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SPA's PhD curriculum is designed to provide doctoral students with the skills to effect immediate impact.

With expertise spanning public management, global health governance, regulatory policy and more, our PhD candidates bring the research competency and academic rigor to their respective fields and educate the next generation of public affairs leaders.

Public Administration PhD Students

Michelle Castleberry

Neko Michelle Castleberry is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at American University. Her research interests include policies regarding sexual and reproductiv…

  mc0837a@american.edu

Sarah Chung

Sarah Chung is a PhD student in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at American University. Her research interests lie at the intersection of environmental, health, and education policy…

  sc9558a@american.edu

Katherine Engel

Katie is a PhD candidate in the Department of Public Administration & Policy. Her research interests include socioeconomic disparities in wellbeing and the role of the social safety net in their reduc…

  ke7802a@american.edu

Joohyung Park Hourly Wages SPA | General Academics & Research

Joohyung Park is a PhD candidate in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at American University. His research interests include bureaucracy and democracy, public management, bureaucratic…

  jp6878a@american.edu

Xiaoyang Xu Adjunct Instructor

Xiaoyang Xu is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at American University. Her research interests include representative bureaucracy, public management, and gend…

  xx0266a@american.edu

Political Science PhD Students

Dakota Strode Adjunct Instructor SPA | Government

Dakota Strode is a PhD candidate studying Political Science at American University. His research in American politics focuses on LGBTQ politics, political behavior, campaigns and elections, and politi…

  ds4090a@american.edu

Justice, Law & Criminology PhD Students

Natalie Chwalisz Adjunct Instructor

Natalie Chwalisz is a PhD candidate at the School of Public Affairs, in the Justice, Law and Criminology Department. She focuses in on human smuggling, mixed migration and forced displacement.In her f…

  chwalisz@american.edu