Emerging Leaders for the Common Good

Fall 2026 Summit

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Student Life
Event flyer with details, blue background, and photo of Springfield, MA skyline

We are very excited to invite students to our Emerging Leaders for the Common Good Summit on October 16th in Springfield. This event is open to all undergraduates at UMass Amherst who are interested in learning about government service and public policy. Students will spend the day in Springfield (transportation & lunch provided) meeting with elected officials and policy makers.

Students must register to attend by Oct 7th. Space is limited.

Please direct questions to emergingleaders [at] umass [dot] edu (emergingleaders[at]umass[dot]edu)

Sponsored by the Donahue Institute and the School of Public Policy

PROGRAM DETAILS

Confirmed elected officials and policy makers include: 

  • Domenic Sarno, Mayor of Springfield
  • Joshua Garcia, Mayor of Holyoke
  • Jake Oliveira, State Senator
  • Carols González, State Representative
  • Patricia Duffy, State Representative
  • Sonia Dinnall, Superintendent of Springfield Public Schools
  • Gumersindo Gomez, Springfield School Committee
  • Ayanna Crawford, Springfield School Committee
  • Tracye Whitfield, President of the Springfield City Council
  • Zaida Govan, Springfield City Council
  • Abigail Arriaga, Chicopee City Council
  • Lynn Griesemer, Amherst Town Council
  • Juan Anderson-Burogs, Legislative Aid

Student-centered sessions will include:

  • The Journey to Public Office
  • Legislation that Matters
  • Why We Continue to Serve
  • Open Q&A and Networking
In person event posted in Student Life