For Advising please contact Dr. Sara Rinfret, MPA Director
For Accreditation and program coordination please contact Dr. Sara Rinfret, MPA Director
Master of Public Administration Advisory Board
Helping NAU’s MPA program thrive
Northern Arizona University’s Department of Politics and International Affairs has formally instituted a Master of Public Administration Advisory Board.
We are lucky to have highly talented board members who represent non-profit and public agencies. This helps provide a link between our MPA program and the local community. Board members have assisted our program and students by serving as advocates of our program, providing internships and fieldwork experiences for our students, offering referrals and positions to MPA graduates, working with alumni, and presenting to MPA classes.
MPA Advisory Board Members
Jim Apperson Accordion Closed
Jim Apperson is a Retired Public Servant who has decades of experience.
Cynthia Nemeth Accordion Closed
Cynthia Nemeth is the Parks and Recreation Director for Coconino County.
Blaise Caudill Accordion Closed
Blaise Caudill is a third generation Arizonan with family roots in Bisbee and a contagious passion for his beloved state. Through his past work with nonprofits and government, and now through public affairs with Southwest Gas, Blaise finds joy in building consensus around activating solutions to complex community issues.
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A graduate of Northern Arizona University (’13) and Arizona State University (MPA, 2017), Blaise is excited to bring a focused and intentional perspective to partnerships throughout the state he loves so much.
Joanne Keene Accordion Closed
Joanne Keene is the Deputy County Manager for the City of Sedona
Stephanie Smith Accordion Closed
Stephanie Smith is the Associate Vice President for Alumni Engagement at Northern Arizona University.
Magali Bearden Accordion Closed
Magali Bearden works for the State of Arizona.
MPA Advisory Board Functions
In its formal capacity, the Advisory Board is a common feature of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) accreditation process. As part of this process, councils have several functions. For example, the Board will:
- Review the program’s relevance to industry needs
- Determine if the program meets professional standards.
- Advise on curriculum needs and skills, and assess program requirements