Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The MMA and Suffolk University will hold eight programs in 2025, as well as the fifth year of the MMA-Suffolk Municipal Fellowship Program.
Certificate program
In September 2025, the MMA and Suffolk University will launch the 25th and 26th sessions of the Certificate in Local Government Leadership and Management program.
The graduate-level academic program provides a solid grounding in municipal management, and covers topics such as human resources management, budgeting and financial management, and strategic leadership.
The program is held over the course of 25 Fridays from September through May. The 2025-2026 certificate programs will be hosted in Barnstable and Winchester; the program is held in person (40%) and on Zoom (60%).
An information session about the MMA-Suffolk certificate program, as well as the finance and human resources seminars, will be held on March 12 at 10 a.m. via Zoom. To register, visit www.mma.org or click here.
The certificate program application will be available on the MMA website on Feb. 1, and the deadline to apply is April 30. Applicants will be notified of their status by mid-May.
Municipal Finance Management Seminar
The MMA and Suffolk University will offer three Municipal Finance Management Seminar programs in 2025.
The finance seminar is designed to provide an overview of municipal finance in Massachusetts, including the structure and purpose of local government, municipal budgeting systems and sources of revenue, financial reporting and record keeping, financial management, principles of property assessment, the intersection of human resources and financial resources, and best practices in local government finance.
The seminar is for municipal officials interested in furthering their careers in municipal finance or employees who are new to municipal finance. Participants must be currently employed by a city or town, and must have the approval of their municipal manager, administrator or mayor to apply.
Seminars will be held via Zoom over the course of five Fridays, with start dates as follows:
• Winter 2025: Jan. 3 (fully enrolled)
• Spring 2025: March 7
• Fall 2025: Expected mid-October
“We’ve seen great success with the program and are addressing a longstanding need,” said John Petrin, a retired town manager and senior fellow and liaison for the MMA-Suffolk programs. “We’re filling an important gap in preparing the next generation of municipal finance professionals.”
Students are expected to attend all course sessions, participate in class activities, and complete all course assignments. Each session can accommodate up to 25 students, and the cost is $925.
Registration is first-come, first-served. Applicants will be vetted to ensure that they’re a municipal employee and that there are no more than three participants per municipality.
Registration details for the spring session will be emailed to chief municipal officials in mid-December. Questions about the registration process can be directed to Kate Evarts at kevarts@mma.org or 617-426-7272, ext. 172.
Municipal Human Resources Seminar
The MMA and Suffolk University will offer three Municipal Human Resources Seminar programs in 2025.
The HR seminar covers human resources management, policies and practices specific to Massachusetts cities and towns. There has been overwhelming interest in the seminar since it began in April.
Topics include hiring and onboarding, benefits administration, policy development, collective bargaining, and employee reviews and evaluations. Students also review relevant labor laws and best practices in municipal human resources management.
Waitlisted applicants will receive emails when sessions are confirmed. Registration for sessions with openings will be advertised on the MMA website and emailed to municipal HR contacts.
Questions about the registration process can be directed to Kate Evarts at kevarts@mma.org or 617-426-7272, ext. 172.
Municipal Fellowship
Municipal professionals interested in pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree at Suffolk University are encouraged to apply for the Municipal Fellowship program.
Launched in partnership with the MMA in 2021, the program offers a scholarship of up to $28,000, while the recipient’s municipality commits to continuing their salary and position while they attend the program part-time.
Fellowship applicants must be accepted for admission to Suffolk’s Master of Public Administration program and must receive the support of the chief municipal official in their municipality. Additional consideration will be given to graduates of the MMA-Suffolk Certificate in Local Government Leadership and Management program.
Those interested in the Municipal Fellowship should check off, on Suffolk’s application, that they are a municipal employee interested in the fellowship, and apply by May 1. The fellowship selection committee will interview qualified applicants and award up to two fellowships in June.
A Zoom information session will be held on Feb. 6 at 10 a.m. To register, visit www.mma.org or click here.
More information
The MMA has partnered with Suffolk University since 2011 to offer programs designed exclusively for municipal employees to help them further their professional careers.
For more information on any of the MMA-Suffolk programs, visit mma.org/suffolk or contact Katie McCue at 617-426-7272, ext. 111, or kmccue@mma.org, or Kate Evarts at 617-426-7272, ext. 172, or kevarts@mma.org.