Annual MPA residency convenes at Tulane to tackle future of public service

Andrea Steudlein asagnard@tulane.edu

Tulane University’s School of Professional Advancement (SoPA) welcomed John Lewis Public Administration program students, faculty and civic leaders for the Annual Public Administration Program Residency held Friday, Oct. 23- Sunday, Oct. 25.

Centered on the theme Shaping the Future: Preparing Ethical, Innovative, and Inclusive Public Service Leaders, the three-day program tackled modern governance through keynote addresses, collaborative workshops and student presentations.

“Reflecting on the fifth program residency, I am inspired by how our students embraced the challenge to lead ethically, innovate boldly and build inclusively,” said Halima Leak Francis, John Lewis Public Administration program director. “They had a special opportunity to learn from leaders at the forefront of civic innovation and explore the contexts that shape their work. I look forward to seeing how these experiences advance their careers and strengthen the communities they serve.”

Highlights included a fireside chat on civil rights with Nora Ahmed, legal director at ACLU of Louisiana and a screening of two original films on resilience and justice by filmmaker and program alumnus Joshua Montrel. The screening was followed by a Q&A with Montrel, moderated by adjunct professor Michelle D. Jackson.

Marking over two decades since Hurricane Katrina, Lamar Gardere, executive director of The Data Center, led a session exploring disaster recovery lessons, challenges and policy approaches for regional climate resilience.

The residency hosted an inaugural policy pitch competition, where students presented solutions for the region’s most pressing economic and environmental challenges such as empty buildings, energy costs and transportation.  

The weekend concluded with a tour of historic New Orleans landmarks, from St. Charles Avenue to the Lower Ninth Ward. The journey came to a meaningful close at the Tate Etienne and Prevost Interpretive Center (TEP), where the group enjoyed lunch and spent time connecting with the neighborhood by assembling and delivering care packages to local senior residents.

Photograph of six people smiling while holding three large ceremonial checks on a stage.
From left, Halima Leak Francis, Ashley Givens (1st place and People's Choice Award), Michelle Jackson, Claire Reifschneider (2nd place), Danielle Martin (3rd place), and Marco Tejeda-Kemp.