CLAREMONT, Calif., Jan. 21, 2021 -- Claremont Lincoln University (CLU), a non-profit online university offering master's degrees through a Socially Conscious Education®, is delivering on its mission to build a diverse, inclusive and equitable society with the formation of the Inaugural Advisory Council for its Master in Public Administration (MPA) program. 

CLU's MPA Inaugural Advisory Council is made up of some of the most venerated change-makers in California who will provide relevant, powerful and real-world insights into the public administration field. These council members will shape the next generation of leaders, placing an emphasis on the honor of service as a public servant. They will extend their expertise and guidance to the CLU MPA program, with a goal of empowering public administrators to become the trailblazers needed in today's world. 

These leaders are committed to putting service back in public service. Chaired by the City of Claremont Mayor Pro Tem and Council Member Jed Leano, the MPA Inaugural Advisory Council is composed of more than 15 California state, city, school district and non-profit leaders.

• California State Treasurer - Fiona Ma
• California State Senator - Scott Wiener
• City of Pomona Mayor - Tim Sandoval
• City of Irvine Mayor - Farrah N. Khan
• City of Elk Grove Mayor - Bobbie Singh-Allen
• President of Compton Unified School District Board and President-Emeritus of California Association of Black School Educators - Micah Ali
• Oakland City Council Member - Sheng Thao
• President of the South California Association of Governments and City of Long Beach Council Member - Rex Richardson
• City of South Gate Council Member and Vice Mayor and Director of Institute for the Attention of Immigrants - Denise Diaz
• Lynwood School Board Member and President and Director of Policy and Advocacy for the Social Justice Learning Institute - Gary Hardie, Jr.
• Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Chairperson - Sarah Dusseault
• Carlsbad Mayor and City Council Member - Priya Bhat-Patel
• Montebello City Council Member - Salvador Melendez
• Pasadena School Board Member - Tina Fredericks
• California state director and Co-Chair of Elected Officials to Protect America and Former mayor of Culver City - Meghan Sahli-Wells
• El Monte City Council Member - Victoria Martinez-Muela

Members of CLU's MPA Inaugural Advisory Council bring a diverse perspective to complex municipal and governmental issues and the strategies needed to effect social change on sustainability, housing, land use and infrastructure, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion. This perspective will shape the curriculum of CLU's MPA program, which launches next month.

The practitioner-focused curriculum of CLU's MPA program offers emergent tools to help learners gain the knowledge and skills needed to address complex social, environmental and municipal challenges. The program was collaboratively developed through a partnership with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, a globally known organization that serves municipalities worldwide through research and creative approaches to land as a solution to economic, social and environmental challenges.

"CLU's MPA is focused on shaping the next generation of ethical leaders for public service, non-profits and social change," said CLU President and CEO Tony Digiovanni. "The Inaugural Advisory Council was intentionally curated to ensure that mission is being fully realized. The council reflects an extraordinarily diverse selection of passionate leaders who share a desire to help build the next generation of public servants rooted in a socially conscious education."

The time is now to make change and begin healing our communities. For those who are ready to answer the call, enrollment is currently open for CLU's MPA program. The program is conducted entirely online, and full-time students can complete it in a little over 13 months. Visit www.claremontlincoln.edu to learn more, and https://www.claremontlincoln.edu/apply-online/ to apply.