[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S3055]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA'S SCHOOL 
                  OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

  Mr. WARNOCK. Mr. President, today, I rise to pay tribute to the 
University of Georgia's School of Public and International Affairs on 
its landmark 25th anniversary. I also want to recognize its leadership, 
including founding dean Thomas P. Lauth, who served from 2001 to 2013; 
dean Stefanie Lindquist, from 2013 to 2016; interim dean Robert 
Grafstein, from 2016 to 2017; and current dean Matthew Auer, who has 
led the school since 2017. For a quarter-century, the School of Public 
and International Affairs has stood as a beacon of academic excellence, 
fostering rigorous scholarship and cultivating the next generation of 
leaders dedicated to public service.
  The school has advanced the University of Georgia's core mission of 
teaching, research, and service by preparing students to shape policy 
and strengthen communities both locally and globally. Founded in 2001, 
the school has distinguished itself through an unwavering commitment to 
academic rigor, public impact, and global engagement. By offering 
highly regarded programs in political science, international affairs, 
public administration and policy, and criminal justice, it equips 
students with the critical skills needed to address complex challenges 
at every level of government and within the private sector.
  The University of Georgia's School of Public and International 
Affairs faculty comprises nationally and internationally recognized 
scholars whose research directly informs public policy and strengthens 
democratic institutions. Since its inception, the school has grown from 
32 full-time faculty members and 1,000 students to more than 75 full-
time faculty and over 2,000 students today. Demonstrating this profound 
commitment to academic excellence, alumni include 8 Truman Scholars, 7 
Rhodes Scholars, 3 Schwarzman Scholars, 3 Pickering Fellows, and 36 
Boren Scholars.
  Furthermore, the school's global impact continues to earn well-
deserved recognition. The Academic Ranking of World Universities placed 
it among the top 10 graduate schools worldwide for the public 
administration category. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report ranks 
the school fifth for Best Public Affairs Programs, third in Public 
Finance and Budgeting, third in Public Management and Leadership, 
fourth in Local Government Management, and 12th in Nonprofit 
Management.
  On this 25th anniversary of the University of Georgia's School of 
Public and International Affairs, I want to congratulate and thank its 
faculty, staff, students, and alumni for their enduring contributions 
to public service, scholarship, and leadership.

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