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Andrus Center for Public Policy

From Interim Dean Giacomazzi:

The School of Public Service is pleased to host the Andrus Center for Public Policy. The Andrus Center advances the legacy issues of former Idaho Governor and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Cecil D. Andrus: the wise use of our environmental resources and public lands, proper funding of education and the cultivation of leadership from all segments of our society.

In this issue of Public Interest, we’ll give you an update on the popular Women and Leadership Conference, we’ll introduce you to Andrus Center Executive Director Danielle Trujillo, and we’ll share some memories of our friend and colleague, the late Dr. John Freemuth.

We’ll also introduce you to three outstanding Andrus Scholars. These current Boise State students will share how the Andrus Scholarship is helping them gain the skills and experience to become future leaders.

We’re proud of our Andrus Scholars and are pleased to be able to support them. We ask that you please consider donating to the Andrus Scholars program. Your support helps us train a new generation of service-minded scholars and leaders working in the public interest.

Andrew Giacomazzi
Interim Dean, School of Public Service
Boise State University

Meet the Andrus Scholars

Andrus Scholars are placed in a sponsored internship with federal, state, nonprofit, or other mission-centered business enterprises that provide students with meaningful work experience. This experience enhances learning and skill development, assists in post-graduation job placement, and ultimately supports the development of the environmental and public lands stewards of tomorrow.

Andrus Scholars receive $6,000 in scholar funds to help pay for internship credit hours, provide the equivalent to a living wage for hours worked, and any internship-related travel and expenses.

Donate to support Andrus Scholars

Claire Vaage

Watch our interview with Claire

Josh Schreiter

Watch our interview with Josh

Zoe McCarty

Watch our interview with Zoe
SPS Interim Dean Andrew Giacomazzi interviews Danielle Trujillo

Academics talking academics in elevators

In an exciting new edition of Academics Talking Academics in (Virtual) Elevators, School of Public Service Interim Dean Andrew Giacomazzi interviews Andrus Center Executive Director Danielle Trujillo. They discuss:

  • What’s the Andrus Center all about?
  • Directing the Andrus Center during challenging times
  • The 2020 Women and Leadership Conference
  • Andrus Scholars and how you can support them
Danielle Trujillo
Watch the Interview

Women and Leadership Goes Virtual

Like many organizations, the Andrus Center has chosen to embrace the new dynamic created by COVID-19 and is moving our 2020 conference to a virtual platform. This year’s Women and Leadership conference will echo the same great content and energy of the past seven years, but with exciting new possibilities as a 100% virtually hosted conference. Attendees can expect a different kind of virtual stage experience from other webinar centric options utilized recently for online meetings.

Our goal is to cultivate the exciting possibilities that are now available to the Andrus Center in developing this year’s conference virtually, while still maintaining the quality experience attendees of past Women and Leadership conferences have come to expect.

Register for the Conference
Photo credit: Pamela Heckel, unsplash.com

Remembering John Freemuth

Boise State Distinguished Professor John Freemuth unexpectedly passed away in early May. Freemuth was a former director of the Andrus Center, a colleague in the School of Public Service, and a mentor and friend to many. The Blue Review, Boise State’s journal of popular scholarship, recently offered this remembrance of Freemuth, written by Scott Martin.

Read the article in The Blue Review