The Master of Public Administration program celebrated a globally recognized accreditation on Sept. 25 with the Mayor of Buffalo, Christopher P. Scanlon, in attendance.

The Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) sets the global standard for master’s programs in many fields including public affairs, public policy, public administration, and nonprofit management. And according to this accreditation, Buffalo State’s MPA program meets both their academic and professional standards.

In addition to its new accreditation, our MPA program is the only in-person MPA offered in Western New York, making it the only accredited MPA in the Buffalo area.

Mayor Scanlon, a Buffalo State graduate, is currently enrolled in the MPA program.

“I’m proud to represent this program as a current student and Mayor of the City of Buffalo,” Scanlon posted on his official Facebook page. “This accreditation validates the hard work of the faculty, staff, students, and alumni in making this possible.”

The economics club was also in attendance to participate in the celebration. The co-president of the club, Artur Verbov, as well as many other representatives of the club, were a key part in making sure the celebration went smoothly. This included preparing name tags, greeting guests, event organization, and engaging in conversation about economics.

“We helped this event go well, and it was a great experience” said Verbov.

When the MPA program was developed in 2011, the NASPAA accreditation was  the goal. The three original coordinators, Dr. Laurie Buonanno, a current staff member, along with Angelo Conorozzo and Keith Henderson, who have since passed away, worked closely with academic affairs to prepare the program for the multi-year journey towards the NASPAA accreditation.

“Earning MPA accreditation was, for me, the culmination of a 20-year plus goal of having an MPA offered at a public university in the Buffalo area,” said Buonanno. “We hope NASPAA accreditation raises awareness in Western New York of the importance of professional management training.”

For students in the MPA program, this could mean a boost in opportunities. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz emphasized the importance of training department heads and program coordinators in public management when he spoke at the event. He also commended Buffalo State for its MPA program and training of future government leaders.

“We want to be able to provide this service to our community,” said Dr. Joelle Leclaire, the Public Administration Coordinator, on Buffalo State’s official website. “Let’s build competent public leaders and provide a beautiful environment for our young people.”