| Uniting Nations Through Economic Progress | ||
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ppp | Job
Title: Consultant Organization: Graduate: Home Country: |
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| What do you enjoy about your job? What aspects of your job are the most exciting or interesting? | ||
| As
a consultant for the United Nations Department of
Economic and Social Affairs, I enjoy the fact that I
work on a large variety of issues, and I hone my
technical expertise and my understanding of the
application of public administration and development
principles to specific country conditions. I have
the chance to work with inspiring prominent
professionals with diverse backgrounds in a
multi-cultural environment, I organize and service
intergovernmental meetings and I have interesting
opportunities to create partnerships with the civil
society, the private sector, academia and
governments. This means a wealth of extraordinary
professional experience. The most exciting aspect of
my job is that I pursue my passion for international
development and employ my expertise to make a
positive difference in global policy-making. |
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| Why did you choose to pursue an MPA/MPP degree? | ||
| When
I chose to pursue an MPA, I was already working in
the public sector as a researcher with the Ministry
of Trade in Romania, and I was very committed to
make a significant contribution in the public
sector. I needed to develop my expertise in public
administration and acquire the necessary skills
which would enable me to make the best decisions on
significant governance issues at the national level
and further on to make a positive difference in
promoting good governance and development worldwide.
Studying public administration at the graduate level
was the most appropriate first step towards this
goal. |
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| How did you select your graduate school? | ||
| I
selected the Nelson A. Rockefeller Graduate School
of Public Affairs at the University at Albany, State
University of New York (SUNY) because of its good
reputation in preparing students for successful
careers in the public service through an excellent
balance between academic courses and practical
experience. The Master of Public Administration
Program at the University at Albany focuses on the
intellectual foundations of public administration,
its environment, and skills used by public
officials. It is a school for motivated individuals
who are committed to making a real difference in the
public service, to overcoming obstacles inherent to
a career in public affairs, to advocating and
inspiring changes that will help people build a
better life. On the top of this, I went to study in
Albany to benefit from the contact with New York
State Government officials, to understand the work
of the government of such an important state, and to
better shape my career identity. In choosing the
most appropriate graduate school, I also benefited
from the professional advice and generous financial
support of the US Department of State, Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs, which awarded me a
Ron Brown fellowship. My advice for others who are
interested in studying at the Rockefeller Graduate
School of Public Affairs is that, at the beginning
of the program, they should try to personalize their
cluster of academic courses and internships to match
their individual interests. They can engage, in a
mutually reinforcing way, the academic study and
professional practice of public administration to
best suit their individual career plans. In my case,
benefiting from the suggestions of my academic
adviser and the school’s career center, I applied
for and completed an internship with the New York
State Government in Albany and one summer internship
at the United Nations in New York. I also chose the
most inciting courses and I am very thankful because
this great combination of studies and practical
training led me to a satisfying career. |
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| How do you feel your MPA/MPP is helping you to make a difference? | ||
| The
Rockefeller Graduate School of Public Affairs
enabled me to make the most of my experience in
policy analysis and public administration, to learn
more about the world we live in and even about
myself. It taught me how important it is to continue
to grow personally and professionally and to
identify remarkable challenges and opportunities
that would allow me to pursue my professional
interests. The solid knowledge that I acquired
during my MPA studies remains an important
intellectual framework for me. Besides the academic
knowledge, the skills which I developed during my
MPA, particularly effective communication, working
in groups, and career management, have proved to be
very useful in the real professional life. I bring a
little bit of the knowledge and skills that I
acquired in Albany wherever I go. After being
awarded an MPA at SUNY Albany (2000), I returned to
my native country, Romania, and held several
positions in the government working as an expert in
international affairs for two Presidents of Romania
as well as a Romanian diplomat to the United Nations
in New York. I contributed to the improvement of
Romania’s cooperation for international
development by negotiating bilateral and
multilateral documents, writing focused statements
and reports, successfully preparing official
presidential visits to numerous countries,
bilateral/trilateral meetings with foreign heads of
state and government, and participation in global
summits. As a member of the Romanian delegation to
the United Nations Security Council for two years
(2004-2005), I had the extraordinary opportunity to
provide relevant expertise to the UN Security
Council working groups and committees meetings,
negotiate Security Council resolutions and
presidential statements, participate in the
formulation of possible strategies, policies and
actions for adoption by individual countries and/or
the international community on conflict prevention,
and participate in peace building and good
governance. I am very proud of this work, which has
given me the satisfaction of being part of the UN
Security Council, an accurate clock working system
that delivered outcomes with professionalism,
integrity and personal commitment. This is how I
succumbed to the lure of international civil
service, and I returned in 2006 to work as a
consultant for the United Nations Department of
Economic and Social Affairs. Working for the UN,
embracing its values and ideals, promoting
conditions of economic and social progress and
development worldwide is the best thing I have done
so far. |
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| How would you characterize your personality? | ||
| *
Team Worker *Rigorous * Good under pressure *
Compassionate * Creative * Persistent * Organized *
Committed * Flexible * Fast-paced * Curious * Detail
oriented * Independent * People Person * Diplomatic
* Driven * Courageous * Analytical *
Service-oriented * |
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| Contact Roxana Pana with questions regarding her graduate experience: | ||
| Email Roxana | ||