• 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 researched graduate schools on-line and in the library and spoke with alumni and faculty from several schools. I selected Widener University because it was highly recommended and because its course schedule was compatible with my full-time job. Many of the courses I took at Widener had practical real-world applications that I found useful in my work. 

Any work or internship experience during graduate school?

> While in the Widener MPA program, I was employed full-time in my current position as the Director of Health Center 1, which is the city’s dedicated Sexually Transmitted Disease clinic and has over 24,000 patient visits per year. This is a free clinic that does not charge for patient services. My duties consist of overseeing clinic operations, personnel management, budget preparation, grants management and interacting with other local, state and federal officials involved in areas of public health and infectious diseases.

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

> I can’t say there was any one course that was most useful to me simply because of the varied nature of my work. There were a number of courses such as Public Finance, Personnel, Organization Development and Health Policy that provided information and concepts which I was able to use successfully in actual practice. 

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?

> I was precluded from qualifying for higher level positions in public health because of my lack of a graduate degree. Since getting my MPA, I have already received one promotion. In 5 years, I hope to be in charge of a public health department.

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

> Many of the people we see and treat in the clinic are uninsured and have little or no access to medical care. I find it very satisfying that my work involves helping people who might not otherwise have received any medical care. 

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

> Having an MPA has made a difference for me since it has enabled me to broaden my perspective on working in the public sector by exposing me to a number of different concepts that I would probably never have discovered on my own. It has also made me a better manager by enhancing the knowledge and skills necessary to function in an era of budget reductions and constant pressure for government to operate more efficiently.

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

> Get it and get it now. For anyone who wants to have a career in the public sector I think it is essential to have an advanced degree, especially if you want to move up in government. There are several good programs out there, but not every program is suitable for every individual. My other piece of advice is to do your research and pick the program that works best for you.