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.
Earl Park’s interest in public service began in his hometown of Fairfax, Virginia, with a high school internship with the county’s library system. There, he had an opportunity to delve into various administrative functions, which included producing a training video for future library volunteers, recording podcasts for book reviews, and assisting the library foundation. It was a formative experience in Park’s journey toward a public service career.
“[The] internship gave me a glimpse into public service at a young age,” Park said. “Working with colleagues who are dedicated in their mission to serve the public inspired me to do my best every day.”
He obtained a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Virginia, where he was exposed to more aspects of public service. During his senior year, Park worked at the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, producing publications about the organization’s programs and events and learning about nonprofit management. Although he considered graduate school immediately after completing his undergraduate degree, a job opportunity arose with the federal government.
Currently, he serves as the policy team supervisor for a division of the federal government. He oversees a team of nine employees responsible for the coordination, review, approval, publication, and promulgation of all internal policy for the agency—including human resources. From administrative matters like employee leave and benefits to operational functions such as interagency coordination, Park and his team expertly review, analyze, and recommend improvements to policies that impact tens of thousands of employees every day.
After seeing his father complete a master’s degree, Park began to consider earning one himself. He explored a few degree programs and focused on a public administration degree as the best fit with his federal service. As he researched graduate schools, UNC’s MPA program consistently came up as a top-ranked program that provided flexibility.
Park was initially hesitant about completing a program online, but after visiting a class, he knew the online UNC MPA program was the right choice. He said he was impressed with the quality of the education he observed in class discussions.
“Immediately, I took interest in the course and the discussion, which had diverse viewpoints. The discussion was enriched with examples from varied work experiences that were applicable to what I did,” he said. “I gathered from my visit that my future classmates were not going to be just from one area or working one occupation. Instead, I worked with classmates from all across the country and with various backgrounds—which was important to me.”
“My future classmates were not going to be just from one area or working one occupation. Instead, I worked with classmates from all across the country and with various backgrounds—which was important to me.”
Since enrolling in the program, Park has gained the knowledge and skill sets needed to help him grow as a leader in his field.
“Participating in the MPA program has been a wonderful complement to my career. Throughout my time in the program, there were moments where the coursework directly correlated with what I was doing at work,” he said. “When I was participating in a conference at work, one of the segments discussed a topic that I had just discussed in class the prior week. The tie-in between the program and the supervisor development program at work was a great benefit for my professional development.”