The School of Planning and Public Affairs (SPPA) is excited to announce that we are joining the Volcker Alliance and We the Veterans and Military Families in the Service to Service initiative — a program dedicated to recruiting veterans and their family members into schools of public service. 

The Service to Service initiative will support SPPA's recruitment efforts and offer strategies for connecting individuals in exiting active military service to public service educational opportunities. This partnership will provide SPPA students, alumni, and faculty with unique opportunities to engage in meaningful dialogue with members of the military community nationwide. Through virtual and in-person events, prospective students will gain insights into career pathways, leadership development, and strategies for addressing today’s most pressing public challenges.

Veterans and military families are typically well-networked, motivated, and service-oriented with consistently high levels of public trust—more than two-thirds of Americans express confidence in veterans to “do what’s right” for their communities. By helping veterans and military family members pursue opportunities in public service, we hope to help rebuild public confidence in government and democratic institutions. SPPA is eager to recruit more members of the military community and expand the reach and impact of our graduate programs within the University of Iowa and beyond.

SPPA will be participating in a Service to Service Virtual Recruitment Fair on December 4, 2025, from 3-5 pm CST. Register for the event here.