and administration. Pi Alpha Alpha members must demonstrate academic achievement in public affairs and administration programs and/or outstanding public service.

ELDON G. LEWIS of NEWARK received the E. Drexel Godfrey Award for having the highest academic average; he also was inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha.

Below is a list of the graduates inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha.

Bergen County, NJ

Fairview: Claudia Alvarez

River Edge: Mary Delano

Teaneck: Victoria Fisher

Camden County, NJ

Sicklerville: Valerie Bailey

Essex County, NJ

East Orange: Simone Shaw

Irvington: Antoinette Uket

Millburn: James V.Fazzari

Montclair: Cynthia E. Hawkins

Newark: Rebecca L. Carr, Catrina Diggs, Michael S. Dortu, Erica Grant, Kristen Hands, and Sarah Slaiman

Hudson County, NJ

Jersey City: Ericca L. Jones

Kearny: Fang Gong

Hunterdon County, NJ

Clinton: John Gomez

Mercer County, NJ

Robbinsville: Ferenc Petho Jr.

Titusville: John B. Holcombe

Trenton: Elisa A. Billups

Middlesex County, NJ

East Brunswick: Debbie Li

Edison: Rhonda L. Harris

Highland Park: Jeffrey Chaitoff

Piscataway: Nwamaka Achebe

South Plainfield: Christine Buteas

Monmouth County, NJ

Little Silver: Dennis W. Ng

Morris County, NJ

Randolph: Wen-Ing Ren

Passaic County, NJ

Totowa: Lisa M. Iurato

Union County, NJ

Garwood: Sarah I. Frodelly

Founded in 2006, the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers-Newark is the first new school established at Rutgers University in more than 20 years. Its mission encompasses competence, diversity, knowledge and service, and the school equips future leaders and educators with the tools necessary to efficiently and effectively deliver government services. It is the only such school at a public university in New Jersey. For more information on the school, go to spaa.