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In the fall of 1957, Dean Donald C. Stone assembled
a group of professors who combined "academic achievement
with a wide and varied practical experience in both
national and international administration." GSPIA's
founding dean, Stone was a man who dedicated his life
to public service. Stone promoted the notion of "citizenship"
and encouraged his colleagues, students, and friends
to make government better, to make administrations
more effective, and to provide responsible leadership
and stewardship for future generations.
Stone's remarkable
public service career included developing procedures
for the Civil Works Administration and planning and
implementing the Works Progress Administration. He
helped draft the United Nations Charter and his efforts
were instrumental in the success of the Marshall Plan
in rebuilding Europe after the Second World War.
Donald Stone's
original goal emphasized management and a global reach
. During the fifty years since GSPIA's founding,
we have embraced the role of NGOs, the importance
of civil society, and the growing significance of
public policy in the global context.
Today, GSPIA
is recognized both in the United States and abroad
as a leading graduate school. The programs here are interdisciplinary
and intercultural and our distinguished faculty train
students to serve their local communities and the
community of all nations. Our goal is to
make public institutions better, to create a higher
quality of government, and to promote social responsibility
in the private sector.
Fifty years later, the principles and beliefs set forth by founding dean Donald C. Stone are seamlessly weaved into the innovations of an increasingly globalized world. Our academic programs at GSPIA have evolved to respond
to changing student needs and career demands, because
flexibility is at the core of our curriculum. But what has remained is
the standard of excellence, the valued traditions,
and the desire to improve society and advance civilization.
MISSION
The
mission of the Graduate School of Public and International
Affairs (GSPIA) is to prepare students to make substantive
contributions to society through careers as managers,
advisors, and policy analysts in government and nonprofit
organizations in a multitude of geographic locations
throughout the world. This mission is accomplished
through dedication to quality teaching that builds
skills and commitments to the core values, challenges,
and rewards of public service. It is supported through basic and applied research on timely
issues of public management, international, regional
and urban affairs and policymaking. The school and
faculty are committed to making a difference in the
world by drawing on diverse skills and knowledge to
improve the performance of public and nonprofit organizations
that contribute to free and just societies in the
United States and abroad. To accomplish these ends,
GSPIA teaches, conducts research, and performs public
service in the following areas:
- The management and administration of public and
nonprofit agencies
- The growth and sustainable development of urban
metropolitan regions throughout the world
- The economic and social development of newly independent
and developing states
- The emerging dynamics that are shaping today's
international political economy
- Threats to and issues in international security
The mission
of GSPIA stresses the importance of democratic responsibilities
and personal integrity in the management of human
affairs as well as the professional qualifications
required for managing constructive change. Students
and faculty alike are required to:
- Demonstrate the highest standards of ethical and
professional conduct
- Use critical thinking and problem solving skills
in addressing public policy issues
- Consider the international and intersectoral aspects
of public affairs; and
- Develop partnerships with others both internal
and external to the University of Pittsburgh
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