HR 1724: Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University; 30th anniversary; commend

House Resolution 1724

By: Representatives Ridley of the 22nd, Jones of the 47th, Park of the 107th, Fleming of the 114th, Sanchez of the 42nd, and others

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing and commending the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University on the occasion of its 30th anniversary; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the Georgia State University Policy School welcomed its inaugural class in the fall of 1996 through the collective efforts of more than 200 distinguished faculty members committed to excellence in public policy scholarship and instruction, and under the leadership of its deans in succession, Dr. Roy Bahl, Dr. James Alm, Dr. W. Bartley Hildreth, Dr. Robert Moore, Dr. Mary Beth Walker, Dr. Sally Wallace, Dr. Ann-Margaret Esnard, and Dr. Thomas J. Vicino, it has steadfastly advanced the objective of achieving excellence in the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policy in order to prepare its students to serve and lead public and nonprofit institutions throughout the State of Georgia and beyond; and

WHEREAS, in 1999, the Georgia Board of Regents approved the naming of the school in honor of Ambassador Andrew Young, and through the support of corporate and philanthropic partners, the school strengthened its commitment to global engagement, human rights, and the advancement of economic opportunity as a means to improve quality of life for all citizens; and

WHEREAS, over three decades, the Andrew Young School has expanded into a nationally recognized school ranked in the top 20 of schools of public affairs, and it now encompasses a distinctive group of disciplines, including criminal justice and criminology, economics, public management and policy, social work, and urban studies that collaborate to address complex public challenges in innovative and evidence-based ways; and

WHEREAS, the school has been strengthened by the generous support of the State of Georgia, the Georgia General Assembly, and numerous benefactors, enabling the growth of nationally and internationally recognized research centers, including the Georgia Health Policy Center, Georgia Policy Labs, the Fiscal Research Center, the Center for State and Local Finance, the International Center for Public Policy, and the Experimental Economics Center; and

WHEREAS, through these centers and its academic programs, the Andrew Young School advances scholarship and applied research in critical policy domains such as health policy, public finance and budgeting, education policy, cybersecurity, nonprofit management, and urban policy, bringing distinction to the State of Georgia and informing sound policymaking at the local, state, national, and global levels; and

WHEREAS, the school enrolls more than 2,200 students annually and has educated over 20,000 alumni who serve in leadership roles across government agencies, nonprofit organizations, international institutions, and the private sector, strengthening communities throughout Georgia and around the world; and

WHEREAS, consistent with its founding mission, the Andrew Young School integrates rigorous academic instruction with hands-on experiential learning, including internships, community partnerships, policy consulting, and interdisciplinary initiatives, thereby cultivating the next generation of ethical, innovative, and service-oriented leaders; and

WHEREAS, the year 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, providing an opportunity to recognize its enduring contributions to public service education, policy research, economic development, and community advancement across this state.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize and commend the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University on the occasion of its 30th anniversary and express their appreciation for its substantial and continuing contributions to the education of policymakers, public servants, nonprofit leaders, and scholars for the State of Georgia. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University.