Dr. Rita Henry-Brown MPA Program Director

Welcome to the Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program. The MPA program was founded in 1987 by Dr. Lois B. Hollis and she served as the program’s first coordinator. Dr. Rita Henry-Brown is the program’s second coordinator and she accepted the position in the fall of 2001. Through Dr. Rita Henry-Brown’s and the MPA faculty efforts, the MPA program has since become accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). There are a total seven concentrations offered in the field of Public Administration. A Southwest chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) has been established to bring practicing professional public administrators, faculty and students together. The Albany State University MPA program has also initiated the Public Administration and Student Association (PASA), which is a student organization where the students have a voice about any curriculum changes, MPA policies and any program activities. Pi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration and ASU Public Administration Toastmasters Club #5091.

MPA Faculty and Staff

Rita Henry-Brown is an Associate Professor of Public Administration and the MPA Program Coordinator. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from Tougaloo College, a MPA from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Mississippi State University. Dr. Henry-Brown’s specializations are Human Resources Management, Organizational Behavior, Organizational Theory and Design, Public Policy and Evaluation and Research Methods.

Veronica Adams-Cooper is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration. She holds a B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) in psychology, B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) in Sociology a M.S. in Criminal Justice from Grambling State University and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Jackson State University. Dr. Adams-Cooper’s specializations are Urban Management, Program Management and Evaluation, Community Economic Development, and Non-profit Organizations.

Hyacinth Ezeamii is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration. He holds a B.S. degree in Accounting from Shaw University, a MPA degree in Public Financial Management and an Ed. D. in Higher Educational Policy and Administration from North Carolina State University. Dr. Ezeamii’s specializations are Public Finance and Budgeting, Public and Higher Educational Policy, Health Care Policy and Finance, Politics of Higher Education, Comparative Public Administration, Comparative Higher Education and American Post-secondary Accreditation.

Peter A. Ngwafu is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration. He holds a B.A. (Honors) in History from Yaounde University, a M.A. in History from Illinois State University, a MPA and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Clark-Atlanta University. Dr. Ngwafu’s specializations are Public Policy, General Administration, Organizational Behavior and Public Personnel Administration.

Bruce Neubauer is an Associate Professor of Public Administration. He holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration from the University of Georgia and a Master's of Management Information Systems degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Dr. Neubauer's specializations are management information systems, research methods, and educational technology.

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program is a graduate professional degree program offered by the Department of History, Political Science and Public Administration. This program is accredited through the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). The program coordinator serves as the institutional representative.

The program requires a total of 36 semester hours with a minimum of 21 hours of Public Administration core courses. There are six 9-hour concentrations: General Administration, Human Resources Management, Public Policy, Community and Economic Development, Health Administration, and Criminal Justice Administration. Additionally, the program offers a 12 semester hour emphasis in Water Resources Management and Policy. The mission of the MPA Program supports the general mission of the university which places “Students First”.

The Master of Public Administration degree program seeks to educate pre-service and in-service students for professional leadership and managerial positions in public agencies, also designed to enable its graduates to pursue further graduate study or teach. The MPA degree will strengthen students’ ability to think critically, to utilize analytical skills, draw on information technology and develop an awareness of professional ethics.

Thus, the mission of Albany State University Master of Public Administration Program is:

• To provide a professional Master’s level education for students aspiring to management positions in government, nonprofit organizations, and private industry.
• To provide professional assistance to the public, governments, and nonprofit organizations in Southwest Georgia , Dougherty County and the surrounding communities through the public service of the faculty and students.
• To increase the number of under-represented groups with professional public administration skills, training and education for leadership positions.