Sacramento Chapter, American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)
The Sacramento Chapter (ASPA Sacramento) was founded in 1940. ASPA Sacramento's activities include the annual public service reception, educational programs where speakers and panels discuss timely public administration issues, civic service outreach events, publication of a newsletter, and an annual awards dinner. Since 1982, ASPA Sacramento has recognized outstanding local public administrators, professors and students through its awards program.
Copyright © [ASPA Sacramento]
ANNE RUDIN
1924-2021
We are accepting nominations for the
2021-2022 Sacramento Chapter Annual Awards
Click HERE for more information!
ASPA Sacramento has lost an esteemed colleague and a longtime member. Former CSU Sacramento President Donald R. Gerth recently passed away at age 93. President Gerth had been an ASPA member since 1948.
As reported in the Sacramento Bee and elsewhere, Donald Rogers Gerth was born in Chicago and earned three degrees at University of Chicago, including a Ph.D in Political Science. He also served in the Air Force from 1952 to 1956. His stellar academic career includes positions at University of Chicago (Assistant Dean of Students and Chancellor), San Francisco State (Associate Dean), CSU Chico (Dean of Students and Professor), CSU Dominguez Hills (President), and CSU Sacramento (President from 1984 to 2003). In all, President Gerth served 45 years in the CSU system.
President Gerth was responsible for many accomplishments during his tenure at CSU Sacramento:
- Reorganized the university with new leadership and priorities
- Elevated CSUS as a “capitol university” with more governmental speakers, groups, and programs
- Formed a commission to study how to make CSUS more vital to the region
- Worked to address and reduce racism at CSUS
- Helped CSUS athletics improve its credibility and join the Big Sky Conference
- Defended the CSUS affirmative action program
- Raised millions for expanding and modernizing the campus
- Founded the Center for California Studies
- Founded the Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution
- Established a School of Arts, and
- Initiated master’s degrees in public policy and administration and software engineering.
ASPA Sacramento honored Donald Gerth twice. In 1993, we presented him with our “Outstanding Public Administrator Award.” In 2003, we recognized him as an “Outstanding Educator.” In addition, President Gerth was a frequent attendee at our annual dinner, greeting old friends and meeting new ASPA members and students. One of our chapter officers saw him at the mall a couple years ago. He reported that Dr. Gerth was sharp as ever and still up-to-date on current events and education issues. We will miss this great public servant.
Interested in learning more about the Sacramento Chapter of ASPA?
Join us at one of our monthly council meetings! We meet at 6:00pm on the third Monday of each month.
2021: September 20, October 18, November 15
Meetings are held online due to Covid-19, email SacramentoASPA@gmail.com for more information!
Click HERE for a digital copy of our newsletter from Jan/Feb 2020
ASPA Sacramento is very sad to report the recent passing of Former Sacramento Mayor Anne Rudin at age 97. Mayor Rudin was an excellent public servant and a friend to our chapter.
As noted in the Sacramento Bee, Anne Rudin was born in New Jersey and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Temple University. She worked as a registered nurse and taught nursing at Temple. In the 1950s, she moved to Sacramento. She earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from University of Southern California.
Her distinguished career included service as:
• Community Activist
• President of the League of Women Voters of Sacramento
• President of League of Women Voters of California
• Sacramento City Councilwoman (1971-1983)
• Sacramento City Mayor (1983-92)
Anne Rudin was passionate about many issues, and she worked to improve: community housing, gun control, women’s rights, gay rights, and child care. She was also a supporter of local arts.
ASPA Sacramento honored Anne Rudin twice. In 1994, we presented her with our “Outstanding Public Service Award.” In her acceptance speech, she praised the longtime assistance of staff and aides in her career, and shared that, although she was no longer mayor, she was “as busy as ever” on several public service endeavors. In 2004, we gave Anne Rudin our “Contributor to Public Arts” award for her efforts to support the arts community. She commented, “We have to keep working on the arts, we should have an arts banner on City Hall.”