Esteemed State Academy for Public Administration (SAPA) Board Member & Program Director

SAPA’s Essentials Program renamed to:The Stephen Schechter Essentials Program in Public Service Leadership

It is with profound sorrow that the SAPA Board announces that its former esteemed Board member and Program Director, Dr. Stephen Schechter passed away on July 18, 2022.  Stephen exemplified the very best of public service from his well-known career as a professor for 42 years at Russell Sage College in Troy, NY.  Stephen was always directly engaged and connected to communities, whether it be from his years of service on local boards, to his admired and modeled leadership on democratic governance and civic engagement around the world, as well as close to home, in Albany, Niskayuna and Troy.  Together with his wife Stephanie, they collaborated over the years, on working tirelessly to make our world a more democratic and humane place to live.

Also close to our home in the Capital District, Stephen directed with a renewed energy and focus over the last five years, SAPA’s Essentials Program. The Essentials Program provides training and networking opportunities for new public service professionals, who have been selected by colleagues and their supervisors, to be the next new “stars” of government work.  Under Stephen’s leadership, four, year-long classes of promising New York public service professionals, have produced almost one hundred new dedicated candidates in government service committed to the highest of ideals and scholarship. Stephen also was successful in attracting a cadre of successful, experienced and highly respected guest lecturers to provide presentations and “lessons of government work,” to these classes.  On August 2, the SAPA Board met and unanimously approved renaming its Essentials Program to the “Stephen Schechter Essentials Program in Public Service Leadership,” after its dedicated and passionate former Director.  Taking over as its’ new Director, under mentorship from Stephen this past year, will be Board Member Daniel Cunningham.  Assuming this role, Dan brings his own extensive and additionally highly respected resume and background in NY State service.

With our congratulations to Dan and our sincere gratitude to our colleague and friend, Stephen Schechter,

Sorelle Leslie Brauth for the The SAPA Board of Directors