The National Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA) will hold its 2018 annual conference, “Public Administration: Inspiring Leadership During Challenging Times,” in Los Angeles on Feb. 12-14.

The three-day conference will be led by current COMPA president Marc Fudge, an associate professor of public administration at the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration at Cal State San Bernardino. Fudge organized the conference, which will be held at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport, 5711 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles.

“This year’s conference will highlight the outstanding leadership accomplishments of minority public administrators,” Fudge said. “COMPA is particularly interested in bringing attention to the achievements of women leaders in the public sector.”  

Harvey White, a professor of the School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware and former COMPA president, will deliver the welcome address on Monday, and introduce Shirley Moore-Smeal, executive deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

The conference will include a number of panel sessions and speakers including a keynote lunch presentation from LaFonda Sutton-Burke, the first female director of the Los Angeles-Long Beach Seaport on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 12:30 p.m.

On Monday, Feb. 12, the panel session topics include: Social Equity and Justice; Nonprofit Management and Leadership; Comparative Public Administration and Domestic Terrorism; Strategic and Human Resources Management; and Public Policy and Management.

Charles Menifield, dean of the School of Public Policy Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University-Newark is the featured speaker at the President’s Welcome Reception on Monday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, Feb. 13, the featured speakers are Shari McMahan, provost of Cal State San Bernardino, and Lawrence Rose, dean of the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration at Cal State San Bernardino.

Tuesday’s panel session topics include: Minorities, Law Enforcement and the Criminal Justice System; Crayons to Careers: Urban Education in Delaware; Higher Education and Public Policy; Sustainability, Civic Engagement and Religious Institutions; Public Budgeting, Finance and Non-Governmental Organizations; and Public Housing and Housing Disparities.

Tuesday’s session concludes with the keynote reception and dinner with the keynote address given by CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales.

On Wednesday, Feb. 14, the conference will feature a president’s panel of former COMPA presidents with the topic “The Future of Leadership, Creating Leadership Opportunities for the Disenfranchised.”

The conference will conclude with an awards luncheon with closing remarks from COMPA president Fudge.

The Conference of Minority Public Administrators was established in 1971. It is a section of the American Society for Public Administration. Its mission is to serve and assist public administrators, students and other professionals involved in public service.

For more information, visit the COMPA conference website.