Joint SECoPA and NECoPA Conference 2026

The Southeastern (SECoPA) and Northeastern (NECoPA) Conferences of Public Administration are coming together for their first joint conference. Hosted by the School of Public Service at Old Dominion University, this year's conference provides an opportunity to bring together scholars, educators, and practitioners from across the country and the globe. The 2026 conference theme, 'Two Regions, One Future: Shaping Governance, Policy, and Public Management Through Research, Education, and Practice,' reflects a commitment to advancing public administration by bridging regional perspectives. It emphasizes the dynamic interplay between academic research, professional education, and applied practice in shaping the future of governance, policy, and public management. The conference fosters cross-regional dialogue on pressing public service challenges, such as climate resilience, equity, intergovernmental coordination, and institutional trust, inviting comparative analysis, pedagogical innovation, and practice-informed scholarship to strengthen public administration and prepare the next generation of public leaders.