Alumni

Stay connected.
Student fixes her cap at graduation

Our graduates inspire.

SPIA alumni represent a global community of leaders and innovators dedicated to creating positive change. Their stories inspire future leaders and highlight the values at the core of our school. If you are one of our valued alumni, we want to celebrate your achievements, connect with you at events and provide ways for you to stay engaged.

 

Student at graduation
Stay Connected

We’re proud of our many alumni around the globe, and we’d love to help make connections. Alumni can stay in touch through LinkedIn, events in Pittsburgh, and beyond. Whether it’s a single event or something bigger, we’ll make sure it's easy (and enjoyable!) to engage with SPIA and with Pitt. 

Connect through LinkedIn
Alumni at a reception
Engage with Community

The Pitt Alumni community is supportive and interactive, connecting you with resources to enhance your post-academic experience and beyond the classroom. Be sure your information is current so you can get the latest information on all alumni opportunities available at Pitt. 

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Make an Impact

The generous support of alumni has helped us recruit high-achieving students, support faculty and their research and provide professional development opportunities for current and future students. From volunteering as mentors or participating in Pitt Day of Giving with a gift to SPIA, we're so grateful for alumni support. 

Ways to Give

Our Legacy: From GSPIA to SPIA 

Honoring our past. Shaping our future. 

For more than six decades, the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) prepared leaders who improved communities, strengthened institutions, and made a difference around the world. As our programs and impact expanded — including new undergraduate offerings and interdisciplinary partnerships — our name evolved to reflect that broader mission. Today, the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) continues the GSPIA legacy, carrying forward the same values, world-class faculty, and reputation for excellence that defined our beginnings. If you earned your degree from GSPIA, you are — and always will be — part of that legacy. Your degree remains valid, your connection remains strong, and your story continues as part of SPIA’s ongoing evolution. 

Our Story in Motion 

  • 1958 – GSPIA founded at the University of Pittsburgh
  • 1960s–2010s – Growth, innovation, and global alumni impact
  • 2020s – Undergraduate programs introduced and new pathways to service
  • 2024 – GSPIA officially becomes SPIA: The School of Public and International Affairs

GSPIA built the foundation. SPIA builds the future. One community, one legacy, endless possibility.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Why did GSPIA become SPIA?

Our programs and the students we serve have expanded. With the addition of undergraduate majors, minors, and certificates alongside our master’s and doctoral degrees, “Graduate School” no longer reflected the full scope of who we are.

The new name honors our roots while positioning us for the future as the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) — a school for every stage of public service education.

Does this change affect my degree?

Not at all. You earned your degree from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, and that designation will always be part of your record and your story.

Can I still call myself a GSPIA alum?

Absolutely. If you earned your degree when we were GSPIA, that name is part of your history — and it always will be. Many alumni proudly identify as GSPIA grads, and we celebrate that. You are also part of the broader SPIA community, which connects every generation under one shared mission.

Why not keep “Graduate” in the name?

Our school now educates students across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Removing “Graduate” ensures that all students — no matter where they begin their journey — feel equally represented, while maintaining the prestige and rigor that GSPIA has always been known for.

Does SPIA erase GSPIA’s history?

Quite the opposite. SPIA exists because of GSPIA’s success.

The strength of our alumni, faculty, and legacy made this next chapter possible. We remain proud of our GSPIA heritage, and you’ll continue to see it reflected in our stories, events, and communications.

How can alumni stay connected?

You’re always part of the SPIA family.