Chair's Welcome

As Chair of the Department of Public Administration at the University of Central Florida, I would like to welcome you to our web site. This website provides information regarding our programs, our faculty members' expertise, our student's accomplishments, and our departmentally supported organizations and events.

First, our programs in public administration, nonprofit management, and urban and regional planning are identified for you. We offer programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in these areas. All of our programs are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and our Masters of Public Administration (MPA) is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). In addition, the Masters of Nonprofit Management (MNM) program, which is offered completely online, received the American Society for Public Administration's (ASPA) Curriculum Innovation Award in 2005.

Second, please take a moment to read our Departmental News, which includes several volumes of the PA Weekly. Our department communicates weekly with our students, faculty, advisory board members, and other community leaders via this short informative newsletter. The activities of the department and successes of our students and faculty members are highlighted weekly. Also, you will find the Public Administration Focus, our annual publication reporting on the state of our department.

Third, we ask that you explore our Student Organizations, which are very active in offering opportunities for learning and socializing. As a member of NASPAA, we have a chapter of our national honor society, Pi Alpha Alpha (PAA), which sponsors an awards luncheon annually. Our American Humanics program also hosts a student group as part of the requirements for the national certification program. Recently, we were granted status as a collegiate chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and our group is providing opportunities to develop fundraising awareness on campus. In addition, the student Organization for Public Administration (OPA) is active in promoting professional development and annually sponsors a large career fair.

Lastly, please familiarize yourself with the research expertise of our faculty in such areas as program evaluation, performance measurement, strategic planning, emergency management and homeland security. Also, learn about our Capacity Building Institute utilizing the skills and talents of both our faculty and students in developing the capabilities of small nonprofit organizations.

Mary Ann Feldheim, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Public Administration