2023-2024 Executive Committee
Immediate past chair: helisse levine
Professor and Director MPA Program, Long Island University (LIU), School of Business, Public Administration and Information Sciences,Brooklyn, New York.
Dr. Levine earned her Ph.D. in public administration from Rutgers University, School of Public Administration and Affairs, Newark, N.J. in 2005, and a M.A. in financial economics from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, N.J. Her research interests include gender and inclusion in public sector organizations, and the role of fiscal and economic constraints in organizational sustainability. Since entering academe in 2008, she has contributed to numerous peer reviewed journals and book chapters, convened and presented at countless national and international conferences, and is co-editor of 1) Women in Public Administration: Theory and Practice, 2) The Handbook of Local Government Fiscal Health, and 3) Positioning Markets and Governments in Public Management. She is recipient of several research and teaching awards including SWPA’s 2014 Dr. Rita Mae Kelly Distinguished Research Award for her collaborative work on women in public administration and LIU-Brooklyn’s prestigious David Newton Award for Teaching Excellence. Helisse is a member of the UNDP Roster of Experts in Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Public Administration.
Dr. Levine earned her Ph.D. in public administration from Rutgers University, School of Public Administration and Affairs, Newark, N.J. in 2005, and a M.A. in financial economics from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, N.J. Her research interests include gender and inclusion in public sector organizations, and the role of fiscal and economic constraints in organizational sustainability. Since entering academe in 2008, she has contributed to numerous peer reviewed journals and book chapters, convened and presented at countless national and international conferences, and is co-editor of 1) Women in Public Administration: Theory and Practice, 2) The Handbook of Local Government Fiscal Health, and 3) Positioning Markets and Governments in Public Management. She is recipient of several research and teaching awards including SWPA’s 2014 Dr. Rita Mae Kelly Distinguished Research Award for her collaborative work on women in public administration and LIU-Brooklyn’s prestigious David Newton Award for Teaching Excellence. Helisse is a member of the UNDP Roster of Experts in Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Public Administration.
Section Chair - Charlene M. L. Roach
Dr. Roach serves as Head and Department and full-time Faculty where she lectures and researches in HRM, Organizational Behaviour and Leadership at the Faculty of Social Sciences at The University of the West Indies. Charlene joined SWPA many years ago and started as a member of the Scholarship Committee. She has served as Chair of this committee for many years and later chaired the Awards Committee. Charlene has also worked with other committees and their chairs to advance SWPA’s mission. Last year Charlene led a collaborative webinar for SWPA. She has also assisted in her Vice Chair role for the last 2 years with SWPA’s conference preplanning and activities such as our first Exhibit Hall during COVID and supports the Chair to accomplish SWPA’s mission. Charlene is a committed and faithful SWPA member and supports the Section in any role she can bolster others such as membership, conversations among us, annual breakfast, mentoring, website, newsletter, and awards. She enjoys working with the SWPA’s executive team where we brainstorm and share ideas. Charlene attributes her team-oriented style of leading as a strength to her leadership and looks forward to serving within the SWPA team as Chair.
Vice chair - kayla n. schwoerer
Dr. Kayla N. Schwoerer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at the University at Albany, SUNY. Her research focuses broadly on the intersection of public and nonprofit management, science, technology and innovation studies, and social equity. She is particularly interested in how new and emerging technologies shape society, governance, and public engagement. Research in progress or currently under peer review focuses on how governments use open data and AI to make decisions and engage the public, in addition to research on public attitudes toward policy and government and the underlying psychological and behavioral mechanisms that shape them. Dr. Schwoerer has also published research on how Twitter and TikTok are used to engage and mobilize stakeholders, and how Ph.D. programs can better support Ph.D. students. In her research, Dr. Schwoerer leverages multiple methods including experimental methods, computational text analysis, big data analytics, and qualitative content analysis.
Treasurer - Hanjin mao
Dr. Hanjin Mao is an Assistant Professor of Nonprofit Management from the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Houston - Downtown. She received her Ph.D. in Public Administration from the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University – Newark. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Rutgers University - Newark and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Hohai University in China. Her research interests include nonprofit management, nonprofit finance, and information technology. Hanjin values public service. She is an active member of the ASPA community. She started serving as the Treasurer of the Section on Women in Public Administration (SWPA) in 2022. She also serves as the Secretary of the Section on Nonprofits (SNP) and the Treasurer of the Section on Chinese Public Administration (SCPA).
Secretary - Michaela E. Abbott
Michaela E. Abbott is a doctoral student in public administration at North Carolina State University, where she is a doctoral fellow in the Municipal Research Lab. She has a deep passion for public service, which is shown through her genuine excitement and positivity, her long track record of public service work, and her educational background. Michaela serves as the editorial assistant of the Journal of Public Affairs Education. In addition to serving as a SWPA board member since 2019, she was recently elected Vice President of her local ASPA chapter and serves on the board of the Section on Public Affairs Education. She has worked in many different areas of the public sector such as regional planning, local government, higher education, and various nonprofits. Prior to her time at NCSU, Michaela received her MPA from the College of Charleston, in addition to a graduate certificate in Arts and Cultural Management. Michaela was named a 2020 ASPA Founders Fellow and is a member of the Phi Alpha Alpha Honor Society. Her research focuses on collaborative approaches to problem-solving, public trust, and advancing social equity in both the criminal justice and public education systems. Currently, Michaela works with the North Carolina Workforce Development Leadership Initiative to develop and implement a professional training program for leaders in workforce or economic development. This program prepares graduates to earn the professional designation of Certified Workforce Developer – the only designation of its kind in the country.
National Board
Terms ending in 2024:
Jourdan Davis
Ph.D. Candidate, American University
Jourdan Davis is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at American University. Davis' research agenda focuses on the role of fair and equitable government actions and decision-making in citizen-government relations. Her research interests include behavioral public administration, social equity, equality and fairness, performance measurement, citizen satisfaction, and citizen-government relationships. Prior to enrolling, Jourdan worked on public and patient engagement at a healthcare research funding institution.
Jourdan Davis is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at American University. Davis' research agenda focuses on the role of fair and equitable government actions and decision-making in citizen-government relations. Her research interests include behavioral public administration, social equity, equality and fairness, performance measurement, citizen satisfaction, and citizen-government relationships. Prior to enrolling, Jourdan worked on public and patient engagement at a healthcare research funding institution.
Mercy umeri
Mercy Umeri, Ph.D., offers a unique blend of teaching, administrative, leadership, and HR experience in the private, government, and nonprofit sectors with over seventeen years of global experience combined. Dr. Umeri has a background in education, public policy, and human resource management. Dr. Umeri has a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Wichita State University, Kansas. She also has a master’s degree (MPA) in public administration and a graduate certificate in nonprofit management both from the Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs, Wichita State University. And a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nigeria (UNN). In her current position at the Hugo Wall School, she is an Assistant Teaching Professor, the MiniMPA Coordinator, and the Online Learning Coordinator. In addition, Dr. Umeri has taught human resources in public and nonprofit organizations at the graduate level and taught introduction to public administration at the undergraduate level. She assists in building and delivering online course content, engages in recruitment activities, conducts research, provides online support to professors and graduate students, and is the inhouse (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) DEI expert for the Hugo Wall School. Dr. Umeri is a member of the American Society for Public Administrators (ASPA).
Colette Knuth
Assistant Professor, School of Business, Public Administration and Information Sciences, Long Island University (LIU)- Brooklyn
Dr. Knuth’s research interests are health payment policy, workforce dynamics, and the social determinants of health. Prior to joining LIU, she was a consultant to organized medicine, health care providers, and government agencies. Dr. Knuth also conducted health policy and services research at the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) and US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Dr. Knuth’s research interests are health payment policy, workforce dynamics, and the social determinants of health. Prior to joining LIU, she was a consultant to organized medicine, health care providers, and government agencies. Dr. Knuth also conducted health policy and services research at the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) and US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Terms ending in 2025:
RACHEL EMAS
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Dr. Rachel Emas is an Associate Teaching Professor and Director of the Master of Arts in Environmental and Natural Resource Policy (MA-ENRP) at the Trachtenberg School at George Washington University. Prof. Emas's research revolves around sustainability and environmental policies, especially around sustainable and equitable urban food systems. Rachel also studies public service pedagogy and inclusive teaching practices.
Previously, Rachel was at the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University-Newark where she served as the Director of the Executive MPA, traditional MPA, and Online MPA programs.
Previously, Rachel was at the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University-Newark where she served as the Director of the Executive MPA, traditional MPA, and Online MPA programs.
LASHAE LAMBERT
Lashae Lambert is the DEI Policy and Implementation Strategist at the Department of Medical Assistance Services for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Roslyn Alic-Batson
Terms ending in 2026:
Alina Pavelea
Alina Pavelea, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw. Her research interests focus on local economic development, creative workers, labor markets, and precarious working conditions. Alina was awarded a Ph.D. degree in Administrative Sciences from BabeșBolyai University, Romania, in 2022. Her Ph.D. dissertation titled ‘Magnetic cities: creative workers, economic development and resilience in Romania’ explored the role of the concentration of creative workers and creative industries for the economic development and economic resilience of Romanian cities. During her Ph.D. studies, Alina was awarded a Fulbright Visiting Student Award and a Founders’ Fellows Award offered by the American Society of Public Administration. Shortly after graduating, she joined the Interdisciplinary Centre for Labour Market and Family Dynamics (LabFam) at the University of Warsaw. She is part of the research project “Risks, Resources and Inequalities: Increasing Resilience in European Families (rEUsilience)”, which reunites experts from six countries.
Rebecca M. Entress
Rebecca M. Entress, MPA, is a Ph.D. candidate who focuses on government interventions to enhance social equity, especially in areas of emergency management and health care. Rebecca is part of the Public Affairs (PAF) Doctoral program at the University of Central Florida and is a 2022 ASPA Founders’ Fellow. She attended Florida State University for her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Master’s degree in Public Administration. Following graduation, Rebecca worked at the Florida Legislature as a Policy Analyst on health and human services issues. Rebecca also worked at a large health care system in Orlando, Florida and in county government in South Florida before returning to school to pursue her Ph.D. Rebecca is published in Public Administration Review, Administration and Society, and the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. Her research focuses on public management, health policy, and government interventions impacting social equity. In her free time, Rebecca enjoys traveling, pottery, spending time with friends, and being outdoors.
Saman Afshan
Saman Afshan, Ph.D. Student at North Carolina State University in public administration where she is a doctoral fellow in the Municipal Research Lab. Saman received her MPA from NC State University and a MA in economics from Jamia Millia Islamia. Her primary areas of interest in the study are budgetary and pension policy. Included in this are measures for enhancing budget effectiveness and efficiency, analysis of how government budget decisions affect various programs and industries, and examination of pension policy design and implementation to ensure equitable and long-term sustainability.
Student Representatives
Kellie Fain
Kellie Fain is a Master of Public Administration candidate at The Roosevelt School, Long Island University (LIU) Brooklyn, New York. She is a Division I student-athlete studying Health care management, a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, President of the Public Administration Society at LIU, a volunteer at Maimonides Medical Center, and Resident Assistant/Orientation Leader of LIU Brooklyn Residence Life. She just completed an internship at Brooklyn Community Services, one of the largest and oldest nonprofits in Brooklyn. Kellie’s interests include healthcare challenges for underserved and minority populations.
Ying Liu
Ying Liu is a third-year doctoral student in the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University-Newark. Ying is deeply committed to this field with an emphasis on the democratic values of the administrative state and the impact it can have on societies and citizens. Her research interests in gender equity in public and nonprofit organizations align closely with the mission of the Section for Women in Public Administration. Specifically, her research considers how gender plays a decisive role in public administration and explores how issues of representation, diversity, and gender equity shape the policies and practices of governments and nonprofit organizations. Her dissertation explores gender equity in public administration from three perspectives: institution, organization, and interaction. The institutional perspective stresses the importance of human resource policies and practices in promoting gender representation, decreasing gender inequality, and creating conclusive atmospheres in government. She uses the organizational perspective to examine gender images in public administration and reveal the systematic characteristic masculinity of public administration. Furthermore, citizens’ perceptions of gender representation and leadership in government can also manifest how far we have gone in promoting gender analysis to be self-evident and eliminating toxic masculinity in public administration. Ying seeks to support other women scholars and gender research in public administration.
Yazmin Valido
Yazmin Valido oversees all internal operations and serves as the Executive Assistant to the President and CEO of the Miami Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to building community resilience and support through civic leadership, community investment, and philanthropy. As a public service-oriented professional, Yazmin shares the mission of the Foundation and directly executes and supports many of its initiatives. Highlights include facilitating “Give Miami Day,” one of the nation's largest 24- hour fundraising events, which raised $32M in 2022 to support hundreds of non-profits across Miami-Dade. She also supported the launch of the Foundation’s Surfside Relief Fund, which assisted those impacted by an unprecedented residential building collapse in Surfside, Florida in 2021. Yazmin also manages the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and is closely involved with the organization’s strategic planning process. As an engaged practitioner dedicated to public service and community development, Yazmin is a perfect candidate for the 2023 ASPA Conference Scholarship presented by SWPA. She would also be an asset and would contribute appreciably to SWPA and its mission to promote participation and recognition of women at all levels and areas of the public sector.
SWPA Committees
National Awards
Scholarship Program
Professional Development
National Awards Breakfast
SWPA Social
Social Media and Marketing
Membership and Recruitment
Newsletter
Journal
Website
Scholarship Program
Professional Development
National Awards Breakfast
SWPA Social
Social Media and Marketing
Membership and Recruitment
Newsletter
Journal
Website
Leadership History
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1971-73 Joan Fiss Bishop, MA *
1973-74 June Martin * 1974-75 Barbara Hawkins 1975-76 Ruth Ann Barrett 1976-77 Dona Wolf, MD & Sherry Suttles 1977-78 Genevieve C. Sims 1978-80 Sally Gutierriez, CA 1980-81 Nancy Foye, OH & Jean McDonald 1981-82 Christine Gibbs, NV 1982-83 Jana Bagwell, OK 1983-84 Carol Gandy, CA * 1984-85 Jeanne Marie Col, NY 1985-86 Kathryn Hensley, VA Marie Barovic Rosenberg, WA 1986-87 Lynn Brown, CA 1987-88 Kathy Roth Moore, CA 1988-89 Eileen Larence, VA 1989-90 Mary Ellen Guy, TX 1990-91 Debra Martin, MI 1991-92 Willa Bruce 1992-93 Anne Swafford 1993-94 Mary Timney Bailey 1994-95 Ann Snyder 1995-96 Michelle A. Saint-Germain * Deceased |
1996-97 Marjorie Lomax, VA
1997-98 Linda M. Lazer 1998-99 Mary M. Hale 1999-00 Linda deLeon, CO 2000-01 Meredith Newman, FL 2001-02 Cheryl Simrell King, WA 2002-03 Wendy Haynes, MA 2003-05 Kathryn Hensley, SC 2005-07 Claire Felbinger, DC * 2007-08 Becky Schergens, VA 2008-10 Patricia Shields, TX 2010 L. Dara Baldwin (term incomplete) 2010-12 Roslyn Alic-Batson, FL 2012-13 Barbara Lewkowitz, AZ 2013-14 Suzanne Discenza, KS 2014-15 Suzanne Discenza, KS 2015-16 Elisa Graffy, AZ 2016-17 Hillary Knepper, NY 2017-2018 Meghna Sabarwal, TX 2018-2019 Michelle Evans, TN 2019-2020 Agatha Caraballo, FL 2020-2020 Shilpa Viswanath, NY 2020-2023 Helisse Levine, NY 2023-2024 Charlene M. L. Roach |
A Short History of SWPA:
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By 1971, a few women had joined ASPA and it didn’t take long for them to look for inclusion in programs and on committees. At the 1973 convention, six resolutions about the status of women in ASPA were presented and adopted by National Council. A Task Force on Women was appointed to make recommendations. Based on their recommendations, National Council created the National Committee on Women in Public Administration (NCWPA) and Joan Fiss Bishop became its leader. One of the first goals was to provide grants to local chapters to promote women. (1974-75). Read more....
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