where are they GOING?
Oyinda Oyetunde Master of Public Administration Political Science, International Affairs and Public Administration, concentration in Non-profit and Public Financial Management Advisor Name: Fredrick Gordon May, 2020
What degree are you currently working on? I am studying for my master’s in public administration.
How has your degree helped you so far? I have a bachelor’s in political science, and I am also a certified chartered accountant. This program has helped me tie two of my passions together; governance and finance. My concentration in Public Financial Management has also helped me develop my budget and finance skills. I am very eager to blend both interests together as I launch my career.
What professors/advisors were instrumental in helping you get to this point? Dr. Joseph Martin, Dr. Paul Trogen and Dr. David Briley have been very instrumental to the success I have achieved so far in graduate school. In the fall of 2019, Dr. Fred Gordon became my advisor and since then has consistently motivated me to reach for higher academic feats.
What career opportunities will you be seeking? I would like to pursue a doctorate in the future, but I would first like to start my career in the public sector and then determine which issues I would like to conduct research on. I would like to get a consulting or advisory job for the government or a non-profit.
What advice would you give to current or future graduate students? I would say take some time to decide what you really want to do long term. It would be preferable to get a degree in a field that you could see yourself practicing in, in a few years from now. This maximizes your time, energy and financial resources; which getting a master’s degree requires.
Is there anything else you would like to share? I would say try to be present in all of your experiences. It is very easy to isolate oneself and go through grad school in a silo, but try to enjoy the experience as much as you did undergrad. Take advantage of opportunities, meet people and be very strategic about relationships that would transcend the university campus.
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