College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts
School of Public Affairs Fiscal Year 2025-2026
Message from Leadership
Dear Donor, The School of Public Affairs continues to thrive as a place where academic excellence, experiential learning, and public service intersect. This year, I found inspiration in the resilience of our students, many of whom balance coursework, employment, family responsibilities, and internships while remaining dedicated to serving their communities. The School serves more than 1,500 undergraduate and graduate students across Criminal Justice and Criminology, Public Administration, City Planning, and Social Equity and Governance. Students participated in experiential learning opportunities locally and internationally, including practicums in Tijuana and Argentina. I am especially proud of our internship placement program, which placed nearly 100 student interns across more than 60 agencies. Students contributed over 13,000 hours of service while gaining handson experience that often led to employment opportunities. Thank you for investing in our students and programs. Your support is helping develop the next generation of ethical public servants and community leaders.
Roddrick Colvin, Ph.D. Professor and Director School of Public Affairs
Philanthropy
Propelling the SDSU Community Forward School of Journalism and Media Studies Collaboration on Homelessness Policy and Journalism Philanthropic support made possible a new collaboration between the Institute for Innovative Governance (IIG) in the School of Public Affairs and the School of Journalism and Media Studies during FY25-26. The partnership brought together students, faculty, public officials, journalists, artists, and community members to examine homelessness policy and its human consequences through a program centered on Sweeps Kill, an anthology combining investigative reporting, personal accounts, and visual storytelling. Funding brought journalist David W. Stoesz and artist Marie Bouassi to campus, giving students direct access to professionals working in governance, journalism, and public accountability. The program helped students better understand how public policy and media shape public understanding of social issues. By connecting classroom learning with professional perspectives, the event strengthened civic engagement, interdisciplinary learning, and critical thinking while demonstrating the value of philanthropy in creating meaningful educational experiences.
Public Affairs leaders facilitated a community discussion on homelessness policy, media, and equity-driven solutions.
Student Spotlight
Thriving in the Aztec Experience Ben Larson, Class of 2026 Class Level: Graduate Student College: College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts Major: City Planning Ben Larson is a graduate student in the City Planning program and a Senior Planner for the County of San Diego in the Housing Division. While at SDSU, Ben served as the school’s American Planning Association representative and introduced students to professionals in the field, connected them with scholarships, hosted events with Young and Emerging Planners (YEP), reviewed resumes, and, alongside his colleagues on campus, restarted the City Planning Association. He is deeply passionate about providing housing and opportunities for everyone so that each person can build the best life for themselves.
Daniela Ortega-Ramos, Class of 2026 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts Major: Criminal Justice Daniela Ortega-Ramos is a first-generation Mexican American, born and raised in Oakland, California, and partly raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco. She completed her undergraduate degree in three years, majoring in criminal justice with double minors in sociology and U.S.-Mexico border studies. Throughout her academic journey, she worked at University Towers Kitchen, the SDSU Research Foundation, and the Latinx Resource Center — experiences that strengthened her commitment to serving diverse communities and shaped her passion for advocacy and social justice. She will apply to law school this fall with the goal of becoming an immigration attorney and supporting immigrant communities.
Student Spotlight
Ingrid Price, Class of 2026 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts Major: Public Administration I am a Public Administration major with a minor in LGBTQ+ Studies at San Diego State University. My journey has been defined by the intentional choice to prioritize my wellbeing and “own my pace,” a path that allowed me to return to SDSU with a clear mission and the focus to graduate a semester early. With professional experience spanning the SDSU Pride Center, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Grindstone Campaigns, I have developed a leadership style that balances strategic policy knowledge with deep empathy. I am a dedicated advocate for LGBTQ+ transition-age youth and aspire to lead resource centers that center community and belonging as essential basic needs. I am committed to building inclusive systems where every individual feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.
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I am committed to building inclusive systems where every individual feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.
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Points of Pride
Celebrating Shared Success Current Rankings The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is ranked No. 1 among California State University programs and No. 6 among all California MPA programs. Statistics of Interest 1,468 total students across undergraduate and graduate programs 1,219 undergraduate Criminal Justice and Criminology majors; Criminal Justice is the third-largest major on campus 95 undergraduate Public Administration majors 154 graduate students across the MPA, MCP, and MCJ programs 72.3% of students identify as members of underrepresented minority groups; 68.3% are women 51.1% of undergraduate students are Pell Grant eligible Recent Highlights Launched a new degree in Social Equity and Governance; first registrations will begin in fall 2026.
Top 10
MPA program ranks No. 6 among all California MPA programs.
Student Scale
1,468 Students across undergraduate and graduate programs, including one of campus’ largest majors: criminal justice.
Faculty and Staff Achievements
Dominika Bukalova, Ph.D. Title: Associate Professor, Public Administration College: College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts Achievement: Helped lead the successful 2026 ALEO Budget Workshop, bringing together nearly 50 elected officials, public-sector leaders, faculty, and students. Through her work with the Academy for Local Elected Officials (ALEO) and the Institute for Innovative Governance, she continues to advance the School of Public Affairs’ commitment to civic engagement, public-service education, and community collaboration while expanding meaningful learning opportunities for students. Her coordination of the workshop brought together elected officials, city managers, faculty, students, and community leaders to address public finance and budgeting under California’s updated training requirements. Through these efforts, Dr. Bukalova continues to expand experiential learning opportunities for students while reinforcing SDSU’s role as a regional leader in innovative public-service education and professional development.
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Dr. Bukalova continues to expand experiential learning opportunities for students while reinforcing SDSU’s role as a regional leader in innovative public-service education and professional development.
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Thank you for your generous support.
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