• 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?

> After eight years in broadcast journalism, I felt the reporting of local and state government did not provide the depth and detail residents needed to accurately understand the decisions made by elected officials. Augusta State University offered me the opportunity to learn about public administration while continuing to work full time.

Any work or internship experience during graduate school?

> I worked full time at a nonprofit agency that contracted with the city for funding.

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

> The two most useful classes were Organizational Theory and Human Resources.

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?

> Two months after graduation, I accepted the Assistant to the Administrator position in Augusta, Georgia. In five years, I hope to still be in Augusta working my way up in local government.

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

> The most interesting aspect of my job is the wealth of information I am exposed to on a daily basis pertaining to how the city runs. Local government is more involved than residents know, or want to know. I enjoy learning about it all.

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

> I believe my MPA is the reason I was hired to work for the city. As the Assistant to the Administrator, I do believe I am making a difference. Without the MPA, I would not have had this opportunity. The daily differences are small, but I feel there are many. Currently, I am working on an additional sales tax capital improvement program that would make a measurable difference to the community if approved.

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

> If you want to be a part of what makes a difference in your community, you should consider getting a MPA.