U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin will Deliver Keynote Address at Feb. 15 Dinner

DePaul University has—since 1970—provided management education for hundreds of professionals who have made a mark in the nonprofit, non-governmental and public sectors. DePaul is now expanding its commitment to public service by elevating its distinguished program to the School of Public Service (SPS)—a move that will be celebrated at a dinner Feb. 15 at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., beginning at 6 p.m.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), a longtime supporter of DePaul, will deliver a keynote speech on the importance of public service.

Presently, DePaul’s SPS trains close to 400 undergraduate and graduate students each quarter to lead community and other service organizations whose work complements the university’s Vincentian mission. Alumni land jobs in association management, fundraising, health care, cultural and arts institutions, city and village management, government agencies and service and political organizations, to name a few.

“It's an honorable profession to work in government, non-profit or NGOs (non-governmental organizations), literally helping the body politic to function well, always with an eye toward those left on the sidelines by our systems,” explained the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., president of DePaul. “I think Vincent de Paul would be proud that a university under his name is preparing professionals to make this contribution.”

The university’s namesake, St. Vincent de Paul, was a 17th century French priest who was known as the “Apostle of Charity.” DePaul’s identity is rooted in his example, fostering a values-based education centered on service to others, particularly the marginalized of society.

According to the Rev. J. Patrick Murphy, C.M., director of SPS, the post 9/11 years have brought a spike in student enrollment in service-oriented occupations. “The future for our graduates and alumni is bright in government, the non-profit and for-profit public service sectors as the worldwide demand for public service professionals increases,” said Murphy. “Here at DePaul, we offer students an opportunity to recognize the merit of each individual as we work in partnership to build a multiracial and international community through leadership of vital organizations. Our alums like to call us ‘an MBA with a conscience.'"

One of few public service schools in the country, DePaul’s newest school is unique in that it provides education for practitioners in both nonprofit management and public administration, while building on the interdependency of the two disciplines.

SPS’s four graduate programs: public service management, international public service, health law and policy, and a master's/juris doctoral program in public service management attract students who work in a broad range of fields. In addition to holding leadership positions at colleges and universities, and in municipal government, SPS graduates play key roles in such recognized organizations as the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Alliance of the American Dental Association, Blue Cross & Blue Shield Foundation, the Kinship Foundation, Voices for Illinois Children, Prevent Blindness America and Rush University Medical Center.

International public service, one of the newest master’s degree programs, is designed to educate global managers and leaders working in NGOs, intergovernmental organizations and the nonprofit sector. It was specifically designed for students who bring to DePaul work experience in other countries and transnational organizations.

According to Murphy, the program builds on the international work experience and offers an education that is “international by design.”

“We believe that today’s professional should have a broad and diverse understanding of administration and policy analysis across cultures,” said Murphy. “We offer 15 courses in 10 countries, and we have faculty who hail from China, India, Italy, Russia and Nigeria.”

The opportunity to study abroad is the centerpiece of SPS’s programs. Students’ classrooms have extended to Brazil, Belgium, Ireland and Mexico. However, some of the most successful study outside the classroom has been conducted here in the United States. One such project, under the leadership of Gloria Simo, an associate professor of public service, involves students who have been working since Hurricane Katrina to put in place redevelopment plans and services for the devastated Tulane-Canal area of New Orleans.