Madeline Milligan, 2024
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and why you decided to pursue the MPA.
I’m from Irvine, California, and grew up in Southern California, where I first got into acting in 8th grade—both of my parents were actors, so it felt like a natural path. For undergrad, I went to UNC School of the Arts and earned my BFA in Acting. While I loved acting, I realized I was most passionate about storytelling and collaboration. Over time, though, I began questioning whether I wanted to pursue acting professionally. I spent summers in Maine with friends, staying at this beautiful, renovated barn where we’d write and produce our own plays for the local community. I found myself gravitating towards producing and administrative roles because I loved helping artists bring their visions to life. That inspired me to join the MPA program—to strengthen my skills as a nonprofit administrator. I knew I wanted to grow into an executive director role for a nonprofit one day, and this felt like the best step to get there.
A huge thing I got out of the MPA is just this understanding of how the public sector works – the ins and outs of it, the logistics, but also the deeper purpose of it.
This idea that everyone in the program is there to serve people and communities really stood out to me. One of the biggest benefits was getting to meet so many people with different experiences, backgrounds, and interests, but all aligned in the value of wanting to help improve the world we’re living in. You’re in a class of 15 people, and your classmates are bringing real examples and issues to the table, especially as they relate to leadership. You get to talk about and reflect on these challenges, not just in their areas of work but also in my own areas of work and interests.
During the first year of the program, I remember thinking, “Wow, this is a lot of information.” It felt helpful, but I wasn’t sure what it was really doing or where it was going. Then in my second year, it all started to solidify. I saw it show up in my work—identifying what wasn’t working, what we should be doing, and rethinking how I approached our organization. It completely reshaped the way I work. The program also made me more confident as a leader. I’m someone who listens, values collective thinking, and puts shared values first. That really resonated with me because it’s not always the status quo. It reassured me that my leadership style—one that prioritizes quieter voices in the room—is not only valid but necessary.
Q: What advice do you have for people considering a career in public service or specifically the MPA degree?
My advice would be if you do this program, you’ll be surrounded by people who believe in the potential for government and public service to improve and make a real impact. Use your time in the program to learn collectively from each other’s passion and experience. It’s truly inspiring.
