Suparna Soni, PhD

Dr. Soni leads Buffalo State's NASPAA accrediation process 

Dr. Suparna Soni has valuable experience in grant writing, development, and execution. While with the nonprofit organization PRADAN in India, she worked alongside a dedicated team, contributing to initiatives that focused on livelihood promotion for rural women. Through this role, she gained hands-on experience in the five key factors of grant success: research, relationship, relevance, resources, and reporting. Dr. Soni supported efforts to align organizational missions with funders' priorities by collaborating effectively, adapting to sponsor requirements, and engaging recipients in program design. Dr. Soni, currently, voluntarily serves as a board member and treasurer for PRADAN Global, NY, and contributes to a project in Kenya, continuing her commitment to impactful community development. 

Google Scholar

Education

PhD - Political Science   University at Buffalo, SUNY (2015)
MPA Cornell University (Social Policy) (2008)
MSW, University of Delhi (Urban and Rural Community Development, 2003)
 

Experience

Academic Appointments

Associate Professor, SUNY Buffalo State University, Department of Political Science and Public Administration (2021-present)
Assistant Professor (2015-2021)
Lecturer (2013-2015)

Nonprofit

Project Executive, Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN), an NGO specializing in microfinance and livelihood promotion among India's rural poor, 2003-2006.  Board Member, PRADAN Global.

Publications

Articles

• Soni, S., & Mitchell, A. M. (2022). Women and digital government in rural India: Extending TAM with user assisted service. Information Polity, 27(1), 59-78. 
• Yerramsetti, S., Soni, S., & Mali, N. V. (2022). Administrative Burden as Intermediate Negative Policy Feedback: Explaining Low-Income Migrant Exodus amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in India. Administrative Theory & Praxis, 44(4), 277-297. 
• Mitchell, A. M., & Soni, S. (2021). Institutional development and the dowry death curve across states in India. Journal of International Development, 33(6), 1026-1042. 
• Soni, S. (2020). Institution of dowry in India: A theoretical inquiry. Societies without Borders, 14(1), 10. 
• Soni, S. (2020). The Vulnerability of Internal Migrant Workers in India: A Policy Perspective. International Journal of Policy Studies, 11(2), 263-281. 
• Soni, S. (2018). Political Quotas, NGO Initiatives and Dalits’ Human Rights in Rural India. Journal of Human Rights Practice, 10(3), 388-405. 
• Soni, S. (2020). Combating the Institutionalized Dowry in India. Section on International and Comparative Administration (SICA) of the American Society of Public Administration (ASPA), 12. 
• Soni, S. (2020). Research Idea. Section on International and Comparative Administration (SICA) of the American Society of Public Administration (ASPA), 9. 

Book Chapters

• Soni, S. (2021). Resilience and Development of a Small City in India: Dholpur, Rajasthan. In Ordinary Cities, Extraordinary Geographies: People, Place and Space (pp.153-165). Edward Elgar.
• Soni, S., & Rivera, J. D. (2018). 7 The Impact of Microfinance Programs on Political Participation: A Study of Rural Indian Women. In the Community Development and Public Administration Theory (pp. 171-189). Routledge.

Book Reviews

• Soni, S. (2025). Handbook on Gender and Public Administration, By Patricia M. Shields and Nicole M. Elias. Northampton: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2022. Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration, 3(1), 205-209.
• Soni, S. (2023). Superstates: empires of the twenty-first century: by Alasdair Roberts, Cambridge, Polity Press, 2022. Global Public Policy and Governance, Vol.3 (2), p.243-246.
• Soni, S. (2023). Nonprofits in Policy Advocacy Their Strategies and Stories: by Sheldon Gen & Amy Conley Wright. Springer Nature Switzerland AG: Palgrave Macmillan, 2020. Public Administration Review, 83 (5) p.1424-1426.

Teaching

PAD 360  Public Administration (undergraduate minor)
PAD 500  Public Administration and Policy
PAD 603  NGO Management and International Development
PAD 605  International Public Service
PAD 648  Nonprofit Grant Management and Fund Development
PAD 680  Research Methods in Public Administration
PAD 681  Data Analysis & Presentation
PAD 690  MPA Project
PAD 704  Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy

Grants and Fellowships

International Ford Foundation Fellowship (2006-2008)
University at Buffalo, Department of Political Science, Research Assistant (2010-2011)
University at Buffalo, Department of Political Science, Teaching Assistant (2011-2015)
Collaborator, Erasmus + Jean Monnet Module, February 2022-February 2025 - the European Union and Human Rights Policy

Service to Profession

Currently serving general editorship for the following peer-reviewed journals:
Co-editor, Public Integrity
Editorial Board, International Journal of Public Administration
Editorial Advisory Panel, Public Administration & Development
Editoral Board, International Review of Public Administration

Chair (2022-present), American Society for Public Administration - Section of Nonprofit
Treasurer (2017-present), American Society for Public Administration - Section of South Asia Public Administration
Board Member (2024-present), American Society for Public Administration - Buffalo-Niagara Chapter