Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Andover Health Inspector Carolina Bencosme participates during a class on municipal legal issues on Oct. 24 as part of the MMA-Suffolk Certificate in Local Government Leadership and Management program in Winchester.
The MMA and Suffolk University will hold a Zoom information session on March 11 about upcoming offerings of the Certificate in Local Government Leadership and Management program.
To register for the session, visit www.mma.org or click here. The one-hour session will begin at 10 a.m.
The graduate-level certificate 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 2026-2027 certificate programs will be hosted in Littleton, Medfield and Palmer. The program is held in person (40%) and on Zoom (60%). Each location can accommodate up to 25 students.
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 Human Resources Seminar
The MMA and Suffolk University will offer three Municipal Human Resources Seminar programs in 2026.
The seminar covers human resources management, policies and practices specific to Massachusetts cities and towns. 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.
The seminar is designed for municipal employees interested in furthering their career in municipal human resources, employees who are new to municipal human resources, and employees who work in a municipal function with human-resources-adjacent tasks. More than 125 participants have completed the seminar since its inception in 2024.
The Municipal Human Resources Seminar will be held via Zoom over the course of five Fridays, with start dates as follows:
• Winter 2026: Jan. 9 (fully enrolled)
• Spring 2026: April 10
• Fall 2026: TBD
The application for the spring seminar is available online. Applications are due by Jan. 30. This is a competitive application process; applicants will be notified of their status by mid-February.
Questions about the registration process can be directed to Kate Evarts at [email protected] 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 to Suffolk by May 1. The fellowship selection committee will interview qualified applicants and award up to two fellowships in June.
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 [email protected], or Kate Evarts at 617-426-7272, ext. 172, or [email protected].