What made you decide to obtain an MPA? Education has always been high priority in my life. My parents instilled in their children a love of learning and an appreciation and understanding of the importance of obtaining a college degree and graduate degree if opportunity was there. I graduated in 1989 with a BS in Education. At that time I always felt like one day I would return to obtain a graduate degree. In 2010 I was given the opportunity to begin graduate school with assistance from my employer. Inspired by a co worker who had just completed her Master’s degree, I accepted the opportunity and began the process to obtain my MPA.
What public policy issue or issues are you passionate about? Having received my undergraduate degree in Education and spending the last 25 years employed by federally funded Head Start programs, I am passionate about education and social service programs assisting families with meeting their needs focusing on providing opportunities for growth and support in becoming and maintaining productivity in our society. Policy issues that affect children (our future) are a high priority.
What are your career goals? Good question. As I stated in the previous question, I have been employed with Head Start programs for the last 25 years. I began as a Teacher and advanced into Management. I have been employed with Shelby County Government since 2004 as the Health Services Manager for the Head Start program. In 2013, Shelby County decided to not submit a grant to remain Grantee for the local Head Start program. Because of this, I am now in the process of seeking employment as the current grant will end in June 2014. I hope to obtain employment in a similar position with either the new grantee of Head Start in Shelby County or another agency in the Public Administration related field either locally or elsewhere. Securing my MPA in May of 2014 will be a positive in this endeavor.
How has the MPA degree impacted your career path? Furthering of one’s education can only be seen as positive. While I do not plan to drastically change career paths, the knowledge and skills I have obtained have supported and endorsed the experiences I have encountered over the past 25 years in Public Administration. Because I am now faced with seeking new employment, having a graduate degree should offer me additional opportunities in securing said employment.
What are some of the most important values and knowledge that you obtained through the MPA? The coursework in the MPA program closely parallels the responsibilities I have in Management. When I began the MPA program, it had been 21 years since I had graduated with my BS. To say the least, I was somewhat frightened at the prospect of returning to College. Once I began and got deeper into the program, I found myself comfortable because the coursework was familiar, covering many aspects of what I do daily in my career. Being a part of discussion groups and projects that allowed me to both offer my experiences and learn from others will surely impact my future endeavors.
