University of Kansas Public Management Center

13/08/2026

One week from today, we'll be in the room together. 💙

Inspiring Women in Public Administration is almost here — and if you haven't registered yet, this is your last real window to do it.

August 21 at the Overland Park Convention Center is going to be a full day of keynotes, conversation, connection, and community — all built around the idea that when people feel seen, systems change.

We hope to see you there. 👉 https://hubs.la/Q04sXPP70

07/08/2026

Two weeks from today, we'll be gathering at the Overland Park Convention Center for Inspiring Women in Public Administration — and there's still time to be in the room.

IWPA 2026 is a full day built around one idea: YOU matter. That means a keynote from Wendy Doyle, CEO & President of United WE, a cross-career panel on finding your voice in public service, supported networking, a happy hour, and you'll leave with a copy of Zach Mercurio's The Power of Mattering.

If you've been meaning to register — this is the nudge. 📅

👉 https://hubs.la/Q04sjxt90 📍 Friday, August 21 | Overland Park Convention Center

31/07/2026

Enrollment is officially open for the 2027 Heartland Certified Public Manager® (CPM) Program!

Our CPM cohorts continue to fill quickly, and the strong response to last year’s launch confirmed what we’ve been hearing from the field: public service professionals want flexible, timely opportunities to build leadership and management skills.

Beginning January 2027, we're pleased to meet you where you are with any of our five cohorts:

- Kansas City Metro Cohort hosted by Johnson County, KS
- Topeka Cohort hosted by the Kansas Department of Administration
- Southwest Kansas Cohort rotating between hosts Finney County and Dodge City
- St. Louis Metro Cohort rotating every three months between hosts St. Charles Ambulance District, Clayton, and Wentzville, MO
- Online Cohort via Zoom

Registration is now open, and we’re offering an early bird discount of $4,000 for those who register by October 31, 2026. This is a great opportunity to plan ahead and secure a spot at the reduced rate.

Link to learn more or enroll in the comments!

30/07/2026

Our KU Public Management Center team spent today investing in ourselves! The first day of our staff retreat brought our full-time staff together to think intentionally about the work we do, those we serve, and our why behind it all.

Grateful for a team that shows up for each other and for the folks we serve. More great things ahead! 💙

27/07/2026

This fall, the KU Emerging Leaders Academy (ELA) is coming to both sides of the Kansas City Metro — and beyond.

We're offering three ways to participate in our Fall 2026 sessions:
📍 Olathe, KS — Hosted by Johnson County | August 13 – December 18, 2026 *nearly full!
📍 Kearney, MO — Hosted by Clay County | August 14 – December 18, 2026
💻 Online | August 20 – December 17, 2026

Over four months, participants develop personal leadership philosophies, engage in mentorship and coaching, and return to their organizations with the tools to lead with confidence.
Whether your team is on the Kansas side, the Missouri side, or anywhere in between — there's an ELA cohort built for them.

🔗 Learn more and register: https://tinyurl.com/ELA-2026

08/07/2026

What does transformative leadership development look like?

The KU Public Management Center's Leading EDGE program helps leaders build high-performing organizations by exploring leadership, vision, values, strategy, structure, and systems through an immersive, highly collaborative learning experience. Participants gain practical tools, engage in real-world problem-solving, and learn alongside peers who are tackling similar organizational challenges.

📅 Next Leading EDGE Cohort: September 18–25, 2026
📍 Kansas Memorial Union | Lawrence, Kansas
💰 Early Registration Rate through August 7, 2026

Learn more and register: https://kupmc.ku.edu/high-performing-organizations-leading-edge

Recent Leading EDGE participant, Bambi Cline, shared this about her experience: "My sincere thanks to the Leading Edge Team for the thoughtful preparation and impactful training. The Emergenetics assessment provided meaningful clarity on communication and leadership preferences, and I look forward to applying these insights with my team and across our organizational partnerships."

We're grateful for feedback like this and proud to support leaders who are committed to strengthening their organizations and communities. Check out Bambi's full quote in the comments 👇

08/07/2026

07/07/2026

Meet the voices behind this year's IWPA keynote 👇 This year's Inspiring Women in Public Administration Conference kicks off with something special: a keynote that becomes a conversation.

Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of United WE, takes the stage first with SEEN – Systems Change When People Know They Matter. In her 13 years leading United WE, she's helped conduct 38+ research studies, advance 67+ policy wins, and equip 5,500+ women for leadership roles across the country.

Then Melissa Cheatham (Councilmember & Council President, City of Overland Park, Kansas Government) and Audrey Coleman (Director, Dole Institute of Politics) will join her for a real, seated conversation about building trust, creating cultures where people feel valued, and identifying what needs to change.

Don't miss it. See you August 21 in Overland Park! 🎤 Link to register in the comments.

06/07/2026

⚽ 🫶 Proud to see a familiar face in the spotlight during all of the World Cup excitement!⚽🫶

Ruth DeWitt, Director of Community Relations at Explore Lawrence, has been the driving force behind Lawrence's incredible embrace of Algeria's national team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a story that's made international headlines from the BBC to the New York Times and The Guardian.

Ruth served SPAA and the University of Kansas Public Management Center for several years as Communications Manager, and we benefited from her wisdom and energy during that time. Watching her lead the Score Lawrence World Cup Unified Command's Culture & Experiences branch — and just this week receive the 2026 Individual Preparedness Partner Award from the Douglas County Local Emergency Planning Committee — is no surprise to those of us who worked alongside her.

Congratulations, Ruth! The Lawrence community (and the world) is lucky to have you telling its story!

📰 Read more:
⚽ www2.ljworld.com/news/general-news/2026/jun/26/lawrences-embrace-of-algerian-fans-is-international-news-leaders-hope-this-bond-continues-after-the-world-cup/
⚽ www.kshb.com/sports/world-cup/two-unlikely-friends-lawrence-resident-welcomes-algerian-fan-into-her-home
⚽www2.ljworld.com/news/public-safety/2026/jul/02/lawrence-police-explore-lawrence-leader-recognized-for-emergency-preparedness-leadership/

Photo credit: Al Miller/KSHB from story by Lily O'Shea Becker

25/06/2026

Is your local government ready to lead at the next level?

Join us September 18–25, 2026, in Lawrence, KS, for Leading EDGE: High Performing Organizations — an immersive leadership experience built around the High-Performance Organization Model.

Across the week, you'll explore Leadership, Vision, Values, Strategy, Structure, and Systems — the six levers that move organizations from good to great — through real case studies, group projects, and hands-on learning alongside fellow public sector leaders.

Past participants say it best: "The camaraderie and real-life experiences of the participants really made the content come to life."

Early bird registration ends August 7. Spots are limited — learn more and register today: https://tinyurl.com/LeadingEDGE2026