• 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?

> A former employer, who was the Executive Director of a nonprofit agency, suggested that I consider a career in public administration and recommended Widener University as a suitable institution with an excellent reputation for managerial and practical concepts. My former employer had ample opportunity to follow my career path and thought that a MPA would serve me well in pursuing a career in the public sector. Widener lived up to their reputation of being a first-rate academic institution. The coursework consisted of modern concepts that have been easily applied to my current position in government. Courses related to workforce development, succession planning, budgeting, organizational theory and public policy have also been relevant in my career path. As a result, I have felt better prepared as a manager of a major city department since graduating from the MPA program.

Any work or internship experience during graduate school?

> I attended Widener’s MPA program while serving as the Deputy Commissioner of the City of Philadelphia, Department of Recreation. My current responsibilities include management oversight of a major city government agency including the maintenance and security of 150 recreational facilities in the Philadelphia area. The recreational facilities I am responsible for include, but are not limited to, 300 play areas, 85 swimming pools, 71 urban parks and 5 ice rinks. The annual budget is over $12 million, including 256 full time employees. 

I also serve as the project manager for the department’s annual capital improvement project, which has an annual budget of $10 to $13 million. Work responsibilities as the project manager include establishing goals and objectives for the division and participating in the formation and implementation of department policy. Establishing, maintaining and improving relationships with employees, community groups, business leaders, city officials, contractors and the general public are routine functions of this position.

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

> It is very difficult to identify the most important or useful course because all the courses I took as a MPA student have played a significant role at one point in my career. However, if I have to identify the most recent relevant course it would be Public Personnel Administration. As Deputy Commissioner, I am responsible for more than 250 employees that largely consist of a unionized workforce. In addition, the workforce is particularly diverse in terms of age, race and gender. Public Personnel Administration helped me understand and identify current trends in the workforce, federal legislation affecting employee rights in the workplace and labor relations in a unionized work environment. It is extremely important to have a thorough understanding of workforce challenges to maximize productivity and effectiveness.

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 graduation, I have been seeking an executive level position in parks and recreation administration. Parks and recreation centers play a vital role in urban metropolitan areas. From beautifying the city to providing positive opportunities for community youth, parks and recreation programs are improving the quality of life in major cities. In the next five years, I plan to be the Chief Executive of a parks and recreation agency in a major metropolitan area.

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

> Designing projects and developing programs that contribute to the growth and development of youth within a community is probably the most rewarding aspect of my current position. Recreation centers provide safe havens for youth to engage in positive activities including after school programs, athletic programs, performing arts and social programs. As Deputy Commissioner, I play a major role in planning decisions necessary to design recreation centers and develop programs in local neighborhoods. These decisions directly affect the quality of life in young people’s lives.

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

> Understanding the basic concepts of planning and management are essential functions in developing quality programs. A good manager in this field must have good critical thinking and decision-making skills, both play a crucial role in planning for the public, managing an urban environment and maximizing productivity in the workforce. My MPA has given me the necessary skills to make good, tough decisions in a political environment.

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

> Undergraduate students seeking careers in public and nonprofit administration should certainly consider a MPA to help them understand the concepts of working in the public sector and the political aspects of the public environment. Undergraduate students should carefully select a university that has a strong reputation in public administration. Seek institutions that are genuinely interested in your career path of choice and if possible try to select a university that offers some flexibility that will allow students to attend classes and work simultaneously. I found this extremely helpful because it allowed me to apply the theoretical concepts in practice. This type of “on-the-job” training provides students with valuable experience necessary for their professional development.