The University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs congratulates Dr. Eric Zeemering on his election as a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), one of the nation’s most prestigious organizations dedicated to advancing excellence in public service.
Zeemering was among 64 leaders from government, academia, nonprofits and industry selected for NAPA’s 2026 class of Academy Fellows. According to NAPA, Fellows are chosen through a rigorous review process that recognizes significant contributions to the fields of public administration and public policy and their commitment to improving government effectiveness and public service.
SPIA also extends its congratulations to Rob Gordon, director of UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, who was elected to the 2026 class alongside Zeemering. In addition to his role at CVIOG, Gordon has taught courses on public finance and economic development in the Master of Public Administration program in SPIA.
“NAPA is a prestigious nonpartisan academy advising government on how to work better,” said Matthew Auer, dean of SPIA. “Eric Zeemering has been doing that for decades and he joins eight others at SPIA who do likewise. All along, he has prepared students for careers in public service. Rob Gordon, director of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at UGA, has been elected a fellow, too. This is a proud day for UGA.”
Zeemering serves as professor and head of SPIA’s Department of Public Administration and Policy. His research focuses on local governance and intergovernmental relations, including how governments collaborate to deliver public services and address complex policy challenges. He is a leading scholar of state and local government, co-editor of State and Local Government Review, and has held leadership roles in both academia and public service.
“I am honored by this recognition,” Zeemering said. “Public administration is a rewarding field of research because we have so many opportunities to collaborate with government professionals for the improvement of public services. I look forward to contributing to the Academy’s work to advance effective, efficient, transparent and accountable government.”
With Zeemering’s election, SPIA now counts nine NAPA Fellows among its faculty:
- Dr. Hal Rainey (2003)
- Dr. Laurence J. O’Toole (2006)
- Dr. Katherine Willoughby (2013)
- Dr. Andrew B. Whitford (2014)
- Dr. Bradley Wright (2015)
- Dr. Edward Kellough (2016)
- Dr. Gene Brewer (2020)
- Dr. Matthew Auer (2023)
- Dr. Eric Zeemering (2026)
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Founded in 1967 and chartered by Congress, the National Academy of Public Administration is an independent, nonpartisan organization that provides expert advice to government leaders and works to advance effective, efficient, transparent and accountable governance. The Academy’s 2026 Fellows will be formally inducted during its National Conference in Washington, D.C., in November.
