The University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) has been selected to participate in the Service to Service initiative, a national program aimed at supporting veterans and military families as they pursue careers in state and local government. The initiative is sponsored by the Volcker Alliance and We the Veterans and Military Families.
Launched in October 2024, the Service to Service initiative brings together public service schools across the country to help military-connected students transition into graduate study for public service roles. SPIA’s involvement will focus on increasing access to its Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Master of International Policy (MIP) programs, enhancing support services, and facilitating job placement within the public sector.
“The Volcker Alliance and We the Veterans and Military Families are well-respected champions of public servants and public service,” said Matthew Auer, dean of SPIA. “We are very excited to partner with them to advance our military-affiliated students who are committed to careers in the public sector.”
As part of this initiative, SPIA will recruit a cohort of Service to Service Fellows—students who are veterans, active-duty service members, or immediate family members of military personnel. These Fellows will receive specialized academic support, programming that helps translate their military experience into leadership roles in public service, career guidance tailored for government positions, as well as financial incentives such as scholarships or stipends.
This selection builds on UGA’s ongoing efforts to support military-affiliated students. For nine consecutive years, UGA has been recognized among the top Military Friendly tier 1 research institutions nationally by Viqtory Media, ranking sixth in 2025.
SPIA aims to prepare students for meaningful careers in public service through its established graduate programs. The MPA program at SPIA has maintained a strong reputation over six decades and is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 10 public affairs programs by U.S. News & World Report.
Eric Zeemering, director of the MPA program at SPIA stated: “The leadership and project management skills developed in our nation’s armed forces provide students with a solid foundation to excel in state and local government careers. With additional training in management and policy analysis, we know these military affiliated students will excel in public service careers.”
Since 2009, SPIA’s MIP program has trained students for work in international affairs, diplomacy, and global policy analysis—a path that aligns closely with many veterans’ backgrounds.
Joshua Massey, director of the MIP program said: “We’re excited to assist veterans with transitioning from military to civilian service and eager to help them prepare for positions of increased responsibility across all levels of government. The knowledge, skills and perspective that veterans bring into the classroom enhances the experience of all SPIA graduate students.”
Through participation in this initiative coordinated by Volcker Alliance and We the Veterans and Military Families, SPIA will collaborate with other institutions nationwide on best practices for veteran engagement. The school plans programming for Fellows, joint recruitment activities with peer schools, and partnerships with state/local agencies for job placement after graduation.
More information about this initiative can be found at volckeralliance.org/initiatives/service-service.
