Imperial Valley Public Affairs Students Attend Conference in Washington D.C.

16 students from the public affairs program at the SDSU Imperial Valley campus traveled to Washington D.C  in April 2022 to attend the Urban Affairs Association conference, awards dinner, and reception. During the four-day trip, students immersed themselves in the public affairs industry, meeting with Congressman Juan Vargas’ team to discuss policy priorities and day-to-day work in Washington D.C. 

The McGrory Public Affairs Endowed Excellence Fund was used to support student travel. 

The Urban Affairs Association facilitates urban research and action, and the annual conference “brings together leading thinkers from across the globe on a variety of urban issues,” said trip coordinator and SDSU-IV public administration professor, Dominika Bukalova. 

In addition to the public affairs events and meetings, attendees visited the National Mall, Capitol Hill, and art and history museums. 

“Providing a variety of learning opportunities and approaches such as this trip builds the skills students need to succeed as leaders in the public sector. The trip provided a fantastic opportunity to augment learning in the classroom,” says Dr. Bukalova.

The trip was integral in providing a pivotal real-world experience for SDSU Imperial Valley public affairs students.