he New Jersey Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (NJ ASPA) honored ten distinguished public servants and eight outstanding graduate students at its 2026 Annual Awards Reception on Wednesday evening at Saint Peter’s University’s MacMahon Student Center in Jersey City. More than 50 public servants, civic leaders, academics, and students attended the event, which was held as part of National Public Service Recognition Week.
The evening opened with remarks from Saint Peter’s University President Hubert Benitez, D.D.S., Ph.D., who spoke to the university’s Jesuit mission of service and its deep commitment to preparing students for lives of meaning and public purpose. Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea also addressed the gathering, reflecting on the breadth of public service talent within Hudson County and recognizing the many employees whose daily work sustains the quality of life residents depend on. Also in attendance was Joseph Greer, Director of the Office of the Executive Ombudsperson for the New Jersey Civil Service Commission.
NJ ASPA President Timothy J. Hoffman presided over the ceremony. Reflecting on the nature of public service, Hoffman observed: “In public service, when everything works perfectly — sometimes no one notices at all. The trains run, the permits are processed, the services are delivered. Sometimes a great tragedy is averted, and no one knows what could have happened. The greatest compliment is often silence.” He added: “We honor today’s practitioners and, with our students, tomorrow’s hope.”
Dr. Julia Sass Rubin, Associate Dean, Director of the Public Policy Program, and Professor at Rutgers University’s Bloustein School received the NJ ASPA Academic Excellence Award
Eight graduate students were also honored with the NJ ASPA Public Administration Student of the Year Award, each nominated by their respective MPA or MPP program.
Juan Flores-Serrano, MPP (’26) received a Student of the Year Award.
Hoffman with Rutgers’ Bloustein School of Planning and Public
Policy, Graduate Student Honoree Juan Flores-Serrano, and Academic
Award Recipient Julia Sass-Rubin.