Pi Alpha Alpha


Pi Alpha Alpha is an international honor society for students of public administration. It was founded and is administered by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration.
The organization was formed to promote excellence in the study and practice of public administration and public affairs. There are 167 Pi Alpha Alpha chapters, with more than 30,000 members.

History

Pi Alpha Alpha was established by National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration in 1974. It was created as an honor society to encourage excellence and recognize students of public affairs and administration. Its first president was Don L. Bowen.
In its first three years, Pi Alpha Alpha established 33 chapters and had initiated 600 members. It held its first national convention in April 1978. It joined the Association of College Honor Societies in 1982 but has since left that organization.
In 1991, it had chartered 78 chapters and initiated 7,800 members. By 2012, it had 162 active chapters, an active membership of 2,359, and a total of 43,363 initiates. As of 2022, there are more than 160 Pi Alpha Alpha chapters. The society has initiated more than 30,000 members.
The society is governed by a national council and executive committee. It annually presents an award for the Best Student Manuscript in Public Administration to a graduate and a doctoral student. It holds biennial meetings in conjunction with NASPAA. Its national headquarters are located in 1029 Vermont Avenue in Washington, D.C.

Symbols

Pi Alpha Alpha's colors are light blue and gold. Its publications are the PAA Roster and the PAA Brochure.

Membership

There are three different membership types: student, faculty or staff, and honorary. Undergraduate students are required to have half of the NASPAA degree program coursework completed and at least a 3.7 GPA. Graduate and doctoral students may also join. Membership is for life.
PI Alpha Alpha's national council conveys an honorary membership at its biennial meeting to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the profession.

Chapters

Following is a list of Pi Alpha Alpha chapters. Inactive institutions are in italics.
InstitutionCharter dateLocationStateStatus
Albany State UniversityAlbany, GeorgiaGAActive
American UniversityWashington, D.C.DCActive
American University in CairoCairo, EgyptActive
Appalachian State UniversityBoone, North CarolinaNCInactive
Arizona State UniversityTempe, ArizonaAZActive
Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, ArkansasARActive
Auburn UniversityAuburn, AlabamaALActive
Auburn University at MontgomeryMontgomery, AlabamaALActive
Augusta State UniversityAugusta, GeorgiaGAActive
Barry UniversityMiami Shores, FloridaFLActive
Baruch CollegeNew York City, New YorkNYActive
Binghamton UniversityVestal, New YorkNYActive
Boise State UniversityBoise, IdahoIDActive
Bowie State UniversityBowie, MarylandMDActive
Bowling Green State UniversityBowling Green, OhioOHActive
Buffalo State UniversityBuffalo, New YorkNYActive
California State Polytechnic University, PomonaPomona, CaliforniaCAActive
California State University, BakersfieldBakersfield, CaliforniaCAActive
California State University, Dominguez HillsCarson, CaliforniaCAActive
California State University, East BayHayward, CaliforniaCAActive
California State University, FullertonFullerton, CaliforniaCAActive
California State University, Long BeachLong Beach, CaliforniaCAActive
California State University San BernardinoSan Bernardino, CaliforniaCAActive
Capella UniversityMinneapolis, MinnesotaMNActive
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPAInactive
Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, MichiganMIActive
Clark Atlanta UniversityAtlanta, GeorgiaGAActive
Cleveland State UniversityCleveland, OhioOHActive
College of CharlestonCharleston, South CarolinaSCActive
Columbus State UniversityColumbus, GeorgiaGAActive
Cornell UniversityIthaca, New YorkNYActive
DePaul UniversityChicago, IllinoisILActive
Drake UniversityDes Moines, IowaIAActive
East Carolina UniversityGreenville, North CarolinaNCActive
Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmond, KentuckyKYActive
Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, MichiganMIActive
Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityTeaneck, New JerseyNJActive
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton, FloridaFLActive
Florida International UniversityMiami, FloridaFLActive
Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FloridaFLActive
George Mason UniversityFairfax, VirginiaVAActive
George Washington University1977Washington, D.C.DCActive
Georgia College & State UniversityMilledgeville, GeorgiaGAActive
Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro, GeorgiaGAActive
Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, GeorgiaGAActive
Golden Gate UniversitySan Francisco, CaliforniaCOActive
Governors State UniversityUniversity Park, IllinoisILActive
Grambling State UniversityGrambling, LouisianaLAActive
Grand Valley State UniversityAllendale, MichiganMIActive
Hamad Bin Khalifa UniversityDoha, QatarActive
Hawaii Pacific UniversityHonolulu, HawaiiHIActive
Howard UniversityWashington, D.C.DCInactive
Idaho State UniversityPocatello, IdahoIDActive
Indiana University BloomingtonBloomington, IndianaINActive
Indiana University NorthwestGary, IndianaINActive
Indiana University–Purdue University IndianapolisIndianapolis, IndianaINInactive
Indiana University South BendSouth Bend, IndianaINActive
Iowa State UniversityAmes, IowaIAInactive
Jackson State UniversityJackson, MississippiMSActive
James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, VirginiaVAActive
John Jay College of Criminal JusticeNew York City, New YorkNYActive
Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KansasKSActive
Kean UniversityUnion Township, New JerseyNJActive
Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, GeorgiaGAActive
Kent State UniversityKent, OhioOHActive
Kentucky State UniversityFrankfort, KentuckyKYActive
Long Island University, Brooklyn CampusBrooklyn, New YorkNYActive
LIU PostBrookville, New YorkNYActive
Louisiana State UniversityBaton Rouge, LouisianaLAActive
Marist UniversityPoughkeepsie, New YorkNYActive
Marywood UniversityScranton, PennsylvaniaPAInactive
Metropolitan College of New YorkNew York City, New YorkNYActive
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MichiganMIInactive
Mid-America Christian UniversityOklahoma City, OklahomaOKInactive
Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MississippiMSActive
Mississippi Valley State UniversityMississippi Valley State, Mississippi,MSInactive
Missouri State UniversitySpringfield, MissouriMOInactive
New Mexico State UniversityLas Cruces, New MexicoNMActive
The New School For Social ResearchNew York City, New YorkNYInactive
North Carolina Central UniversityDurham, North CarolinaNCActive
North Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, North CarolinaNCActive
Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, ArizonaAZActive
Northern Illinois UniversityDeKalb, IllinoisILActive
Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland Heights, KentuckyKYActive
Norwich UniversityNorthfield, VermontVTActive
Nova Southeastern UniversityFort Lauderdale, FloridaFLActive
Oakland UniversityRochester Hills, MichiganMIActive
Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OhioOHActive
Old Dominion UniversityNorfolk, VirginiaVAActive
Pace UniversityNew York City, New YorkNYActive
Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity Park, PennsylvaniaPAActive
Penn State HarrisburgLower Swatara Township, PennsylvaniaPAActive
Pepperdine UniversityMalibu, CaliforniaCAActive
Portland State UniversityPortland, OregonORActive
Purdue University Fort WayneFort Wayne, IndianaINActive
Regent UniversityVirginia Beach, VirginiaVAActive
Russell Sage CollegeTroy, New YorkNYInactive
Rutgers University–CamdenCamden, New JerseyNJActive
Rutgers University–New BrunswickNew Brunswick, New JerseyNJActive
Rutgers University–NewarkNewark, New JerseyNJActive
St. Mary's University, TexasSan Antonio, TexasTXActive
Saint Peter's UniversityJersey City, New JerseyNJActive
San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CaliforniaCAActive
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CaliforniaCAActive
San Jose State UniversitySan Jose, CaliforniaCAActive
Savannah State UniversitySavannah, GeorgiaGAActive
Seattle UniversitySeattle, WashingtonWAActive
Seton Hall UniversitySouth Orange, New JerseyNJActive
Shippensburg UniversityShippensburg, PennsylvaniaPAActive
Southern Illinois University CarbondaleCarbondale, IllinoisILActive
Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville, IllinoisILActive
Southern UniversityBaton Rouge, LouisianaLAActive
Southern Utah UniversityCedar City, UtahUTActive
State University of New York at AlbanyAlbany, New YorkNYInactive
State University of New York College at BrockportBrockport, New YorkNYActive
Stephen F. Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, TexasTXInactive
Suffolk UniversityBoston, MassachusettsMAActive
Tennessee State UniversityNashville, TennesseeTNActive
Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station, TexasTXActive
Texas A&M University–Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi, TexasTXActive
Texas Southern UniversityHouston, TexasTXActive
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TexasTXActive
Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TexasTXActive
Troy UniversityTroy, AlabamaALInactive
University of AkronAkron, OhioOHInactive
University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AlabamaALActive
University of Alaska AnchorageAnchorage, AlaskaAKActive
University at Albany, SUNYAlbany, New YorkNYActive
University of ArizonaTucson, ArizonaAZActive
University of Arkansas at Little RockLittle Rock, ArkansasARActive
University of BaltimoreBaltimore, MarylandMDInactive
University of California, RiversideRiverside, CaliforniaCAActive
University of Central FloridaOrlando, FloridaFLActive
University of Central OklahomaEdmond, OklahomaOKActive
University of ColoradoBoulder, ColoradoCOActive
University of Colorado Colorado SpringsColorado Springs, ColoradoCOActive
University of Colorado DenverDenver, ColoradoCOActive
University of ConnecticutStorrs, ConnecticutCTActive
University of DaytonDayton, OhioOHActive
University of DelawareNewark, DelawareDEActive
University of GeorgiaAthens, GeorgiaGAActive
University of GuamMangilao, GuamGUActive
University of Hawaiʻi at MānoaHonolulu, HawaiiHIActive
University of HoustonHouston, TexasTXActive
University of Houston–Clear LakeHouston, TexasTXInactive
University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IllinoisILActive
University of Illinois SpringfieldSpringfield, IllinoisILActive
University of KansasLawrence, KansasKSActive
University of KentuckyLexington, KentuckyKYActive
University of La VerneLa Verne, CaliforniaCAActive
University of LouisvilleLouisville, KentuckyKYActive
University of MaineOrono, MaineMEInactive
University of Maine at AugustaAugusta, MaineMEActive
University of Maryland, College ParkCollege Park, MarylandMDActive
University of Massachusetts BostonBoston, MassachusettsMAActive
University of MemphisMemphis, TennesseeTNActive
University of Michigan–FlintFlint, MichiganMIActive
University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MinnesotaMNActive
University of MississippiOxford, MississippiMSInactive
University of MissouriColumbia, MissouriMOActive
University of Missouri–Kansas CityKansas City, MissouriMOActive
University of Missouri–St. LouisSt. Louis, MissouriMOActive
University of MontanaMissoula, MontanaMTActive
University of Nebraska OmahaOmaha, NebraskaNEActive
University of Nevada, Las VegasParadise, NevadaNVInactive
University of New HavenWest Haven, ConnecticutCTActive
University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, New MexicoNMActive
University of New OrleansNew Orleans, LouisianaLAActive
University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, North CarolinaNCActive
University of North Carolina at PembrokePembroke, North CarolinaNCActive
University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington, North CarolinaNCActive
University of North DakotaGrand Forks, North DakotaNDActive
University of North FloridaJacksonville, FloridaFLActive
University of North TexasDenton, TexasTXActive
University of North Texas at DallasDallas, TexasTXActive
University of OklahomaNorman, OklahomaOKActive
University of OregonEugene, OregonORActive
University of PittsburghPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPAActive
University of Rhode IslandKingston, Rhode IslandRIActive
University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CaliforniaCAActive
University of South CarolinaColumbia, South CarolinaSCActive
University of South DakotaVermillion, South DakotaSDActive
University of South FloridaTampa, FloridaFLActive
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CaliforniaCAActive
University of TennesseeKnoxville, TennesseeTNActive
University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, TexasTXActive
University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TexasTXActive
University of Texas at El PasoEl Paso, TexasTXActive
University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TexasTXActive
University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyEdinburg, TexasTXActive
University of Texas–Pan AmericanEdinburg, TexasTXInactive
University of the PacificStockton, CaliforniaCAInactive
University of ToledoToledo, OhioOHInactive
University of UtahSalt Lake City, UtahUTActive
University of VermontBurlington, VermontVTActive
University of VirginiaCharlottesville, VirginiaVAActive
University of WashingtonSeattle, WashingtonWAActive
University of West FloridaPensacola, FloridaFLInactive
University of West GeorgiaCarrollton, GeorgiaGAActive
University of Wisconsin–MadisonMadison, WisconsinWIActive
University of WyomingLaramie, WyomingWYActive
Valdosta State UniversityValdosta, GeorgiaGAActive
Villanova UniversityVillanova, PennsylvaniaPAActive
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VirginiaVAActive
Virginia TechBlacksburg, VirginiaVAActive
Walden UniversityMinneapolis, MinnesotaMNActive
Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MichiganMIActive
West Chester UniversityWest Chester, PennsylvaniaPAActive
West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, West VirginiaWVActive
Western Carolina UniversityCullowhee, North CarolinaNCActive
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MichiganMIActive
Westfield State UniversityWestfield, MassachusettsMAActive
Willamette UniversitySalem, OregonORActive
Wright State University, Dayton CampusDayton, OhioOHActive

Notable members

Honorary members

Following are some of Pi Alpha Alpha's honorary members.