The Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas released its inaugural Impact Report, which shows that it has had a more than $15.8 million economic effect over its 20-year history.
Officials said the report touts stories of public service leadership, but also the measurable outcomes behind that work, including nearly 550,000 field service hours across 100 countries and 92% of graduates employed within six months.
“The Clinton School was founded on a bold idea – that leadership is best learned through action,” said Dean Victoria DeFrancesco Soto. “We pioneered the nation’s first Master of Public Service degree to prepare leaders who blend academic theory with impactful community work. Our inaugural Impact Report showcases 20 years of the leadership and collaboration our students bring to Arkansas, the nation, and the world.”
Since 2005, the Clinton School has pioneered a model of graduate education where the community serves as the classroom. The school’s curriculum spans nearly 800 community partnerships.
“A key component of the mission of the University of Arkansas System is public service, and nowhere is that better embodied than the Clinton School,” said Gen. Jay B. Silveria, President of the University of Arkansas System. “The students and faculty at the Clinton School are making an impact on communities across Arkansas, the country, and the world, and I am proud of the work they do and how it reflects positively on the value of public higher education to our state.”
The Clinton School’s influence is perhaps best seen through long-term community transformations. In Newport, a 2008 student project to revitalize the downtown area evolved into the premiere Delta Arts Festival, which now hosts hundreds of artists and brings significant revenue to the region.
“The Delta Arts Festival was born out of a collaboration between the Clinton School of Public Service and the community of Newport,” said Jon Chadwell, Director of Economic Development for the Newport Economic Development Commission. “We know none of this would have happened without our relationship with the Clinton School and their incredibly talented students.”
International highlights include research in Tanzania to equip young entrepreneurs with the skills and support to launch their own ventures, textile market expansion in Peru, and housing solutions for the homeless in Brussels.
“These team-based, international, and individual projects have resulted not only in strategic learning opportunities for students but in many cases positive and long-term outcomes for community partners and organizations,” said Clinton School Dean Emeritus James L. “Skip” Rutherford III. “From the Delta Arts Festival in Newport to a freshwater well in Tanzania, Clinton School student projects have, are, and will continue to make a difference.”
As the Clinton School looks toward the next 20 years, it said it remains focused on “training nimble, innovative leaders ready to solve the challenges of a new generation.”
“As we prepare to graduate our 20th class of graduates in May, this Impact Report serves as a proud reminder of the impact created by our students, graduates, and faculty,” said DeFrancesco Soto. “It is a showcase of how applied public service leadership can create lasting change for the communities that need it the most. Our work is just beginning, and the need for innovative leaders has never been greater.”
To read more from the economic impact report, click here.
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