2025-2026 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW

Beyond the Books

Students, faculty and staff gathered at Dat Dog on Freret for an evening of conversation, connection, and community. The mixer provided opportunities to network, share experiences, discuss career goals, and build relationships beyond the classroom, strengthening the bonds that make Tulane School of Professional Advancement (SoPA) thrive.

A Year of Student Strength, Spirit, and Success

Tour guide speaking to a group of young adults on a city street.

On-Site Insights

Students in the Spring 2026 Counterterrorism course conducted a “terrain walk” on Bourbon Street at the site of the 2025 New Year's Day terror attack in New Orleans. The group was led by Jim Cunningham, SoPA student and member of the New Orleans Police Department SWAT team, and Patrick Messmer (SoPA ESS, ’24, ‘26) faculty member and paramedic. Cunningham provided tactical site analysis while Messmer discussed medical response to mass casualty incidents. 

Man plays guitar surrounded by people in a wood-paneled room.

SoPA Sophomore Appears in Oscar-Winning Film

Through the flexibility of Tulane SoPA programs, Shelby Olivia can prioritize auditions while pursuing her Media + Design degree. Appearing in Sinners, Olivia brings the energy of the juke joint scene to life in one of the year’s most celebrated productions. 

Two people, a woman with colorful hair and a man, sit with laptops on a couch.

Hacking the Competition

Tulane Cyber Wave, a competitive team of undergraduate and graduate Information Technology students, recently placed in the top one percent during the National Cyber League team competition.

Four people posing for a photo, two men and two women, all smiling.

A Milestone Year for the MPA Program

Five years in, Tulane SoPA John Lewis Public Administration Program continues to build strong public service leadership for New Orleans and beyond. The 2025 residency for MPA students brought together national and local leaders including Congressman Troy Carter for dialogue about the setbacks and progress of post-Katrina recovery along the Gulf Coast.

Three individuals: a man in a suit, a woman in a blazer, and a man in a collared shirt. Text below reads: Beyond Business as Usual: The AI Advantage Toolkit.

Business and Leadership Studies Program Hosts AI Webinar

Speakers explore the latest AI tools transforming business decisions, delivering actionable insights for students and professionals alike at a webinar hosted by SoPA's Business & Leadership Studies program.


More from Our Year