Program Structure & Governance
OVERVIEW
The Masters in Development Practice (MDP) program is an interdisciplinary program administratively based at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, co-administered with the Interdisciplinary Center for the study of Global Change and offered in partnership with five colleges at the University of Minnesota. This document provides an overview of the primary actors in the MDP program and their respective roles. This information is intended to assist incoming students in understanding the structure and function of the Minnesota MDP program.
The DGS serves as the coordinator of graduate studies within a program. Together with the graduate program faculty and department and collegiate leadership, the DGS shares responsibility for guiding and improving graduate education within the program(s) under his or her jurisdiction. The DGS is the liaison among the graduate students, program faculty, and the college and Graduate School administrations. DGS is also responsible for understanding and complying with University and collegiate policies that govern or have an impact on the graduate program and its students.
The MDP program director coordinates cooperation and collaboration with inter-collegiate partners (internal) and with the MDP Global Association (external). The Director also oversees program coordination and management and is closely involved with student advising and recruitment. The Director is the primary responsible party for development and oversight of summer field experience projects and spring capstone projects, though both roles depend upon close collaboration with other internal and external partners. Finally, the MDP program director develops and instructs several core MDP courses.
PROGRAM SUPPORT
The MDP program itself does not have direct staff beyond the Program Director but instead is supported through the combined administrated resources of the Humphrey School and ICGC. In addition to Joel Mixon (see Academic Advisor above), there are two individuals critical to the program’s success.
Laura Bell (icgc@umn.edu), Executive Office and Administrative Specialist, Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change [ ICGC ]
Shereen Sabet (sabe0014@umn.edu), Assistant to the Director, Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change [ ICGC ]
Renée Rippberger (rippb005@umn.edu), Program Specialist, Humphrey School of Public Affairs
2023-24 MDP PROGRAM COMMITTEE
The MDP Program Committee represents the primary governance and administrative structure for the MDP program. The committee comprises two co-chairs - one from the Humphrey School and the other from the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change (ICGC) - the Program Director, representatives from each academic unit and student representatives to the Program Committee (see Organizational Chart at end of this document). The Program Committee oversees MDP curriculum, admissions, and several other program-specific factors. It meets monthly during the academic year.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS
Ragui Assaad (assaad@umn.edu), Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Karen Brown (kbt@umn.edu), Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change [ ICGC ]
PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Dean Current (curre002@umn.edu), College of Food and Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences
Elise Harrington (eliseh@umn.edu), Humphrey School
Christopher Johnstone (john4810@umn.edu), College of Education and Human Development
Claudia Muñoz-Zanzi (munozzan@umn.edu), School of Public Health
Dave Wilsey (dwilsey@umn.edu), MDP Director
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES TO PROGRAM COMMITTEE & EX-OFFICIO LIAISONS TO STUDENT-ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (SAAC)
Lakshmi Vemuri (vemur023@umn.edu), Class of 2024