Atta A. Ceesay, Ph.D.
Associate Dean Rockwell Hall 222Office: (716) 878-6326
Email: ceesayaa@buffalostate.edu
Department Chair & MPA Program Coordinator
Academic Appointments
SUNY Buffalo State - Department of Political Science & Public Administration
Associate Professor (2019-present)
Assistant Professor (2015-2019)
Chair, Department of Political Science & Public Administration (May 2020-Present)
Director, Public Administration and Nonprofit Division (June 2017-May 2020)
MPA Program Coordinator (June 2016- Present)
MPA, Nonprofit Track Coordinator (August 2015-present)
Previous Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor Public Affairs, School of Public and Environmental Affairs - Indiana Univerity Northwest
Fall 2011-Summer 2015; Affiliated Assistant Professor of Philanthropic Studies, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University (Spring 2012-Summer 2015)
Adjunct Lecturer - College of Community and Public Affairs, SUNY Binghamton University, Spring 2011
Adjunct Lecturer - School of Public Affairs and Administration, Rutgers University, Newark Campus, Fall 2006-Summer 2011
Research Assistant - School of Public Affairs and Administration, Rutgers University, Newark Campus, Fall 2006-Summer 2010
Education
PhD Public Administration, August 2011
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, School of Public Affairs and Administration, Newark, NJ
Dissertation: Is Microfinance the Answer? VISACA Interventions in The Gambia
MSc Human Resources, 2003
Widener University, Chester, PA
MBA Masters of Business Administration, 1999
Governors State University, University Park, IL
BS/BA Business Administration and French, 2003
Fairmont State College, Fairmont, WV
Teaching
Graduate Courses: Human Resource Management for Nonprofits; Government Finance and Budgets; Program and Performance Evaluation; Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations; Strategic Planning, Budgeting, and Citizen Involvement; Research and Design Methods; Survey Research; Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector; Special Challenges and Issues in Human Resources; MPA Projects
Undergraduate Courses: Public Organizations, the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector, Introduction to Public Affairs, Government Finance & Budget, Managing Behavior in Public Organizations,
Awards & Recognitions
Buffalo State President's Award for Teaching Excellence (2019)
Indiana University Northwest Board of Trustees Teaching Award (2015)
Pi Alpha Alpha National Public Affairs and Administration Honors Society, inducted May 2008
Research Interests
Comparative and Development Public Administration, Non-Profit Management, Governance and Accountability, Program Evaluation, Human Resources Management and Public Management
Publications
Rivera, J. D., Ceesay, A. A., & Sillah, A. (2020). Challenges to disaster risk management in The Gambia: A preliminary investigation of the disaster management system's structure. Progress in Disaster Science.
Ceesay, A., Szarleta, E., and Bandyopadhyay, S. (2018).” Advancing Communities of Learning: A Collaborative Project between Local Universities, Funding Agencies and Nonprofits to Develop a Senior Subsidized Transportation Plan”. Journal of the Indiana Academy of the Social Sciences
Szarleta, Ellen and Ceesay, Atta (2015). “Using Business Models to Inform Non-profit Sustainability,” Organisational Studies and Innovation Review1 (2)
Solinas-Saunders, M., Anderson, L., Huey, J., Ceesay, A., Ferrandino, J., Tsataros, D., and Tsolakos, J. (2013).” Service Learning in a Regional Urban Midwest University: An Overview of Five Different Projects.” Journal of the Indiana Academy of the Social Sciences, 16 (1):86-105
Sillah, A and Ceesay, A (2018). “Civic Engagement, Community Development, and the Role of Civil Society Organization and Citizenship: A Case Study of The Gambia.” In A.E. Nickels and J.D. Rivera (Eds), Community Development and Public Administration Theory: Empowerment Through the Enhancement of Democratic Principles, New York, NY: Routledge. (double-blind peer reviewed)
Technical Reports
Foundations of East Chicago - Capacity Building Project Final Report. Prepared by Atta Ceesay and Ellen Szarleta, March 2016.
Community Capacity in Northwest Indiana: An Assessment of Strategies across twenty-five agencies. Atta Ceesay, Monica Solinas-Saunders, and Ellen Szarleta. Prepared for the Foundation of East Chicago, 2015.
Community Conversation on Education – City of Gary. Collaborators: Atta Ceesay, Ellen Szarleta., & SPEA graduate students. 2014.
Marie Reiner Senior Center Business Plan. Prepared by Ellen Szarleta, Atta Ceesay and Subir Bandyopadhyay, December 2013.
City of Hobart-Indiana Senior Transportation Needs Assessment. Prepared by Ellen Szarleta, Atta Ceesay and Subir Bandyopadhyay for the Legacy Foundation of Northwest Indiana, May 2013.
Literature Review and Analysis Related to Optimal Service Delivery Arrangements and Local Government Efficiency. Study commissioned by the Local Unit Alignment, Reorganization, and Consolidation Commission (LUARCC) of New Jersey, May 2009. (Senior Research Associate)
Literature Review and Analysis Related to Costs and Benefits of Service Delivery Consolidation among Municipalities. Study commissioned by the Local Unit Alignment, Reorganization, and Consolidation Commission (LUARCC) of New Jersey, May 2009. (Senior Research Associate)
Shared Services in School Districts: Policies, Practices and Recommendations. Study commissioned by the New Jersey School Boards Association, September 2007. (Research Assistant)
Grants & Fundraising
Grant revenue PI or Co-PI approximately $106,000 (IUN), PI or Co-PI $536,500 (Buffalo State College).
Professional Affiliations & Continuing Education
Member of: American Society for Public Administration (APSA) (2012-present), Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) (2012-present)
Selected Training/Certifications: NASPAA Accreditation Institute, Creative Leaders Program, Emerging College Leaders Program, Advanced Blackboard Specialization Certificate, Intercultural Competence and Communication Initiatative (ARNOVA)