Senior Manager of Leadership Curriculum DevelopmentCenter for Public Leadership and Governance, UNC School of GovernmentOver the years, the core set of competencies taught in the MPA program allowed me to pivot to a variety of professional leadership roles in local government, community college system, nonprofit, and university teaching and administration. When my personal path took me in a different direction, the degree’s flexibility enabled me to find the professional path forward.
Critical-Crisis Communications SpecialistAppalachian State University (Appalachian) Communications Team
Research, Communication and Program ManagerUNC-Chapel Hill (unit: Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs)As a student, the MPA program allowed me to work with a wide range of professionals to solve real, complex problems affecting communities. Not only did this help contextualize what I learned in class, but these experiences allowed me to develop tangible skills in evaluation, communication and critical thinking that have been fundamental to my work with the university.
Leadership Development Program OfficerThe North Carolina Partnership for ChildrenThe skills and tools I gained in the MPA Program have proven to be invaluable in my career. I currently work in a nonprofit network with a significant amount of public funding. The MPA Program helped me truly understand how local and state government operate, which has been crucial for navigating nonprofit and government relationships across NC.
Senior Budget AnalystNC Office of State and Budget ManagementThe MPA program helped me grow in so many ways. The skills I learned in analysis impact my day to day work. The program creates highly-trained and highly-skilled alumni, which has helped me to stand out in my office. Whether it was the Excel bootcamp or Professor Afonso’s budgeting course, everything I learned during my time as a student impacts my work now. Additionally, the network of friends and colleagues the program provides allowed me to make connections at my current job, and the internships I held during my time as a student. Carolina’s MPA prepared me for the workplace in a way that you can’t find anywhere else.
System Director for Strategic Change UNC HealthThe UNC MPA program has helped me grow as a public service leader, connecting theory and concepts to real-world application and strategy. As a leader in change management, so much of the MPA program centers around leading teams and people through change, particularly in the public sector where we work to address our most wicked challenges. Working in a public health organization through the global pandemic while taking MPA courses was an unparalleled experience of truly bridging real-world leadership challenges with course content on a weekly basis.