Susan Appe is Associate Professor of Public Administration and Policy at Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at the University at Albany, SUNY. Her research focuses on government–nonprofit relations and the dimensions and evolution of the nonprofit sector. She also examines the relationship between civil society, foreign aid, and development. She is currently working on research projects related to remittances and philanthropy as well as about the roles of public administration and nonprofit organizations in mass atrocity prevention.  

She teaches graduate and undergraduate classes on public service, philanthropy and nonprofit management. At UAlbany, she created the Student Philanthropy Fund which allows students to distribute funds to local Capital District nonprofit organizations as part of coursework in which they learn about philanthropy and the role of nonprofits in building vibrant communities. In addition to her local work, she regularly guest lectures and has held Visiting Professor appointments at universities in Latin America and Africa. For her research and teaching, Susan has been awarded five Fulbright and in 2018 was recipient of a Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in the State University of New York system.  

Susan is Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Macedonia 2001 and Bolivia 2002-2004) and is active in UAlbany’s Peace Corps Prep program which prepares students for international public service.  Susan lives in Albany’s Washington Park neighborhood; she enjoys collecting art from local and emerging artists and cycling during the warmer months in upstate New York.