MiPAAC at Cal Poly Pomona

Masters in Public Administration Advisory Council (MiPAAC)

The Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) program is a graduate professional program governed by the academic standards of ��ɫ�� at Pomona (��ɫ��) and the professional standards of the national accrediting agency NASPAA. The implementation and ongoing professional standards of the MPA program are the responsibility of the Masters in Public Administration Advisory Council (MiPAAC). Among the Council’s roles and responsibilities are the following:

To deliberate and approve the program’s mission statement and related goals
To deliberate, develop, and approve policies regarding all aspects of the program’s professional responsibilities to students and the broader ��ɫ�� community
To assess the program’s performance through a review of graduate papers, portfolios, and related culminating materials
To assist the program in meeting its obligations to provide the professional and intellectual resources needed to serve our diverse community
To provide practical and current access to employment and internship opportunities in public service
To guide the development and design of curriculum and to assure it meets the ongoing challenges of providing a public interest perspective to the identification and resolution of public issues
To serve, as needed, as adjunct and guest lecturers providing practical and professional guidance to coursework and culminating papers
To represent the MPA program to the public including the accrediting agency NASPAA

During the recent state budget crisis, the MPA program was able to continue providing quality education to graduate students by drawing on MiPAAC members to staff class sessions and provide auxiliary support as needed.

Who is on MiPAAC?
MiPAAC members are drawn from local professionals in the field of public service from the federal, state, local government, and non-governmental organizations. Representatives are individuals with experience as senior members of public service organizations and a commitment to preparing professionals for the 21st century. Biographic information on our current members is provided below:

Thomas Tan, Chair
Director of Network and Computer Services (NCS) for the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District. Holds a BA in Quantitative Economics and Decision Science from UC San Diego, an MBA from USC Marshall School of Business, and an Ed.D. from USC Rossier School of Education. Has worked in multiple school districts in Southern California.

Kyle D. Brown, Ph.D., ASLA
Professor of Landscape Architecture at Cal Poly Pomona. Former Director of the Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies and Interim Dean of the College. Chair of the City of Pomona Planning Commission. Holds a BLA from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts.

Brenda Diederichs
Assistant CEO/HR Director for the County of Riverside. Over 25 years of public sector experience with LA METRO, County of Orange, and others. Practiced labor and employment law after attending law school while at LA METRO. Currently oversees all HR functions for the County.

Kathrene Hansen
Executive Director of the Greater Los Angeles Federal Executive Board, serving over 125,000 federal employees. Nearly 17 years in this role. Formerly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and served with the Lieutenant Governor of Idaho and the U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Holds an MPA from West Virginia University.

Kevin Kearney
City Manager of Bradbury, CA. Recognized as a “Rising Star” in city management. Holds an MPA from Cal Poly Pomona, a BA from UC Irvine, and is pursuing a doctorate at USC. Certified Public Manager from UC San Diego.

Dominic Lazzaretto
City Manager of Arcadia, CA since 2012. Chair of the San Gabriel Valley COG City Managers Technical Advisory Committee. Former City Manager of La Palma and private sector consultant. Holds an MPA from Cal State Long Beach and a BS from Penn State.

Tamara Letourneau
Assistant Chief Executive Officer, City of Costa Mesa. Over 30 years of experience including city manager roles in Yorba Linda and Sierra Madre. Background in budgeting, HR, strategic planning, and intergovernmental relations. Founding board member of Women Leading Government.

Stephany Luevano
Cal Poly Pomona alumna with a BA in Business Administration and an MPA. Chief of Staff to the West Covina Mayor Pro Tem. Interested in improving government efficiency and effectiveness in local communities.

Mohsen Moayedi
Crisis Manager for the City of Los Angeles with over 25 years of service. Holds a Ph.D. in Government from Claremont Graduate University. Expert in international terrorism and crisis management. Adjunct faculty in the MPA program since 1981.

Margo Morales
Retired from LA County after a 32-year career. Last served as Deputy Director for Administration at the Department of Mental Health overseeing a $2 billion budget. Appointed to the Long Beach Ethics Commission. Holds a BA in Political Science/Public Administration from Cal Poly Pomona.

Beverly Speak
Community representative from the nonprofit sector. Holds an MPH and teaches nonprofit management in the MPA program. Extensive leadership experience in health and human services organizations. Recently retired CEO of Kids Come First and former president of the Community Clinic Association of San Bernardino County.