The Clinton School of Public Service will celebrate a historic milestone this May as it honors its 20th graduating cohort. The festivities will begin with a Graduate Reception on Friday, May 1, followed by the formal Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 2.
“More than 20 years ago, the Clinton School of Public Service launched to transform a bold idea into a global model of public service leadership,” Dean Victoria DeFrancesco Soto said. “As we graduate our 20th cohort, having Scott Curran, a pioneer from our very first class, return to inspire our newest alumni is a powerful example of the enduring impact of a Master of Public Service degree. Scott embodies the professional public service practitioner we strive to cultivate: smart, accomplished, and deeply committed to measurable social impact.”
Scott M. Curran (’06), a member of the Clinton School’s inaugural cohort, will deliver special commencement remarks during the ceremony. Curran, the Founder and CEO of the social impact consulting firm Beyond Advisers, represents the full-circle journey of the Clinton School’s two-decade legacy.
“It’s a tremendous honor to return to the Clinton School of Public Service 20 years after graduating as part of its inaugural class,” Curran said. “The Clinton School was founded on the belief that public service can change lives and strengthen communities. I look forward to celebrating a new generation of graduates who are ready to step forward and serve in bold and important ways.”
Graduate Reception and Awards
The celebration kicks off Friday, May 1, at 5 p.m. in Sturgis Hall. The reception serves as an intimate gathering for graduates and up to five guests to reflect on their academic journey.
During the event, the school will announce the winners of several prestigious honors, including the Academic Award and the Founding Dean David Pryor Public Service Award (presented to one student each from the Master of Public Service and Clinton School Online programs), as well as the Dr. Tom Bruce International Student Prize.
Registration is required. Clinton School graduates and their guests can RSVP to the Graduate Reception by filling out the reception form.
Commencement Ceremony and Remarks
The Clinton School’s Commencement Ceremony will take place Saturday, May 2, at 10 a.m. at 1 World Avenue (Former Heifer International Campus) in Little Rock. Graduates are invited to bring up to eight guests to witness the conferring of degrees.
Registration is required. Graduates and their guests can RSVP for the ceremony by filling out the Commencement form.
Curran brings a wealth of experience to the podium. After graduating in 2006, Curran spent a decade at the Clinton Foundation, eventually serving as General Counsel. In that role, he led the legal team supporting global initiatives across 35 states and 40 countries.
In 2015, Curran founded Beyond Advisers to help nonprofits and businesses design and scale social impact initiatives. A native of the Chicago area and a former corporate attorney, Curran has dedicated his career to the professionalization of public service.
“We’re supposed to leave it all better than we found it,” Curran said, echoing a mantra from President Bill Clinton that has guided his career from field service work in the Arkansas Delta to global boardrooms. “What excites me most about the Clinton School is the concept of professional public service. Those of us who hold these credentials have to keep asking ourselves what that means. My Clinton School education has never ended; it continues today.”