• 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 was working in government and wanted to enhance my skills and abilities in administration and policy development and analysis. I also wanted to maintain my current position while pursuing an advanced degree. The University of North Dakota was highly recommended for the coursework I was looking for and it offered the convenience of distance learning through a satellite site in my city. The MPA program broadened my skills across multiple dimensions so I was prepared to manage more complex programs in an ever-changing political environment. The program at the University of North Dakota provided the theoretical background as well as opportunity for practical application. The skills I gained from the MPA program allowed me to advance not only in state government, but also in my role with national agencies and organizations.

Any work or internship experience during graduate school?

> I worked full time as the state dental director while attending graduate school. This employment setting provided many opportunities for practical application of the coursework in the graduate program. Data sources, policy and personnel issues, and budgeting concerns were readily available to draw on as “real world” examples.

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

> The courses I found most useful in my career were Research Methods, Political and Public Policy Analysis, and Administering the Public Bureaucracy. Good data is a key to program assessment, evaluation and justifying resources. Thorough analysis of various policy approaches allows us to present decision makers with the impact of the various alternative policy approaches. Effectively explaining complex public policy issues can aid decision makers in the process. The curriculum provided a good armamentarium of skills for public managers to deal with day-to-day management issues as well as complex public policy issues.

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 was elected President of the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (a national organization representing state public health dental programs) and have served as a consultant on special projects for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2001, I was accepted as a scholar to the National Public Health Leadership Institute in Chapel Hill, NC. In 2001, I also took on a new role as the Administrator for the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program with the North Dakota Department of Health administering federal funds and tobacco Master Settlement Agreement funds to promote policy and environmental change at the state and local level. The MPA program has opened numerous employment opportunities at the state and national level for me. Five years from now, I would like to be working as a private consultant on public health projects of state and national significance. 

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

> Promoting policy and environmental change through population-based approaches that will impact the health and well-being of our citizens is a very challenging, but also rewarding aspect of my current position. Effective public health policy can have a broad impact on preventing disease and promoting health. The public administration courses provided the background necessary to manage change. I enjoy the opportunity to review and comment on policy and legislation to impact change in public health.

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

> The MPA program provided an understanding of the political environment in which policy change takes place. Understanding the policy development process is crucial to the implementation of good public policy. Good data and information can help inform policy and practice. In my current role, I have the opportunity to be involved in the legislative process and provide information to impact decision making.

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

> The MPA program will open many career opportunities in government and public service. The knowledge and skills gained will enhance both your personal and professional life. The skills are broad and transferable into a wide variety of positions and issues. It is valuable to have practical experience as well as academic preparation to make you a competitive job candidate.