KU School of Public Affairs and Administration Celebrates 2026 Graduates

The University of Kansas School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) proudly celebrated its 2026 graduates during a commencement ceremony held May 16 at Burge Union. The ceremony recognized students earning doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate degrees, along with academic honors and awards for excellence in public service and scholarship.

PhD graduates

SPAA recognized the following students earning the Doctor of Public Administration degree:

• Kayla Noelle Broughton
• Cassandra Abena Amoafoa Osei
• Robert A. Waller
• Seyed Mohsen Fatemi
• Yiwen Wu

Bachelor of Arts Graduates (Public Administration; Law & Society)

Students inducted into the Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society are noted with an asterisk (*).

• Sofia R. Echavarria
• Mia Elise Fiehler*
• Charles M. Heizman
• Chase A. Holstin*
• Ashley Jolee Manalac
• Sophia Grace Mendus
• Safiyo Mohamed
• Rhoderic Lamar Montgomery Jr.*
• Alfred Ring
• Brennen Lane Wallace
• Alexis Monae’ Watkins
• Stephen Dominique Young

Master of Public Administration (MPA) Graduates

Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society inductees are noted with an asterisk (*).

• Grace Atakorah*
• Elizabeth Blakely*
• Tyler A. Boutte
• Geoffry A. B. Brown
• Alex Buzicky
• Jeffrey Thomas Clyde
• Trevor William Cook
• Desirae A. Copeland
• Kaleena Stahr Erwin*
• Madison E. Graham*
• Alexandra Zamudio Gutierrez
• James Lee Hollar
• Reed G. Krewson
• Omarkhan Lindt
• Aaron Anthony Mills
• Samantha Michelle Moon*
• Joshua Braden Navarro*
• Nakooma Pelt
• Aidan Rich
• Spencer E. Riley*
• Santos Lope Sanchez
• Jordan Ashley Tanner
• Aaron Michael Thomas*
• Charlotte M. Wahweotten
• Gregory Dwight Walker II

Master of Urban Planning (MUP) Graduates

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society inductees are noted with an asterisk (*).

• Nathan Robert Cadman
• Hayden Elliott Grone
• Ellie Grace Hall
• Brianna Marie Rita Irvin
• Ethan Cooper Johnson*
• Maya Grace Cecilia Kaustinen
• Kathryn Grey Keefe
• Aourell Marie Le Guen
• Landen L. Lobatos-Dick
• Connor James Mack
• Owen N. Miller
• Riley Kathryn Osterberg
• Savva Pettengill
• Eric Rorstrom
• Brynna Grace Schaal*
• Calvin K. Spilker
• Reagan Elizabeth Thompson
• Paul T. Turner

Honor Societies and Awards

During the ceremony, SPAA also recognized students inducted into prestigious honor societies, including Pi Alpha Alpha and Phi Kappa Phi.

Awards presented included:

• Outstanding Undergraduate Award
  • Alfred Ring
• Urban Planning Service Award
  • Hayden Grone
• American Planning Association Award
  • Ellie Hall
• Scott Brooks Award
  • Geoffry A. B. Brown
• Outstanding MPA Student Award
  • Cece Riley
• Outstanding MUP Student Award
  • Landen Lobatos-Dick  
  • Maya Kaustinen
• GTA of the Year Award
  • Mohsen Fatemi
• Faculty Teacher of the Year Award
  • Rachel Krause