M.P.A. Advisory Board
The M.P.A. Advisory Board was created by Public Administration and Urban Studies (PAUS) faculty in 2001 to assess the M.P.A. curriculum to ensure that its graduates meet the needs of today's public agencies and nonprofit organizations. Board members, many of whom are PAUS Alumni, hold director, managerial, analyst and other administrative positions with local, state and federal agencies and departments, as well as nonprofits. Past and present board members have held positions including that of city administrator, tax commissioner, regional agency director, department head, program director, budget and finance director and nonprofit executive director. The board’s mission emphasizes making a positive impact on public service by taking on the primary role as a resource to faculty in communicating the necessary skills, knowledge, ethics and values required to practice in the public sector. This board also offers the program a more formal connection with its alumni as well as supporting the career development opportunities for our present students.
Board members and other experts in the past have addressed questions about finding jobs, making contacts in the public and nonprofit sectors, and the skills necessary to succeed in public service. Katherine G. Willoughby and Theodore H. Poister are the PAUS faculty liaisons with the MPA Advisory Board.
Current M.P.A. Advisory Board Members:
- Heather Alhadeff
Assistant Director, Bureau of Planning, City of Atlanta - Jerry Griffin
Executive Director, Association County Commissioners of Georgia - Jim Higdon
Executive Director of the Georgia Municipal Association - Ann O'Connor
Enterprise Communications Officer and Associate Director of Policy, Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia - John O'Kane
Senior Vice President of Coxe Curry & Associates - Karen Webster Parks
Interim CEO, Atlanta Women's Foundation - Bob Regus
City Administrator for Alpharetta - Dana Russell
Executive Vice President, Finance, Georgia Student Finance Commission - Rick Tangum
Attorney, Legal and Consumer Affairs Division, Georgia Department of Banking and Finance - Yvette Taylor
Regional Administrator, Region IV, U.S. Department of Transportation - Amanda Thompson
Planning Services Officer, City of Decatur, Georgia - Tom Wade
Director of Program Development, Public Performance Management Group, PAUS, Georgia State University
