{"id":36,"date":"2020-09-21T22:27:16","date_gmt":"2020-09-21T22:27:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nau.edu\/mpa\/?page_id=36"},"modified":"2025-09-09T17:51:45","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T17:51:45","slug":"advisory-board","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/mpa\/advisory-board\/","title":{"rendered":"Advisory Board"},"content":{"rendered":"

Master of Public Administration Advisory Board<\/h1>\n

Helping NAU\u2019s MPA program thrive<\/h2>\n

Northern Arizona University\u2019s Department of Politics and International Affairs<\/a> has formally instituted a Master of Public Administration Advisory Board.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> and fieldwork experiences for our students, offering referrals and positions to MPA graduates, working with alumni, and presenting to MPA classes.<\/p>\n

MPA Advisory Board Members<\/h3>\n\n
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Magali Bearden Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Magali Bearden is a proud two-time alumna who earned her MPA from Northern Arizona University. She works for the State of Arizona as a Senior Policy Advisor and Intern Coordinator. She has staffed various policy areas and currently oversees the Arizona House of Representatives Health and Human Services Committee for Democratic members.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Sue Brown Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Sue is in her 27th<\/sup> year with Coconino County, serving twelve years as the Director of Facilities Management and the last three years in the County Manager’s Office.  Sue received her BS in Public Administration from Wayne State College in Nebraska and came to Northern Arizona and the NAU MPA program as a graduate assistant in 1988.  For Sue, the best part of her career has been working directly with citizens at the local level, and encouraging the standards, principles and growth of the public administration profession.<\/p>\n

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Joanne Keene Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Joanne Keene is the Deputy City Manager for the City of Flagstaff. Prior to working at the City, Keene served as the Deputy City Manager for the City of Sedona, a Deputy County Manager for Coconino County and the Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff at Northern Arizona University. Joanne has twenty-five years in federal, state and local government roles serving the State of Arizona, including Government Relations Director for Coconino County and Public Information Officer for the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Joanne spent eight years working for the U.S. House of Representatives, five of those years in Washington, DC.. Joanne is a Northern Arizona University graduate with a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in English and broadcast journalism. Joanne is also a Certified Public Manager through Arizona State University.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Cynthia Nemeth Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Cynthia Nemeth-Briehn is a Parks and Recreation Director with Coconino County Arizona possessing over 30 years’ experience in local government. She started her public service career in the United States Air Force, and holds B.S. degrees in Recreation and Sociology from Arizona State University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Northern Arizona University.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Steve Peru Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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\"\"Steve Peru became Coconino County Manager for a second time two years ago.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Jenn Reichelt Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Jennifer Reichelt has worked for (and with) local governments since 2000 and currently serves as the deputy city administrator for the City of Yuma, Arizona. Before joining The City of Yuma, Jenn worked for Raftelis (previously the Novak Consulting Group) as a manager where she conducted organizational assessments and executive recruitments for local governments across the country. Earlier in her career she served as deputy city manager for the City of Great Falls, Montana and as the deputy marketing and communications director for the City of Glendale, Arizona. Jenn holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in public administration from Northern Arizona University. She is an ICMA credentialed manager and is LEAN certified. She is a proud graduate of Leadership ICMA and the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service Senior Executive Institute.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Stephanie Smith Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Stephanie Smith is the Associate Vice President for Alumni Engagement at Northern Arizona University.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Joshua Wright Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Josh Wright serves as Chief Facilities and Planning Officer for The University of Arizona, with statewide responsibility for design, construction and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure; real estate; sustainability programs; and space management. He previously served as City Manager and Assistant City Manager for the City of Chandler, Town Manager for the Town of Wickenburg, and in various leadership roles for the Town of Marana. An Arizona native, he holds bachelor’s degrees and an MPA from The University of Arizona.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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MPA Advisory Board Functions<\/h3>\n

In its formal capacity, the Advisory Board is a common feature of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration<\/a> (NASPAA) accreditation process. As part of this process, councils have several functions. For example, the Board will:<\/p>\n