American Society for Public Administration Honors UMass Boston Student

The Massachusetts Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration has awarded the Paul G. Keough Outstanding Student of Public Administration Award to Daniel A. Moriarty, a 2012 candidate for the master of science degree in public affairs at the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies. This annual award recognizes a student who has shown outstanding commitment, enthusiasm, and promise for a career in public administration. The award is named in memory of Paul G. Keough, chapter vice president and acting regional administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Connie Chan, Moriarty's graduate program director and acting dean of the McCormack Graduate School, described why she recommended him for the award.

“As an experienced older worker and union leader, Dan offers an unique perspective to younger, less experienced students about real-life management and work in the public sector. He is generous with his time and his experiences and is extremely well-liked and respected in his cohort. Dan is a leader in every sense of the word—prepared for class, ready to address public administration issues, and open to learning new perspectives and theoretical approaches,” Chan said.

Originally from Exeter, New Hampshire, Moriarty has resided in Dorchester for the past 20 years, where he lives with his wife and three children. For the past 16 years, he has served as a fleet technician for the Boston Police Department. He sits on the executive boards of the Greater Boston Labor Council and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 93 New England. For a decade, he served as president of Local 944 Boston Police and Fire Civilians.

During his tenure as president, Moriarty negotiated several collective bargaining agreements between AFSCME and the City of Boston, resulting in $70 million in health insurance savings for the city, while maintaining the current coverage for the membership. He also helped to implement one of the first public sector housing trusts to help AFSCME members purchase homes in Boston. 

Moriarty is writing his final capstone project on "Alternative Fuel Vehicles in Public Sector Fleets: MBTA and the City of Boston," in which he examines the conversion of part of each entity's fleets to use of alternative fuels. In June, he will earn his second degree from UMass Boston; he completed a bachelor’s degree in English in 1995. 

Chan noted in her nomination letter, “In our MSPA program, we hope that our students bring their work experiences to the classroom, work hard to learn new skills, theories, and ways of thinking, and bring those ideas back to their workplace. Dan Moriarty has done that, and so much more. He is a true public servant, a true leader, and a wonderful person who sincerely wants to do the best job he can do as a union leader and as a community member and leader. We have been fortunate to have learned from Dan and to have been part of his development. ... He has demonstrated outstanding commitment, enthusiasm—for both his studies and for his fellow students—and holds so much promise for a career in public administration.”

When asked about his career aspirations following graduate school, Moriarty noted, “I would like to pursue a career in public sector fleet management, public works, or environmental affairs. I believe the MSPA program taught me invaluable critical thinking, policy analysis, and problem solving skills that I will use daily, no matter what field I am in. I am proud to say I will be an alumnus of the UMass Boston MSPA program."