Q: What was the path you took to get to where you are now?
A: Out of the MPA program, I came to Washington to work at the GAO. I had a great 5 years there and applied everything I learned in the program including data analysis, public speaking, and writing. From there I had the privilege of working on budget issues in the US Senate, at the US Department of Transportation and Treasury on high level issues helping to manage large departments of tens of thousands of people. I am now a consultant and teach at American University. The path I took in short was not direct, but I did always want to serve and hope to continue to do that in the future.
Q: Have you pursued any other certifications since your MPA?
A: I am a National Association of Public Administration fellow, a Strategic Advisor to Government Executives (SAGE) with the Partnership for Public Service, and a senior fellow at the Progressive Policy Institute.
Q: Is the field you are working in now relevant to your MPA degree?
A: Yes, I currently teach government executives about leadership at American University. In my consulting work, I have led large nonprofit projects, advised companies how to make their products more applicable to the public sector, and written on topics of public policy.
Q: How did the MPA program specifically prepare you for future work experiences or inform what you do now?
A: The MPA program’s multi-disciplinary approach to public sector management was the best training I could have hoped. Not only did I have the analysis background to support decision-makers, I also used the writing and public speaking skills central to the MPA program to clearly communicate the results and implications of the proposed course of action in an understandable way. The MPA program made me ready day one and I still use lessons from the program more than 20 years later.
Q: Have you been able to fulfill goals formulated while in the MPA program? If so, how?
A: Great question. I came to the program to understand how to make public organizations run better to serve citizens in the most effective way. I have had multiple opportunities to do that, and I hope I have many more.
Q: What was the path you took to get to where you are now?
A: I took a position with the Government Accountability Office in Washington, DC after graduate school thinking I would enjoy working in Washington and also to work in environmental policy. While I learned a lot and met a lot of good people, the Federal government was not the right fit for me and I left to pursue a position at the University of South Carolina, thinking I may be interested in obtaining a PhD at some point. The 2009 Housing Recession derailed some plans, but also I determined that academia was not a long term goal. I took a job at the North Carolina General Assembly’s Fiscal Research Division and worked for eight years in a variety of subject areas. I then moved to the Office of State Budget and Management.
Q: How did the MPA program specifically prepare you for future work experiences or inform what you do now?
A: The MPA program helped me develop a foundation to enter into the realm of public budgeting and finance so that I could obtain more experience and knowledge in the working world. The program also introduced me to practitioners that have been good resources and colleagues to work to further my career.
Q: Have you been able to fulfill goals formulated while in the MPA program? If so, how?
A: My goals upon entering the MPA program in 2002 were to work in government and public service. Due to the Tech Bubble Recession, graduate school was a better option than available employment (and going back to school after a few years). At the time, my goal was to work in environmental related policy. But, through the process I found my footing in budgeting and finance. Having a broader degree in government and being open about career opportunities helped me get where I am now.
Q: Anything else you want to share for those in the MPA program or thinking about an MPA?
Don’t be too picky about your first job after your MPA. It’s easier to get a job while you have a job. Continue to learn and seek knowledge. What I thought I wanted to do and be in 2002 is different than what I am now and that’s a good thing. Being flexible allowed me to advance in my career.
The program helped prepare me for my career by orienting me to some of the common problems that North Carolina local governments, and those around the country, are currently wrestling with. In addition, I gained the skills and tools to make myself valuable in my career hunt after graduating. These tools include important communication skills, leadership principles, financial management, and understanding organizational dynamics. The program allowed me to network and build relationships with my cohort, who are part of the next generation of public administration leadership, and faculty at the School of Government, both of whom I still frequently consult with and seek assistance from in my professional career. Lastly, the program staff are a tremendous resource that helped me navigate academics, job searching, student life, and general guidance.
With a father who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam and five siblings who served either as military personnel or military spouses, Michael Barclift comes from an undeniably dedicated military family. “I guess you could call it the family business,” he jokes.
As such, Barclift learned the importance of being part of a community and serving others from a young age. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy with an engineering degree, he served in the navy for almost 22 years as a surface warfare officer, performing “an amazing variety of jobs at sea and ashore, including Command at Sea of a destroyer, which was by far the highlight of my time in the military.”
“I got to see the world up close. One of the most important things I learned traveling the world in the navy is that the aspirations of people are remarkably similar whether they live in a modern, developed country or in an area of the world with next to nothing in the way of money, possessions, education, or freedoms,” says Barclift.
“People everywhere want to feel safe in their homes, want to provide for their families, and they want to belong—to be accepted by others they respect. I have not seen an exception to this rule anywhere in the world.”
No matter where Barclift was stationed, he found the human need for safety, security, and a sense of community remained steadfast. “People everywhere want to feel safe in their homes, want to provide for their families, and they want to belong—to be accepted by others they respect. I have not seen an exception to this rule anywhere in the world,” he says.
When Barclift decided to leave active duty, he pursued a career as a financial advisor, as it allowed him to continue helping others find that sense of safety and security based on their circumstances. However, after 15 successful years in the role, he found himself drawn to return to public service in some capacity.
“In the navy, I observed that when the government pays you to serve others there is no ethical conflict of interest. You do your best every day with what you have available, and you help people live a better life than they are right now,” says Barclift.
“When I started considering what to study, public administration was an easy fit for me. Leadership. Service. Professionalism. Hard work. That is the essence of public administration.”
To get back to service-oriented mindset from his years in the navy, Barclift decided it was time to continue his education. “I wanted to learn something new,” he says. “When I started considering what to study, public administration was an easy fit for me. Leadership. Service. Professionalism. Hard work. That is the essence of public administration.”
A family man through and through, Barclift says his confidence in his decision to pursue an MPA came from his son. “I was talking to my son one day about his future and career, and he turned the conversation around and said, ‘You know, Dad, you should get back into leadership again. That’s what you do best.’”
“Pretty good advice,” says Barclift. The other primary driver in Barclift’s decision to pursue an MPA came from witnessing the decline of his hometown in Illinois over the past two decades.
“I am 100% convinced if they had access to the type of leaders that UNC’s MPA develops, the town would be a very different place today.”
“It went from being a safe, thriving, fulfilling place to live and raise a family to a shell of its former self with half the population it had when I graduated high school,” he says. “It happened because of an absence of leadership, organizational ability, and technical skills needed to deal with the complexities of interacting with state and federal government during a time of change. I am 100% convinced if they had access to the type of people UNC’s MPA develops, the town would be a very different place today.”
“There is plenty of important work to do out there and someone must do it. Why not me?”
As a result, Barclift is determined to be an advocate for struggling communities similar to his hometown, and UNC’s online MPA is helping him on his public service leadership journey. “There is plenty of important work to do out there and someone must do it. Why not me?”
Soon after beginning his MPA search, Barclift discovered UNC’s online program and it clicked. “The program’s leadership focus is a good fit for my background and interests, and they actively seek and value the perspectives of a diverse student population,” he says.
“Military experience is not something UNC looks for to ‘check a box.’ It is part of the overall student experience,” Barclift continues. “To make having students with a military background a priority speaks volumes to the community they have built here over the years.”
Appreciating MPA@UNC’s intentional balance of online and in-person learning experiences, he cites that the “immersion courses, on-campus electives, and seats at professional conferences are just some of the in-person opportunities available. They enhance the experience of being a graduate student in an online program.”
Additionally, he recognized the value of attending an online MPA program with deep roots in the digital space. “UNC’s online program is mature. It was around long before COVID emerged and ‘Zoom’ was an everyday term. I had no worries about their ability to execute. They run a serious program taught and staffed by a community focused on students and their success.”
“UNC’s online program is mature. [. . .] They run a serious program taught and staffed by a community focused on students and their success.”
As for the UNC School of Government faculty? “They know how to teach and love doing it,” he says. “Class is fun, the time literally flies by, and it has a pace that keeps everyone engaged without leaving people behind.”
“The professors make themselves available directly,” he continues. “And they do a great job reminding us that we are part of the UNC community. They are the ones who really help make that connection. It is a small piece of the experience, but it is important.”
Whether enlisted in the military or enrolled in MPA@UNC, Barclift thrives while being part of—and especially in service of—a community.
“As a Carolina MPA, you have a broad support network that wants you to succeed, to find a good job, to experience a meaningful career, and to make a real difference in our communities and in the world. When I look back at critical points in my career, in nearly every instance an MPA connection faculty, staff, or fellow alumni made the difference.”
In his commencement address to the 2013 Carolina MPA graduating class, Chris Morrill credited MPA faculty and staff members as well as fellow alumni with helping him to advance his career at each juncture. He also credits his MPA education with providing him the essential skills needed for his work with local governments, both in the United States and abroad. “The challenges that local governments face are universal,” Morrill says. “We must figure out how best to provide services, equitably distribute those services, do it efficiently, and involve others in making decisions. My MPA education provided me with the relevant skills I have applied in all of my work.”
In 2017, Chris Morrill became executive director for the Government Finance Officers Association located in Chicago, Illinois.
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.”