What is the MPA Association?
The Master of Public Administration Association (MPAA) is a student organization at Boise State University. Members include all students enrolled in an MPA class during the academic year.
Purpose of the MPAA
To develop a community and social network of MPA students, faculty, and alumni who can potentially enhance the educational experience of students.
How do I become a member?
You are already a member! All MPA students, faculty, and alumni are members.
Job Opportunities and Internships
Check out the Department webpage and programs! http://sspa.boisestate.edu/publicpolicy/
Join the MPAA Facebook group!
Search: Master of Public Administration at BSU
Need more information? Contact your officers!
Pi Alpha Alpha
– National Honor Society
2012 MPAA OFFICERS
MPAA PRESIDENT
Hello! My name is Jess McCafferty and I am the MPAA president. I grew up outside Portland, Oregon where I learned to love rainy days and angst-y music. Upon graduating from high school, I ventured to St. Paul, Minnesota, where I received a wonderful liberal arts education at an all women’s college, St. Catherine University. While pursuing my biology degree, I became involved in the student senate, national and global politics, social justice issues, women’s issues, combating racism, as well as community organizing. After graduation, I lived in community as a full time volunteer in Minneapolis serving in a variety of organizations including a day shelter for people experiencing homelessness and an organization connecting unions with faith groups. My experiences with community organizing, advocating for social and political change and experiential learning led me to want jobs that a Master’s in Public Administration degree would couple well with. I moved with my dog, Louise, to Boise to attend Boise State University, and have enjoyed experiencing yet another new city, making new, intelligent, witty friends and learning in the field that I want to pursue a career in.
MPAA VICE-PRESIDENT
Hello Public Policy and Administration Graduate students! My name is 
Autumn Ann Tracy, Vice-President, MPAA, at your service. Please do not hesitate to email me at any time with any matter I may help you with this year. I would love to meet and talk with you! I am continuing onto my second full-time year of graduate school after a decade of working administrative positions in both the non-profit and public sectors right here in the City of Trees. I also plan to obtain Certificates in Community & Urban Planning and Dispute Resolution.
My undergraduate degree is a Bachelors of Communication at BSU. I worked for local rafting and snowboarding shops, televisions studios, and even waitressed downtown while attending undergraduate school. I have been spotted in transit on bike in the downtown area for many years and truly love the people, music, and outdoorsy feel of our city. My hobbies are hiking, stargazing, women’s disc golf and playing guitar. I am also an avid used book store enthusiast. I live in an old bungalow in the North End with my wonderful Boise High Ultimate Frisbee playin’ son, two cats and a long-time pet rabbit name Ginger. I have an amazing daughter who is in her senior year at Amherst College.
My goal is to become a thoughtful, visionary, intelligent and innovative public servant for our city or state in the next five years, so I look forward to learning and growing with the best Masters of Public Policy students and teachers that Boise State University has to offer! (That’s you!!) It’s going to be a great year! It’s truly a blessing to be here 
MPAA SECRETARY
Greetings, MPAA! I am Kelli Soll, the secretary officer of your MPAA. This is my first semester in the MPA program, so I am looking forward to meeting many of you and learning about your interests! I graduated with an undergraduate degree in geology from Iowa State University last year. As a passionate geologist, I look forward to pursing the environmental emphasis that the MPA program offers. Since then, I have relocated to the City of Trees and have been working for Britt Ide as an Energy and Environmental Policy Analyst with Ide Law & Strategy. With a passion for nonprofits, I have helped with the start of the Idaho Clean Energy Association and will intern with the Global Village Network at Boise State University throughout this academic year. I love to explore the mountain west, root for the Iowa State Cyclones, and enjoy skiing, coffee shops, biking, basketball and hiking. Please don’t hesitate to contact me for anything. I look forward to a great year! Good luck!
MPAA TREASURER
Hello fellow MPAA-ers! My name is Kate Thorpe 
and I am your MPAA treasurer for the academic year. I am starting my second year of the program, but remember very clearly what it felt like this time last year to be a new grad student; so if you have woes coming into your first week of school (or even returning like me) please feel free to reach out! This weekend marked the completion of my first year in Idaho (I fled from Connecticut). I love the outdoors, catching glimpses of wildlife, and simply sitting in the sun. You can often find my dog, Burleigh, and I either walking in the foothills or swimming around in Quinn’s pond (I often attempt to roll my kayak, but still find myself swimming ever so often). I am also a graduate assistant at the Energy Policy Institute and have interned for the Idaho Conservation League and the Idaho Nonprofit Center. I live for the Environmental and Natural Resource classes offered through the program and for the weekends! Please feel free to contact me with any questions concerning the MPAA or if your new to the area, life in Boise at katethorpe@u.boisestate.edu. I look forward to meeting many of you throughout the year!