GW Leaders Honorable Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Dean Alyssa Ayres Elected as 2026 Fellows of the National Academy of Public Administration
Graduate School of Political Management Executive Director the Hon. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Elliott School Dean Alyssa Ayres join a distinguished group of public service leaders recognized by the Academy
WASHINGTON — October 1 — Two George Washington University leaders have been elected to the National Academy of Public Administration’s 2026 Class of Academy Fellows, recognizing their distinguished careers in public service, higher education and public affairs.
The Honorable Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, executive director of GW’s Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM), and Alyssa Ayres, dean of GW’s Elliott School of International Affairs, are among 64 leaders selected for the Academy’s 2026 class.
The National Academy of Public Administration is an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan organization established to assist government leaders in building more effective, efficient, accountable and transparent organizations. Election as an Academy Fellow recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of public administration through public service, scholarship, leadership, and civic engagement.
The 2026 class joins more than 1,000 current Academy Fellows, including former cabinet officers, members of Congress, governors, mayors and state legislators, as well as scholars, executives and nonprofit leaders.
“Being elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration is a tremendous honor, particularly because public service has been at the heart of my career,” said Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, executive director of the Graduate School of Political Management. “Our country needs leaders who are prepared to work across differences, navigate complex challenges and strengthen public trust in our institutions. At GSPM, we have the privilege of preparing the next generation of leaders to do exactly that. I look forward to contributing to the Academy’s work and learning alongside an extraordinary community of public servants and scholars.”
Mucarsel-Powell joined GSPM as executive director in September 2025. She represented Florida’s 26th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021, becoming the first Ecuadorian-American and first South American-born immigrant elected to Congress. Her career has also included leadership roles in higher education and service as Special Advisor to the President for the 2022 Summit of the Americas.
“I am deeply honored to join the National Academy of Public Administration as a Fellow and to become part of a community dedicated to strengthening public institutions and improving governance,” said Alyssa Ayres, dean of the Elliott School of International Affairs. “The complex international challenges facing the United States require thoughtful, informed and collaborative leadership, even as the world is changing in profound ways. I look forward to contributing to the Academy’s important work, especially in the international affairs arena.”
Ayres has served as dean of the Elliott School and professor of history and international affairs since 2021. A foreign policy practitioner and scholar, she previously served as U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asia and as senior fellow for India, Pakistan and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations. Her scholarship focuses on India’s role in the world, U.S. relations with South Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific.
The National Academy of Public Administration’s Board of Directors approved the 2026 class of Fellows on Sept. 25. The new Fellows will be inducted during the Academy’s 2026 National Conference, taking place Nov. 8–10 at the National Academy of Sciences building in Washington, D.C.
The election of Mucarsel-Powell and Ayres highlights GW’s longstanding connection to public service and its role in preparing leaders to address consequential challenges in government, public policy and international affairs.
About the Graduate School of Political Management
The Graduate School of Political Management at the George Washington University is a school of applied politics, preparing students and professionals to navigate the intersection of politics, communications, advocacy and public leadership. Based in Washington, D.C., GSPM combines academic study with practical expertise from leaders working across the political and public affairs landscape.
About the Elliott School of International Affairs
The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs prepares more than 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students each year for meaningful careers in international affairs, and the school consistently ranks in the Top 10 of the Foreign Policy Top International Relations Schools. Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., the Elliott School is just steps from some of the most influential U.S, international and nongovernmental organizations in the world. Its award-winning faculty conduct research, produce scholarship and contribute to the public debate on global issues to advance understanding and to help foster solutions. GW Elliott’s singular position in the heart of the District of Columbia enriches its teaching and research by giving students and faculty unparalleled opportunities to engage with international leaders on a regular basis.
About the National Academy of Public Administration
The National Academy of Public Administration is an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan organization focused on improving governance and strengthening public administration. Its Fellows include leaders from government, academia, business and the nonprofit sector who contribute their expertise to addressing complex public management and governance challenges.
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