Dr. Gloria Billingsley leads the Pi Alpha Alpha oath.

During summer commencement weekend, the new Walden University chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha inducted its first group of members: 14 students, faculty and alumni.

Pi Alpha Alpha  is a national honor society that fosters excellence in the study and application of public administration. It has more than 130 chapters and over 30,000 members.

The induction’s guest speaker was Dr. Edwardo Rhodes, vice chancellor for academic support and associate vice president for student development and diversity at Indiana University Bloomington. He spoke about the society’s importance and founding. “There had to be a means of honoring the best and the brightest within the student ranks of public affairs and policy,” he said.

He also spoke about the challenges faced by public administrators.

“Pi Alpha Alpha is important because superior public service is important. Public service today is being challenged on all sides—from the left and the right—by persons and groups arguing that almost anyone can do it better than the government,” Rhodes said. “There is more than ever a need for public servants, for public leaders, who are motivated by strong feelings of service and dedication, but guided just as strongly by principles of public management and analysis.”

The ceremony also included a pledge of induction and presentation of pins and certificates for the following new members:

• Reta Alphin, student
• Dr. Marion Angelica, dean of the School of Public Policy and Administration
• Lydia Apori-Nkansah, student
• Roger Black, graduate
• William Brantley, student
• Samuel Brooks, student
• Robert Fong, student
• Dr. Mark Gordon, faculty member and alumnus
• Teresa Jeter, student
• Sharon Jumper, student
• Olawale Maiyegun, student
• Gertrude Nacin, student
• Maria Poepsel, student
• Claudette L. Thorpe, student

“I congratulate each and every one of the inductees for being selected because you do represent the values and beliefs and the mission of the university,” said Dr. Paula Peinovich, president and provost of Walden. “At the same time, I extend to you a challenge and note that you have a responsibility and an obligation that you carry along with this honor to go out and to exemplify the values and the mission of the university in your communities and in your work.”

More Information
Email the chapter’s faculty advisor, Dr. Gloria Billingsley, chair of the school’s mentoring and research, at gloria.billingsley@waldenu.edu.

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