SMU is proud to have faculty and a curriculum committee who are deeply committed to student success and focused on creating strong policy leaders through continually updated curriculum and hands-on coursework.

Our faculty and curriculum committee members bring a diverse range of expertise to the program. They have extensive backgrounds in different areas of policy including education, literacy, economics, political science and sustainability. Many hold leadership positions in the industry.

Connecting with our faculty members

In most cases, course instructors will respond to emails and messages within 48 business hours.

Faculty directory


Mea Ahlberg, Ph.D.

Public Policy and Administration (P.P.A.) Faculty and Curriculum Committee Member

Senior Lecturer, SMU Department of Economics


Eva Chiang, Ph.D.

Public Policy and Administration (P.P.A.) Lead Faculty and Academic Coordinator


Cassidy Cooper, Ph.D.

M.P.P. Faculty

Senior Evaluation Associate, The Institute for Veterans and Military Families, Syracuse University


Molly K. Ellis, Ph.D.

Public Policy and Administration (P.P.A.) Faculty

Director of Strategic Initiatives, SMU Office of Faculty Success


Novin Ghaffari, Ph.D.

Public Policy and Administration (P.P.A.) Faculty

Statistician, Bureau of Transportation Statistics


Justine Morina, MBA

M.P.P. Faculty

Senior Policy Director, Teacher & School Policy, ExcelinEd


Thomas Osang, Ph.D.

Public Policy and Administration (P.P.A.) Curriculum Committee Member

Associate Professor of Economics


Kim Nelson Pryor, Ph.D.

Public Policy and Administration (P.P.A.) Faculty

Director of Student Affairs Assessment and Analytics, SMU Office of the Senior Vice President


Meredith Richards, Ph.D.

Public Policy and Administration (P.P.A.) Curriculum Committee Member

Associate Professor of Education Policy


Martin Stegemoeller, Ph.D.

Public Policy and Administration (P.P.A.) Faculty

Master Teaching Chair, St. Mark’s School of Texas


Anne Wicks, MBA

Public Policy and Administration (P.P.A.) Curriculum Committee Member

The Don Evans Family Managing Director, Opportunity and Democracy at George W. Bush Institute


Matthew Wilson, Ph.D.

Public Policy and Administration (P.P.A.) Curriculum Committee Member

Kairo Endowed Director of the Center for Faith and Learning

Associate Professor of Political Science