KU News Release

Two KU public administration graduates in the national spotlight tonight

LAWRENCE — Two University of Kansas public administration graduates will be in the national spotlight tonight when President Bush delivers the State of the Union address.

Greensburg City Manager Steve Hewitt, a 2007 graduate of KU's Certified Public Management program, will be sitting next to First Lady Laura Bush during the annual speech. The president is expected to introduce Hewitt and praise his environmentally friendly rebuilding efforts since a tornado leveled Greensburg last spring.

Immediately following the president’s speech, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will deliver the Democratic response to a national TV audience. Sebelius earned a master's degree in public administration at KU in 1977.

Ranked first in the nation in city management and urban policy programs by U.S. News, the KU Department of Public Administration offers master's and doctoral degrees in public administration plus an undergraduate major in public administration at the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park.

The Certified Public Manager program, based in Topeka, was established in 1993. Since then, more than 800 public managers across Kansas have completed certification. The yearlong course concludes with a December graduation. Participants include state, local and federal workers. In Southwest Kansas, the monthly class rotates among sites in Liberal, Dodge City and Garden City to accommodate students from the area. The Certified Public Management program is also offered in the Kansas City area, this year in Olathe.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.