NCAC congratulates Zara Qaiser for winning First Place of the National Capital Area Chapter’s (NCAC) 2026 Public Administration Student Essay Contest for the essay Rethinking the Role of Bureaucrats in Democratic Governance: The Case of Social Welfare Policy in the United States.

Zara Qaiser is a Ph.D. Candidate at the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at The George Washington University and, along with the distinction of winning the Chapter’s Essay Contest, will receive a cash award of $2,000 that we hope will go toward furthering your education and a three-year membership to the American Society for Public Administration.

Zara joined us at our Chapter’s Annual Meeting on June 4 to discuss the essay and express gratitude for being selected.

A link to view the recording of the meeting will be posted when we have it.

Congratulations, Zara, on winning First Place for your essay in our Chapter’s 2026 Student Essay Contest!