Q: What was the path you took to get to where you are now? 

My path was not super linear. After undergrad, I tested the waters in some other fields, including law. It didn’t take me too long to realize that I wanted a career path more aligned with my personal passion of serving the public. I followed the advice of a mentor to look up people with careers that I admire and to see what kind of credentials they had. That’s when I kept coming across something called an MPA. It was the first time I had heard of this degree and was pleased to see that Carolina (my alma mater) had this as an option. The next thing I knew, I was applying for the online option, which allowed me to continue to work while earning my degree. In the blink of an eye, I had earned my degree and was working in local government, which was my goal when I started this journey. 

Q: Have you pursued any other certifications since your MPA? 

Since earning my degree, I have received a Certificate in Insights for Innovation (through IDEO U). This certificate is focused on using human-centered design approaches. I also earned my Black Belk from the Denver PEAK Academy. 

Q: Is the field you are working in now relevant to your MPA degree? 

Yes, it’s directly related. My focus is on strategic planning and continuous process improvement in local government. 

Q: How did the MPA program specifically prepare you for future work experiences or inform what you do now? 

The MPA Program helped me uncover my passion for things like local government and organizational theory. Importantly, it also helped me identify my strengths and understand the contributions I could bring to any organization. Throughout the program, I was exposed to many different case studies, lessons, and practical experiences that helped me build a solid foundation that would allow me to understand and approach complex challenges. This is critical to my current work. The Program’s emphasis on leadership development and the importance of adaptability have also been key in my career path. I could go on and on about how the MPA Program helped to prepare me and am happy to connect with anyone who would like to hear more, but I’ll end here by saying that the thing that I think truly makes this specific MPA program unique is the way that it helps you build a network of peers and mentors. When I entered the Program, I didn’t expect to make a lot of friends or connections – especially being in the online program. I’m still blown away by the MPA family I’m surrounded by today. I have so many friends and mentors that I’ve made through this program who have helped me beyond belief. The network is never-ending, and even though I’m a few years out of the program, I continue to be connected with new folks who are seasoned and recent graduates. 

 Q: Have you been able to fulfill goals formulated while in the MPA program? If so, how? 

Definitely. I wasn’t sure how likely it would be that I would end up in local government. I was open to work in other levels of government, the nonprofit sector, and the private sector; however, my real goals were to one day work in the local government setting in an area that was meaningful to me. A few short months after graduating the Program, I was able to achieve both of those goals. 

 Q: Any other items you wish to share!  

I’d just like to add that I have no regrets about pursuing my MPA from UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Government. It’s a truly outstanding program with the best support system. The faculty, staff, students, and alumni are all amazing and I’m forever grateful for my past and continued experience with the Program. 

Dylan Russell is the executive director of Lead for North Carolina at the UNC School of Government and a co-founder of Lead for America. Lead for North Carolina places students in high-impact fellowships in local government across the state. He has secured over $6 million in private support to advance Lead for North Carolina’s mission and has placed 110 young people in local government fellowships across the state. Dylan also launched the NC COVID-19 Student Response Corps with the Office of Strategic Partnerships and placed 300 student interns in local governments and nonprofits across North Carolina. Prior to serving as executive director, Dylan was a development officer at the School of Government, a policy analyst at the NC Department of Public Instruction, a fifth-grade public school teacher, a White House intern, and a member of the Board of Trustees at Appalachian State University. Dylan served as president of the Graduate Student Body at UNC and president of the Student Body at Appalachian. Dylan was awarded the Robert E. Bryan Public Service Award from the UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor and the Plemmons Leadership Medallion by the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees.

Russell is an instructor in the UNC School of Government’s Master of Public Administration program. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University, an MPA from UNC-Chapel Hill, and is pursuing his Ph.D. at North Carolina State University.

The UNC MPA Program gave Dylan the tools, network, and skills he needed to launch Lead for North Carolina and co-create Lead for America. The UNC MPA Program was where he first studied the silver tsunami and human capital pipeline concerns in public management. The School’s commitment to bridging scholarship to practitioners inspired Dylan to create a similar model to connect future talent with high impact positions in local government. The faculty’s mentorship, guidance, and support were and continue to be critical in Lead for NC’s operations.

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.