Students put theory to practice in their summer Professional Work Experiences
As part of the required MPA curriculum, students embark on a Professional Work Experience (PWE) to test their ability to put practical application to the skills they learned in the classroom. Students embark on a myriad of sites for their PWE’s including work in local governments, state governments, areas of the federal government, and nonprofits. Some students in our online format are able to use their current workplace for their PWE’s but pick up a new lens on public administration by working in a different department or completing a new project as an extension from what they are currently employed to do.
Our Director of Career, Alumni, and Employer Engagement, Allison Binkley and our Assistant Director of Career, Alumni, and Employer Engagement, Shauna Hines-Farmer work with students to support their career goals and assist them in finding a professional work experiences that will meet program expectations as well as professional interests they have for themselves. Professional Work Experiences look different across the student body with students participating in a range of experiences such as assisting a city manager in a local government, working in fire safety planning and administration, doing recycling and sustainability research for an environmental nonprofit, or assessing policy to promote rural access to school bus routes for a state government. They are usually paid positions. Assistant Director Shauna Hines-Farmer says, “The PWE is an opportunity to apply theories learned in coursework to a professional work setting, helping solidify these learned concepts. Additionally, students can develop their knowledge, skills, and abilities while exploring public service opportunities, which can inform future career decisions.”
Follow along as three students write about their PWE’s this summer. They will be covering more of what their organizations do to support the public, what their specific projects entail, and what they are gaining from their work experiences.
Lilly Parker – North Carolina Community College Foundation
