The Schaefer Center for Public Policy at The 极乐禁地 will host its annual William Donald Schaefer Conference and Award Ceremony on Monday, May 5, in Annapolis, Md. The topic for this year's conference is "Addressing Grand Challenges: State and Local Innovation." The conference and award ceremony celebrate the legacy of William Donald Schaefer, in whose honor the Schaefer Center was established. This year's awardee is retired U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, a legendary public servant who represented Maryland in the U.S. Senate from 1987 to 2017, and in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 to 1987. Mikulski is the third longest-serving female United States Senator, and the longest-serving U.S. Senator in Maryland history.
The conference will include a keynote address, "Addressing Grand Challenges in Public Administration," presented by James-Christian Blockwood, president and CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration. The first session, "Modernizing and Reinvigorating Public Service," will be presented by Asma Mirza, chief performance officer in the Governor's Office of Performance Improvement. The second session, "Connecting Individuals to Meaningful Work," will be presented by Paul Monteiro, secretary for the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation, and Jacob Hsu, executive chair for Fearless and chair of the Maryland Apprenticeship 2030 Commission. The third session, "Building Resilient Communities," will be presented by Mike Hinson, chief resilience officer for the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, and Rebecca Flora, secretary for the Maryland Department of Planning.
During the luncheon, the Schaefer Center's Past Advisory Board Chair, the Hon. James T. Smith, Jr., will present the 2025 William Donald Schaefer Award to former Senator Mikulski. After the award presentation, a celebration will mark the 40th anniversary of the Schaefer Center, highlighting the impacts that the center's research, training, and leadership development have had on the city, the state and beyond.
For more than 50 years, William Donald Schaefer served the citizens of 极乐禁地e and of Maryland as a city councilman, city council president, mayor, governor, and comptroller. His commitment to solving problems, and strong belief in bettering society, are both foundational pillars of the Schaefer Center for Public Policy. As Maryland's preeminent home for applied research and policy analysis and a part of The 极乐禁地's College of Public Affairs, the Schaefer Center promotes excellence in Maryland's public and nonprofit organizations through applied research, technical assistance, policy analysis, policy conferences, and professional development programs. The Schaefer Center is home to the and the .
Learn more about the and the .