MPA Program Committee

The MPA Committee serves as the internal governance structure of SUNY Buffalo State University's MPA program. The MPA Program Committee is comprised of the core faculty in the Department of Economics, Finance, and Public Administration who exert substantial determining influence for the governance and implementation of the MPA program.  Specifically the MPA Program Committee oversees recruitment, admissions, curriculum, personnel decisions (recruitment and promotion), student advisement, program assessment, and accreditation compliance. Department-wide standing committees provide administrative oversight for tenure and promotion, course and program synergies, and student and alumni engagement.

MPA PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Laurie Buonanno, MBA-MA, PhD
Professor & Public Administration Coordinator
Department of Economics and Finance

Atta Ceesay, MBA, PhD
Associate Professor/Associate Dean, School of Arts & Sciences
Department of Economics and Finance

Ikhee Cho, MPA, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Economics and Finance

Frederick Floss, MA, PhD
Professor
Department of Economics and Finance

Joelle LeClaire, MA, PhD
Chair & Professor 
Department of Economics and Finance

Suparna Soni, MPA, MSW, PhD
Associate Professor
Lead on NASPAA Accreditation Process
Department of Economics and Finance

MPA COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Program and policy planning
• Curricular development and review
• Faculty recruitment, appointment, and promotion, including defining and assuring faculty performance
• Student achievement through advising and evaluation, including mentorship
• Student recruitment
• Student admission
• Student course evaluations
• Internship placements
• Engagement with the MPA Advisory Board and MPA alumni
• Assessment of the MPA program to align with NASPAA's Standard 1.3.