2025 SELC

June 5-7, 2025
The Universities at Shady Grove
Rockville, Maryland

The National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) and The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) invite you to the 2025 SELC — a national dialogue to challenge our thinking and stimulate our collective, creative efforts in advancing fairness, opportunity, and justice for all through cutting edge leadership.

Featured Speakers

George H. Frederickson Lecture

This year’s Frederickson Lecturer is Aparna Rae, a dynamic leader, entrepreneur, and advocate dedicated to advancing equity, fostering inclusive workplace cultures, and driving systemic change. With extensive experience across philanthropy, the nonprofit sector, and the tech industry, Aparna has built a career at the intersection of social impact, innovation, and organizational transformation. Featured in Forbes, Seattle Business Magazine, Business Insider and GeekWire, her insights are sure to bring inspiration to all - entrepreneurs, policy makers, practitioners, scholars, and students - as we lead together.

Plenary Speaker

Vernon Wall

A popular thought leader in higher education, non-profit and organization communities, Vernon Wall is a nationally known speaker in the areas of social justice and leadership styles. He is one of the founders and facilitators of the Social Justice Training Institute, and has written several articles and co-edited two books on issues of inclusion on today’s college campus.

Conference Theme & Tracks

The 2025 SELC will center on empowering practitioners and scholars to lead with equity. This year's theme, "Leading Together : A national dialogue to propel us forward," will feature six engaging tracks:

Servant Leadership Rising (SLR)
Community Wealth Building & Regenerative Economics (CWB)
AI & Education: Breaking or Building Barriers (AI)
Entrepreneurship in Policy, Practice & Pedagogy (ENT)
Sustainable Solutions for Inequalities in Housing, Healthcare, Incarceration & Prison Reform, Employment, Food & Transportation (SSI)
Outcomes: Measure Our Progress Toward Greater Fairness, Justice & Expanded Opportunity (OUT)

Full Conference Agenda

Schedule at a Glance

Thursday, June 5, 2025 (Day 1)

Plenary - Opening Session (9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.)
• 9:00 a.m.-9:10 a.m. Greetings from the Hosts
• 9:10 a.m.-9:20 a.m. Welcome from Dr. Jay Perman, Chancellor, University System of Maryland
• 9:20 a.m.-10:00 a.m. We’ve been here before: Engaging in Conversations on Community & Belonging During Our Current Political Climate & Beyond, Vernon Wall

Morning Break I (10:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.)

Full Conference Dialogue (10:15 a.m.-11:00 a.m.)
A local view: Passing and Implementing a Law on Racial Equity and Social Justice: How it was Done in Montgomery County, Maryland

Morning Break II (11:00 a.m.-11:15 a.m.)

Full Conference Dialogue (11:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m.)
In Our Region: Entrepreneurship: Leading with Social Equity

Lunch (12:00 p.m.-12:45 p.m.)

Concurrent Session I (12:45 p.m.-2:00 p.m.)
• “A pathway toward activating social equity in public administration education from the bottom up: The case of the Energy and Environmental Justice Education and Advocacy” (ENT)
• "Creating Justice in a Multiracial Democracy: New Will for Evidence-Based Policies That Work" (CWB)
• “Artificial Intelligence Ethics in Pakistan: Analyzing Morality, Legality, and Cultural Sensitivity in Public Administration” (AI)
• "Exploring Equitable and Sustainable Solutions for the Inequalities in Marginalized Black Communities" (SSI)
• “Measuring Social Equity for Sustainable Solutions – Bridging Policy, Data, and Community Perspectives” (SSI)

Afternoon Break I/Transition (2:00 p.m.-2:15 p.m.)

Concurrent Session II (2:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m.)
• “The Heart of Servant Leaders: Engagement and Community for the Public Good” (SLR)
• "Advancing Social Equity through AI in Public Administration Education" (AI)
• “Criminal and Juvenile Justice Debt Relief Program” (SSI)
• "Balancing Social Justice and Food Security in South Asian Water Management Systems" (SSI)
• “Strategic Equity: Pioneering Resource Access for Sustainable Minority and Women-Led Entrepreneurship” (SSI)

Afternoon Break II/Transition (3:30 p.m.-3:45 p.m.)

Award Ceremony & Plenary (3:45 p.m.-5:00 p.m.)
• 3:45 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Philip J. Rutledge Award
• 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. “Evolution of Montgomery County Maryland Government and Hope for the Future” featuring Former Montgomery County Executive Isiah "Ike" Leggett and his wife and distinguished human resources attorney Catherine Leggett, as well as Jason Green, co-founder of SkillSmart and former Special Assistant and Associate Counsel to President Barack Obama

Welcome Reception (5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.)

Friday, June 6, 2025 (Day 2)

Concurrent Session III (9:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.)
• “Women in Leadership: Overcoming Perceptions and Inequalities” (OUT)
• "The State of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programming and Prose” (OUT)
• “Servant Leadership in Public Service: An Examination of Its Presence and Absence“ (SLR)
• "Addressing Accessibility Research, Narratives and Practice” (OUT)
• “Servant Leadership Rising: Student Perspectives on the Future of Social Equity in Leadership” (SLR)

Morning Break I (10:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m.)

George H. Frederickson Lecture in Social Equity (10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.)
Featured Speaker: Aparna Rae

Lunch (12:00 p.m.-12:45 p.m.)

Concurrent Session IV (12:45 p.m.-2:00 p.m.)
• “Traits, Qualities and Effectiveness of Individuals and Programs in Public Service” (OUT)
• "Equity, Collaboration and Impact: Community Wealth Building through Universities and the Arts” (CWB)
• “Algorithmic Bias on Minority Groups” (AI)
• "Celebrating Environmental Justice: The Corner Stone of Equity in Governance” (ENT)
• “Alternative Leadership Structures: Moving Beyond Representation Toward Justice” (SLR)

Afternoon Break I/Transition (2:00 p.m.-2:15 p.m.)

Concurrent Session V (2:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m.)
• “Race in Health and Research” (OUT)
• "Centering Community Voices: Monitoring Progress and Outcomes Toward Inclusivity and Justice in Community-based Initiatives and Efforts” (OUT)
• “Harnessing Language and Data to Make a Difference in Overcoming Health, Housing and Economic Insecurities” (SSI)
• "The Role of AI in Career Preparedness for Women and Girls Through Education: A Global Review” (AI)
• “Reducing Disproportionate Environmental Impacts: A Performance-based Approach" (OUT)

Afternoon Break II/Transition (3:30 p.m.-3:45 p.m.)

Concurrent Session VI (3:45 p.m.-5:00 p.m.)
• “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Public Service” (OUT)
• "Innovative Solutions for More Sustainable, Equitable Outcomes” (SSI)
• “Enhancing Equity in Overdose Prevention Through Community-Centered Leadership” (SLR)
• "Harnessing Servant Leadership to Drive Social Change and Transform Public Policy” (SLR)
• “The Virtual Commonwealth – a Private Sector Solution for Public Policy Shortcomings” (CWB)

Saturday, June 7, 2025 (Day 3)

Closing Remarks (9:00 a.m.-9:15 a.m.)
James-Christian Blockwood, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Academy of Public Administration

Plenary Session (9:15 a.m.-10:00 a.m.)
"Advancing Equity Through New Economic Thinking", Dr. Ralph Hall

Morning Break (10:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.)

Facilitated Workshop (10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m.)
What did we learn, how do we use what we learned and what’s next?

Lunch (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)
Graduate Student & Doctoral Candidate Networking Event