The National Academy of Public Administration announced that 64 leaders in the field of public administration have been elected to the 2026 Class of Academy Fellows. 

Congratulations to the ICMA members among this year’s class:

Tanya Ange, county administrator, Washington County, Oregon

Michael Land, city manager, Coppell, Texas

Ghida Neukirch, city manager, Highland Park, Illinois

Chuck Wemple, chief operating officer, Houston-Galveston Area Council, Houston, Texas

Lee Worsley, executive director, Central Pines Regional Council, North Carolina

Hongtao Yi, professor, Florida State University, Florida

Eric Zeemering, professor and MPA director, University of Georgia, Georgia

Induction of the new fellows will occur on November 9, during the Academy’s 2026 National Conference, which will take place November 8-10 in Washington, D.C. Fellows will attend a formal ceremony, and the conference will feature prominent academy fellows and other experts speaking on key national issues. 

Selection of the academy’s new fellows follows a rigorous review of the individual’s contributions to the fields of public administration and policy. A nominating committee, selected by the academy’s board chair, makes its recommendations to the full fellowship, which then votes on those individuals nominated to be a fellow. The individual must have a requisite number of votes before being elected. 

The 2026 class joins more than 1,000 academy fellows, including former cabinet officers, members of Congress, governors, mayors, and state legislators, as well as prominent scholars, business executives, nonprofit leaders, and public administrators.

Through its fellows, staff, and partners, the academy has played a major role in advancing the field of public administration and supporting government at the local, state, and federal levels.