SPS 2018: Speaker Ian Urbina of the New York Times

At the St. Albans School of Public Service, we are firmly of the belief that journalism can and does serve the public interest.  This morning, we heard from a journalist, Ian Urbina, who has been making a difference as an investigative reporter for The New York Times.  Mr. Urbina spoke about his career path, as well as his groundbreaking series about the lawless world oceans, The Outlaw Ocean.

SPS 2018: Twilight Tour of the Monuments

There's never a bad time to visit the National Mall and explore some of the beautiful and thought-provoking monuments, but tonight, we really lucked out with one of the nicest summer evenings you will ever see in July in our nation's capitol.  (Shhhhhhhhh . . . it's usually kinda hot and humid.)  The St. Albans School of Public Service took a few hours and visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and one of the newest additions to the Mall, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.  What a great way to reflect on what public service really means.

SPS 2018: Saturday at SPS (Eastern Market and the Newseum)

Many St. Albans School of Public Service students are interested in someday returning to Washington, D.C., whether for college or work.  We enjoy giving the SPS students a closer look at Washington and the surrounding areas through our weekend excursions.  Today, SPS '18 began the day with a visit to Eastern Market, a food/arts/farmers market on Capitol Hill. 

After the visit to Eastern Market and a chance to browse bookstores, crafts stands, and eat brunch, it was off to one of the best museums in D.C., the Newseum.  The Newseum highlights interactive exhibits celebrating the First Amendment and the role of a free press in the United States and abroad.  Exhibits include segments of the Berlin Wall and a photojournalism display of seven decades of photographs of the year. 

SPS 2018: Former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Speaks at the School of Public Service

This morning the St. Albans School of Public Service heard from speaker Michael Leiter, former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center during the Bush and Obama Administrations.  Mr. Leiter spoke about his path to public service, including his decision to attend Navy Officer Candidate School after college, and answered a wide range of questions about everything from legal doctrine to current U.S. foreign policy.

SPS 2018: On Campus Speaker Series Brings William Kristol and Daniel Lippman to the School of Public Service

In addition to many field trips off campus during which the St. Albans School of Public Service students talk with public servants and public policy makers on site, SPS hosts an on-campus speaker series each summer.  This morning, we hosted leading conservative writer, thinker, and commentator William Kristol to SPS.  Mr. Kristol is the founder and current editor-at-large of the Weekly Standard magazine; served in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush Administrations; advised the Presidential Campaign of John McCain; and is a frequent television commentator.  Mr. Kristol spoke about his career in public service, his role as a founder of a magazine, and the current political situation.

This evening, SPS 2018 heard from another journalist, Daniel Lippman of Politico.  Mr. Lippman, who helps write the popular Politico Playbook daily newsletter, spoke about everything from the life of a reporter to what he did as a high school student that helped set him on his career path.

SPS 2018: Album of Photos from July 4 Nationals Game

Click on the image below for a Flickr album of photos from the SPS 2018 outing to the Red Sox - Nationals game on July 4.

SPS 2018: Celebrating Independence Day at the St. Albans School of Public Service

On July 4 at the St. Albans School of Public Service, how better to spend the day than a pilgrimage in honor of America's National Pastime in the morning, and a visit to a country carnival sponsored by the Walkersville Maryland (Frederick County) Volunteer Fire Department?  Although the heat is still of the steamy variety, SPS 2018 appreciated the opportunity to get off campus and celebrate the holiday in style.