In Fall 2024, the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Political Science and Public Administration received support from UAB’s Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) to launch the Alabama Public Service Training Initiative (APSTI) with the mission to advance more effective, efficient, and responsive public and nonprofit sectors. The SIF invests in large, cross-campus projects that align with the University's strategic plan, Forging Ahead, and bring significant benefits to the entire institution.
In line with UAB’s Community Engagement Pillar, APSTI will serve as the hub for UAB to deliver research, consulting, and professional development for nonprofit and government employees across the state. APSTI will highlight the importance of public service through three signature programs that address every stage of the public service pipeline.
The Future Public Service Leaders Academy will introduce high school students to leadership opportunities in public service, ensuring the future of public service is shaped by the best and brightest leaders. Early and mid-career public servants will be able to access and leverage the Public Service Micro Credential Curriculum which will provide accessible professional development opportunities. In addition, the Public Service Recognition Week will acknowledge Alabamians who have dedicated themselves to serving their communities.
In March 2025, Kristin Boggs was named founding director of APSTI. Boggs brings over 19 years of experience in service learning and community outreach, having begun her career at The University of Alabama, where she helped establish the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility. She then moved to UAB to help launch the Global and Community Leadership Honors Program. Kristin later worked with graduate and professional students, serving as the Director of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine’s Office of Service Learning and founding the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship of Alabama.
“I’ve had the pleasure of mentoring college and graduate students who engaged the community both to learn and serve. With APSTI, I look forward to expanding my work, all the way from high school students through current professionals,” Boggs said, “Public service is a noble calling, and whether someone is a public librarian, city planner, accountant at a nonprofit, or in numerous other public or nonprofit roles, we look forward to coming alongside them to provide additional training, encouragement, and early career exposure to ensure they are best equipped to serve their constituents.”
Beyond its signature programs, APSTI will also serve as a hub for faculty to provide research expertise and conduct evaluations for the public and nonprofit sectors, and it will offer opportunities for UAB to work with organizations across Alabama on community-engaged research projects. In addition to research, APSTI will connect UAB undergraduate and graduate students with internship opportunities with public and nonprofit organizations.
APSTI builds on the Department of Political Science and Public Administration’s long history of research and teaching focused on improving the public and nonprofit sectors.
“Through the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree, Nonprofit Management Certificate, and Public Management Certificate, our faculty have trained many of the region’s public servant leaders, including many at UAB, and they have provided their expertise through a myriad of research and consulting projects” said Robert Blanton, Ph.D., chair of the department. “With APSTI, we can expand access to the knowledge base we have built. We look forward to expanding our service to the public and nonprofit sectors, whether through energizing high school and college students to become future public servants, or through providing opportunities for current public service employees looking for a ‘refresh’ on topics and skills.”
Interested to learn more about how you can connect with the work of APSTI? Contact Kristin Boggs (kboggs@uab.edu) to discuss ways to collaborate. Or, drop-in to the launch event on April 17 between 8:30-10:00 a.m. at the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts (AEIVA). Campus and community members are encouraged to come and learn more. Please RSVP here.
