• How did you select your graduate school and how did it prepare you for your career?
• Work or internship experience during graduate school
• What was the most important or useful course you took in the MPA/MPP?
• Were you a Presidential Management Intern?
• What has been your career path since graduating? What do you want to be doing in 5 years?
• What is the most exciting and/or interesting aspect of your current job?
• Do you feel your MPA/MPP is helping you to “make a difference?” How?
• What advice, if any, would you give to an undergraduate thinking about going for an MPA/MPP?

How did you select your graduate school and how did it prepare you for your career?

> I chose the MPA program at Georgia College and State University because it was an accredited program, offering evening classes. Earning an MPA has prepared me for my career, especially courses such as Public Finance and Budgeting. 

Any work or internship experience during graduate school?

> I worked full-time for the State of Georgia while I was pursuing my degree. I began my graduate program six years after graduating with my Bachelors degree.

What was the most important or useful course you took in the MPA/MPP?

> The most important class I took in the MPA program was Planning, Implementation and Evaluation. This class taught me the importance of planning. I also learned how to evaluate a program. This helped me to set goals and objectives for my staff that were achievable and measurable.

Were you a Presidential Management Intern?

> No.

What has been your career path since graduating? What do you want to be doing in 5 years?

> Since graduating, I accepted a position as a Health Coordinator with the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness. I worked there for 4 ½ years before accepting the position of Public Health Analyst with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Tuberculosis Elimination. In five years, I hope to be in a upper level administrative position within the division.

What is the most exciting and/or interesting aspect of your current job?

> The most exciting aspect of my current job is that I get to travel around the country and meet a lot of people. I am also able to put into practice the knowledge I gained from the Program Evaluation and Statistics classes I’ve taken.

Do you feel your MPA/MPP is helping you to “make a difference?” How?

> Yes, I do. In my past job of Health Coordinator of the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness, I was able to train some of the staff on how to write job duties that were achievable and measurable.

What advice, if any, would you give to an undergraduate thinking about going for an MPA/MPP?

> I would advice prospective students to get some work experience. It makes the classes seem easier and you can see how the information you are learning in class can be implemented in the work world. I would also say to keep your books to use as a reference. The knowledge that I gained from the MPA Program has been very helpful to me throughout my career.