• 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 liked the course offerings at Boise State University. I have benefited from every class that I took as well as serving as a graduate research assistant in the program. Having a program with faculty that has the time for one-on-one interaction with students should be a consideration. It made a huge difference for me having faculty not only available but also willing to go the extra mile to assist you in getting your course work completed in a timely manner. The faculty at BSU is also very helpful in getting the students involved in research projects that are a true learning experience.

Any work or internship experience during graduate school?

> During my 2 years at Boise State I worked as a graduate research assistant in the public administration department. My work included co-editing the Idaho Government Manual – a manual describing the 19 executive departments, legislature, and Governor’s office. I conducted several research projects that included surveying MPA programs that have NASPAA accreditation, surveying rural library programs in Idaho, and co-authoring a chapter on “Wild Fire” in the Emergency Management Handbook published by Greenwood Publishers.

I also worked as an intern for one semester with the Idaho Board of Higher Education Director planning and coordinating a conference on AIDS policies for colleges and universities in Idaho. My internship was a very worthwhile educational experience.

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

> In my position as City Planner I am involved in grant writing and implementation, conducting research, ordinance writing, assisting in the development of the City’s comprehensive plan, staffing citizen and staff committees, communicating with the media, and balancing the needs of residents and visitors to the Myrtle Beach area. I work very closely with the City Manager’s office and have found budgeting, quantitative analysis, overview of public administration, planning, administrative law, state and local government, etc. all to be utilized in my day to day activities. BSU also offered mini-courses that gave me experience in bill writing, budgeting, and working with the legislature. These mini-courses were also invaluable.

Were you a Presidential Management Intern?

> I was nominated by my faculty at BSU and selected as a semi-finalist. Unfortunately I was unable to travel to Seattle, Washington to complete the work necessary to become a finalist.

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

> Upon graduation from BSU I was employed as a Research Associate with the University of North Carolina – Asheville’s NC Center for Creative Retirement. I conducted a study of 500 older adult educational programs and co-authored several books on the subject that were published by Greenwood Publishing Company in the 1990’s. I also worked with the Citizen Action Alliance, a non-profit organization, designed to assist in a visioning process for Buncombe County and the City of Asheville. In this position I coordinated four citizen task forces addressing city/county government consolidation, solid waste management, riverfront development, and education. In 1994 I began working as a City Planner with the City of Myrtle Beach, SC Planning Department. During the next five years I want to have completed the renovation of an old school building and cultural arts center in the city and continue to improve the quality of life for all citizens in Myrtle Beach.

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

> The variety of challenges that are offered each day. The City of Myrtle Beach has a permanent population of 28,000 people. On any given day in May through September we have over 400,000 visitors in the City. I have been involved in creating tree protection and sign ordinances for the City, writing a tourism and cultural arts plan, analyzing annexation requests, coordinating a motorcycle weeks task force (during the month of May we have over 400,000 motorcycle enthusiasts that visit the City), coordinating the City’s urban forestry program as well as its annual Arbor Day celebration, raising money to renovate a historic school built in the 1930s for African-Americans and converting a movie theatre constructed in the 1950s into a performing arts center, assisting in planning for the needs of the homeless, residents, visitors, etc. and coordinating the City’s Kids City program (a program designed to teach third, eighth, and high school students about city planning). 

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

> My course work in the MPA program at BSU has enabled me to make a difference not only in the lives of our permanent residents but the visitors to our city as well. An MPA degree gives you the skills to master an array of complicated and comprehensive challenges. 

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

> In pursuing an MPA degree make sure that the college or university has a faculty that cares about each student. You want to have a total experience that includes not only coursework, reading and writing papers, but actual hands-on experience. Look for programs with graduate and research assistance possibilities as well as internships. If you are planning to work in local government as a public administrator or planner consider a general MPA degree rather than specializing in one area. You will be anticipating or addressing issues that deal with water and sewer, streets, stormwater management, solid waste management, business license, parks and recreation, planning, zoning, police, fire, emergency management, personnel, technology, insurance, law, etc.