Fairfield University’s 2021 MPA Summit will take place in virtual format on Tuesday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. At this year’s online forum, titled “Covid-19 and its Impacts in Rural America,” Dr.Olugbenga Ajilore, senior advisor for Rural Development at the USDA, will examine the myths that are prevalent in many discussions about rural America, and suggest a potential reframing of the subject as a way to help direct policies and programs for rural communities, to ensure that they survive and thrive in a post-Covid world.

“This year’s MPA Summit embraces Jesuit ideals by bringing a public sector leader to our community,” said Gayle Alberta, PhD, assistant professor of Politics and Public Administration and director of Fairfield’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program.  “Dr. Ajilore’s presentation will provide a unique perspective not only on who makes up rural America, but why and how rural communities were affected by the ongoing pandemic.”

Prior to Dr. Ajilore's current role in the Biden administration, he was a senior economist at the Center for American Progress and a former associate professor of economics at the University of Toledo. His expertise includes regional economic development, macroeconomic policy, and issues in diversity and inclusion. Dr. Ajilore has been invited to testify before Congress and has been featured in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. He holds a doctorate in economics from Claremont Graduate University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Fairfield University’s annual MPA Summit is a yearly public forum that brings public administration students and members of the community together with business leaders, economists, political analysts, and elected officials, to participate in a constructive dialogue about important public administration challenges directly affecting the state of Connecticut and our local communities.