What contributed to your decision to pursue an MPA degree?
I grew up watching my dad work tirelessly as the Town Manager of Mocksville and later he took on the role of Davie County Manager. Although he is now retired and working in Davie County Economic Development, watching his dedication to his community above self inspired my interest in public service. It's no secret that Appalachian State's public administration program has a sterling reputation in our great state and the region for developing skilled, knowledgeable public servants. So, when I became interested in a graduate degree program, there was no question about where I wanted to further my learning.
Can you tell me about your career path and current position?
Throughout my career, I have worked for a variety of organizations in the public/nonprofit sector, including the Town of Mocksville, the Davie County Chamber of Commerce, Girl Scouts-Dakota Horizons and now Wake Forest Baptist Health. The things that all of these organizations have in common is that they each have a mission to make things better for their respective communities and are ultimately accountable to the public. Currently, I work as the director of annual funds and prospect research in philanthropy and alumni relations at Wake Forest Baptist Health, a nonprofit academic medical center.
In what ways has the App State MPA program helped you?
The MPA program at Appalachian State gave me the opportunity to learn from a number of incredible people, including my fellow classmates, my professors and most importantly, seasoned professionals in public service with a range of experiences. Words of wisdom that I think about often are: "Argument is a sign of respect; do not be afraid to disagree." - Dr. Dragan Stefanovic, and, "You don't need to know all the answers; but, you need to know who to call to get them." Len Hagaman.
What is one piece of advice you would offer to individuals considering the App State MPA program?
Participation in the MPA program will only make your personal stock rise and remember that the career options are boundless.