Anita F. Alpern Scholarship

The Anita F. Alpern Scholarship was established through a gift from the estate of the late Anita F. Alpern. Professor Alpern served for twenty years as a Distinguished Adjunct in Residence at SPA. She taught courses in public administration and administrative ethics in the graduate MPA and Key Executive Leadership MPA programs, and was instrumental in raising the visibility of SPA in the federal government. Awardees are selected based upon merit, financial need, and commitment to public service.

Applicants must submit an essay describing their major strengths and how their participation in the Key Executive Leadership Program has enhanced their leadership potential and the public service (essay limited to 500 words). In addition to the essay, applicants must submit recommendation letters from three individuals, including one Key faculty member. The scholarship is awarded in late spring.

Contact Key Associate Director, Jennifer Tether at jtether@american.edu, for more information.

Number of available awards: TBA
2025-2026 Award: TBA
Application Deadline: February 7th, 2025

If you would like to donate to this Scholarship, you can Make A Gift. 

Donald G. Zauderer Scholarship 

Funded by donations from former students, family, friends and colleagues, the Donald G. Zauderer Key Executive Leadership Programs Scholarship provides a scholarship to partially support selected students' costs associated with obtaining a MPA degree in the Key Executive Leadership program.

Applicants for the scholarship must be admitted into the Key Executive Leadership MPA Program and not be receiving financial support from their employer . Applicants must submit an essay describing their major strengths and how their participation in the Key Executive Leadership Program has enhanced their leadership potential and the public service (essay limited to 500 words). In addition to the essay, applicants must submit recommendation letters from three individuals, including one Key faculty member. The scholarship is awarded in late spring.

As a faculty member at American University for over thirty-two years , Dr. Zauderer co-founded and directed the Key Executive Leadership Program. He continually worked to improve the program out of a profound sense of obligation to students and their sponsoring organizations. Dr. Zauderer was known as a caring teacher who brings out the best in his students. His knowledge, wry sense of humor and emphasis on colleagueship, intelligent discourse, and respectful sharing of diverse ideas, helped create a relaxed and focused atmosphere for deep learning in the classroom. His students honored his contributions by establishing this scholarship, and placing a tree and monument next to the Woods-Brown Amphitheater on the AU campus.

Contact Key Associate Director, Jennifer Tether at jtether@american.edu, for more information.

Number of available awards: 1
2025-2026 Award: $5,000
Application Deadline: February 7th, 2025

If you would like to donate to this Scholarship, you can Make A Gift. 

Josem D. Diaz serves as the Vice President for Development Business Operations at the United Service Organizations (USO), where he oversees leading and strategic managing operations, systems, and processes supporting the USO’s global development efforts.

In addition to his role at the USO, Diaz has been a member of the Upper Iowa University Board of Trustees since 2017, currently serving as the board chair of academic and student affairs and a member of the governance and development committees.

Previously, Diaz held the position of Vice President for College Advancement and Chief Development Officer at Eureka College, where he was instrumental in advancing the college’s financial, capital, and academic growth by strengthening and expanding its constituency and fostering increased involvement and support.

With 20 years of experience in development, higher education, operations, stewardship, and campaign readiness, Diaz has demonstrated strategic planning and comprehensive campaign management expertise. He has a proven track record of leading teams to achieve optimal performance and operational efficiency.

Diaz has also served as Assistant Vice President and Advancement Chief Operations Officer at Yeshiva University, New York, where he provided leadership, direction, and oversight of all business operations and administrative areas in support of fundraising and strategic goals. Before that, he was the Assistant Vice President of Advancement Operations at American University, Washington D.C., where he supported onboarding a new President and led the campaign readiness assessment for AU's transformational campaign and the first CRM Advance implementation.

Diaz holds a B.S. in Forensic Psychology from Nova Southeastern University and is currently pursuing his Key Executive MPA from American University.

A native of Miami Beach, Florida, Diaz currently resides in the Washington, D.C., area with his wife Brittany and daughter Olivia.