Suzette Caleo Named Chair of the Department of Public Administration
August 17, 2026
Suzette Caleo
BATON ROUGE – Suzette Caleo has been appointed chair of the Department of Public Administration at the LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business.
Caleo has served on the LSU faculty since 2012, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in public management, human resource management, organizational behavior, data analytics and program evaluation. She received the E. J. Ourso College of Business Outstanding Untenured Professor Teaching Award in 2018 and the LSU Foundation Distinguished Graduate Faculty Teaching Award in 2025. Prior to assuming the role of chair, Caleo served as the graduate advisor for the department’s flagship Master of Public Administration program.
“During my time at LSU, I have had the privilege of learning from exceptional colleagues and leaders who have shaped both the department and my own approach to teaching, research and service,” Caleo said. “I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to build on that legacy as chair and to support our outstanding students, faculty, staff and alumni.”
Caleo’s research focuses on how organizational practices shape employee experiences, evaluation and decision-making, with particular attention to issues of discrimination and organizational justice. Her research has been published in leading journals, including the Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior and the Journal of Applied Psychology, among others. Caleo also works closely with government and nonprofit organizations throughout Louisiana to aid in their strategic planning, data analysis, and program evaluation efforts.
Caleo earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Florida International University and her master’s and doctorate in social and organizational psychology from New York University. She succeeds Roy Heidelberg, who led the department for five years and oversaw the establishment of new programs such as the undergraduate minor in public affairs.
“The LSU Department of Public Administration has a distinguished history of promoting civic discourse while advancing our understanding of government and policy,” said Russell Crook, dean of the E. J. Ourso College. “I am grateful for Dr. Caleo’s willingness to serve in this critical leadership role and want to also thank Dr. Heidelberg for his dedicated service to the department and our state.”
About the Department of Public Administration
For more than 40 years, the LSU Department of Public Administration has worked to improve the understanding and practice of administration and government. Building from a foundation of high-quality graduate education and scholarly research, the department seeks to improve public governance, prepare talented leaders in public, nonprofit, and private sector organizations and improve the understanding and practice of administration and government.