Academy for Local Elected Officials (ALEO)
The School of Public Affairs
The Academy for Local Elected Officials (ALEO), established by the San Diego State University’s School of Public Affairs, is designed to provide locally elected officials a forum in which they can share their experiences with one another, and learn the knowledge and skills needed to address our region’s most critical challenges.
The Academy programs have been created to provide the tools and strategies that are essential for becoming a strategic and impactful community leader. In addition to providing workshops regarding the fundamentals of governing, our programs provide networking opportunities with other elected officials and regional leaders, along with access to local policy experts with extensive knowledge regarding the region’s most pressing issues.
If you are an elected official, we hope you will join us to learn and acquire the tools needed as we work together to build the greater San Diego area into a resilient and vibrant region shaped by mutual collaboration, dynamic elected leadership, and effective local and regional governance.
Key Academy Programs and Initiatives:
Conference for Newly-Elected Officials
The cornerstone of the Academy is a conference that centers on a regional approach to governing and provides training to newly-elected officials in the San Diego region The program is designed to encourage networking opportunities with regional leaders and includes a two half-day modules of conference sessions to be held at San Diego State University on January 9 and January 16, 2025.
Continuing Training and Education Workshops
The Academy offers continuing education and training opportunities for elected officials throughout the year. Upcoming workshops will include the following topics, among others: • Housing and homelessness • Budgeting • Land use and policy • Labor relations
Policy Research and Expertise
Academy attendees will have opportunities to network with faculty fellows and other faculty experts via the Institute for Innovative Governance (IIG) in SDSU’s School of Public Affairs. In its inaugural year, IIG-affiliated faculty have expertise in urban and regional planning; communication; public administration and public finance; theater, television, and film; art and design; criminal justice; and hotel and tourism management. Continuing training and education workshops may, among other activities, generate ideas for collaboration and/or action-oriented research on a particular issue.
Conference for Local Elected Officials January 9 & January 16, 2025
We invite you to join fellow elected officials from the San Diego region to gain the knowledge and skills you need to address on-the-job challenges and become an impactful leader. The purpose of the ALEO Conference is to provide the tools needed for effective collaboration and governance. The program curriculum centers on a regional approach and the format is designed to encourage networking opportunities with regional leaders. networking opportunities with regional leaders.
January 9, 2025: Mastering Local Governance
Successfully transition from campaigning to governing and deepen your understanding of the fundamentals of the structures, functions, and roles of local government. Topics in this module will include:
- Campaign politics vs. governing: Navigating the transition from candidate to public leader
- Ethics in governing and transparency, law vs. ethical perceptions, and maintaining trust and integrity
- Local government structure, including: Charter cities vs. general law cities, Understanding the source of authority for cities in California, Forms of local government
- The future of local government in the context of the San Diego region
January 16, 2025: Regional Agencies, Stakeholders, & Key Issues
Maximize your leadership and management skills by learning effective strategies to collaborate within government, with key stakeholders, and regional agencies. Topics in this module will include:
- Intergovernmental relations: Navigating roles and responsibilities across local, state, and federal governments
- Regional agencies in San Diego: Key players and collaborative dynamics
- Key stakeholders in government and governance: Understanding influence and interaction
- Strategies for success in delivering the needs of your cities
Module 2 will conclude with a networking reception and an overview of future opportunities to engage with ALEO and the School of Public Affairs
The Academy Advisory Committee & Team
- Dominika Bukalova, Assistant Professor, SDSU School of Public Affairs
- Aimee Faucett, President & CEO, Agenda Setting, LLC
- Julie O’Connor-Quinn, Administrative Coordinator, SDSU School of Public Affairs
- Darrell Pugh, Professor and Advisory Board Member, SDSU School of Public Affairs
- David Richards, Director of Public Works, City of El Cajon
For more information, please contact:
