College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts
School of Public Affairs
Fiscal Year 2024-2025
Dear Donor,
As we refect on the 2024–2025 Academic Year, I am proud of all we have accomplished—and deeply grateful for your continued support.
Together, we celebrated our most outstanding students in public administration, criminal justice, and city planning. We also deepened handson learning through partnerships with organizations like U.S. Pretrial Services and The Innocence Center—reinforcing our shared commitment to real-world impact and public service.
This year brought exciting growth. We launched the Academy for Local Elected Ofcials (ALEO), expanded the City Management Fellowship, and advanced our work through the Institute for Innovative Governance (IIG), equipping emerging leaders with the tools and experiences they need to serve their communities. Thanks to your generosity, our students also engaged in transformative learning experiences in Washington, D.C., and South Africa, broadening both their civic and global perspectives.
Thank you for making all of this possible. Your support is shaping the next generation of public service leaders.
Roddrick Colvin, Ph.D. Professor and Director School of Public Afairs
Thriving in the Aztec Experience
Ella Wallin, Class of 2026
Class Level: Undergraduate Student
College: Professional Studies and Fine Arts
Major: Public Administration
The most impactful experience of my undergraduate career has been my internship with the San Diego City Attorney’s Ofce in the Civil Division.
I had the opportunity to conduct legal research, assist with case preparation, and observe both civil and criminal proceedings. Working with several diferent civil attorney teams—each specializing in unique areas of municipal law— provided me with a broad perspective on various approaches and expertise within the legal feld. Collaborating with investigators and city attorneys gave me frsthand insight into the real-world impact and importance of legal advocacy. This experience solidifed my passion for law and confrmed my decision to pursue law school after graduation.
I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity. Without the guidance of my internship coordinator, David Arguelles, and the support of the CJ 498 Internship Course, I would not feel as confdent, prepared, or motivated as I do moving forward in my academic and professional journey.
“Without the guidance of my internship coordinator, David Arguelles, and the support of the CJ 498 Internship Course, I would not feel as confdent, prepared, or motivated as I do moving forward in my academic and professional journey.
Tasha Murphy, Class of 2026
Class Level: Undergraduate Student
College: Professional Studies and Fine Arts
Major: Public Administration
Over the course of my internship with the San Diego City Attorney’s Ofce, I gained invaluable experience at the heart of my career aspirations.
From attending trials and retrieving court documents to observing attorneys in action, I developed insights into the legal profession that many aspiring lawyers do not have the opportunity to witness frsthand. I also strengthened key professional skills—such as punctuality, communication, and organization—that will continue to serve me throughout my academic and legal journey.
I am especially grateful to the City Attorney’s staf for fostering a supportive, welcoming, and inspiring environment. Each day in the ofce brought something new to learn and being entrusted with meaningful tasks made me feel like a valued member of the team.
This internship confrmed my passion for public service law and made a lasting impact on both my confdence and commitment to the legal feld. It was truly an unforgettable experience.
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This
internship confrmed my passion for public service law and made a lasting impact on both my confdence and commitment to the legal feld.
Ingrid Peirce, Class of 2026
Class Level: Graduate Student
College:
Professional Studies and Fine Arts
Major:
Public Administration
The most memorable experience of my time at San Diego State University has been my internship with the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Public Policy Department. As a public policy intern, I had the opportunity to research legislation, draft policy updates, and stay informed on key local, state, and federal developments impacting San Diego’s business community.
This experience allowed me to gain valuable professional skills and strengthen my communication and research abilities, while deepening my understanding of how local policy shapes both economic and social outcomes. My time at the Chamber reafrmed my commitment to public service and helped clarify my career goals within the nonproft sector.
I am incredibly grateful for the mentorship I received from my internship coordinator, David Arguelles, and for the support of donors, whose sponsorship enabled me to fully focus on my internship and academic success.
I deeply appreciate the opportunity to contribute to meaningful, real-world policy eforts that impact the San Diego region.
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This experience allowed me to gain valuable professional skills and strengthen my communication and research abilities, while deepening my understanding of how local policy shapes both economic and social outcomes.
Celebrating Shared Success
Recent Rankings
Criminal Justice ranks #2 among the top 10 degrees for SDSU graduates in 2025—for the second year in a row.
Statistics of Interest
The School of Public Afairs ofers graduate degrees in City Planning, Criminal Justice, and Public Administration.
Recent Highlights
Total Interns Placed: 96
49 students in Fall 2024
47 students in Spring 2025
Internship Types
22 paid internships
74 unpaid internships
Community Impact
Over 12,960 hours contributed to the San Diego community
More than 60 local, state, federal, and nonproft agencies served
Career Outcomes
At least 5 students received full-time job ofers directly connected to their internship experiences: 3 with U.S. Pretrial Services, 2 with the City of Chula Vista, City Hall
With over 12,000 hours of hands-on learning, students gained practical skills in investigation, casework, policy analysis, and client services—preparing them for academic and professional success.
#2
Criminal Justice ranks #2 among SDSU’s top 10 degrees for 2025.
Mounah Abdel-Samad, Ph.D.
Title: Associate Professor, MPA nucleus faculty member, School of Public Afairs
College: Professional Studies and Fine Arts
Achievement: Dr. Mounah Abdel-Samad is an associate professor of public administration in the School of Public Afairs at San Diego State University, where he teaches administrative theory and comparative public administration and serves as director of the Social and Economic Vulnerabilities Initiative (SEVI).
Dr. Abdel-Samad specializes in legislators’ behaviors and the interaction between legislators and societal actors such as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), with a focus on homelessness.
He has conducted feld research in Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Iraq, and Tunisia on legislative institutions and democratic reform. Additionally, he has consulted on issues related to public administration reform and public policy in Lebanon and Iraq. He is interested in both the theoretical and practical applications of public administration concepts and believes that change comes from applying theories for the good of society.
He is currently studying factors afecting homelessness in San Diego and coordinating numerous research projects on homelessness through SEVI. He is also conducting research on legislative advocacy by NGOs in North Africa and the Middle East.
Dr. Mounah Abdel-Samad studies legislators’ behavior and NGO interactions, focusing on homelessness and democratic reform across the Middle East and San Diego, applying theory to drive societal change.
