Corey Petersohn, '16
Budget, Innovation, & Strategic Initiatives Manager, Town of Holly Springs, North Carolina
Corey Petersohn ’16 always enjoyed solving problems. It was not until he studied strategic planning and performance management in the Master of Public Administration program at UNC-Chapel Hill that he found a career field to match.
Concepts and tools learned through his coursework instilled him with the knowledge needed to facilitate budgetary decision making. Petersohn shared that one of the biggest challenges for public administration leaders today is building trust.
“Public service leaders need to be able to build bridges through dialogue and outreach,” Petersohn said. “Public service is a drive to better your surroundings, your community, and the world. It’s one of the most difficult jobs in the world, trying to get people to work together.”
Once Corey had direction, the MPA alumni community provided the mentorship and opportunity to advance his career. When pivoting to local government, Petersohn sought guidance from seasoned MPA alumni and conversations quickly led him to the role of budget and management analyst for the Town of Holly Springs.
“In some ways I probably got a little lucky, but I have always believed the saying that luck is the intersection of hard work and opportunity,” Petersohn said. “If you put in the hard work to earn your MPA, this alumni community will provide opportunity.”
Now the budget, innovation, and strategic initiatives manager for Holly Springs, Petersohn has the opportunity to give back and serve the town his family lives in.
“The most rewarding aspect of my public service career has been the opportunity to live and work in the same community,” Petersohn said. “The streets I drive, the sidewalks I walk, and parks my kids play at are all something I can have a positive impact on every day. When I get to solve a problem for a resident, I get to help a neighbor. It can be incredibly rewarding to feel you have an active role in making your community a better place.”
Professional Experience
- Budget and Management Analyst, Town of Holly Springs
- State Budget and Management Analyst, Office of the Governor, North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management
- Budget and Management Analyst, Office of the Governor, North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management
- Strategic Planning and Coordination Officer, U.S. Department of State
- Marine (Reserves), United States Marine Corps
- Technician, U.S. Geological Survey
