Career Development at SPEA Your degree is not a destination; it’s just the beginning of a lifetime of opportunities. At the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), career development is a top priority as our students train to become the next generation of leaders across all employment sectors. The SPEA Career Development Office (CDO) offers a diverse range of programs, events, and customized services to help facilitate the bridging of academic excellence to career opportunities for the SPEA community. The CDO assists the SPEA community in connecting with professional networks of alumni and Erin Culp employers to learn about career paths, jobs, and internship opportunities. By MPA 2013 empowering SPEA students to build both their career skill sets and professional Nonprofit Management and Policy Analysis connections, we facilitate successful lifelong learning and career exploration. Undergraduate Institution: Elon University (Elon, NC)
Array of Services
The CDO offers a wide range of services for students including: • On-campus interviews and employer information sessions • Informational interviews • Customized career coaching — including assistance with job/internships searches, networking, and resume and cover letter writing • Interview preparation — including mock interviews, employment offer negotiation tips, and follow-up advice • Annual SPEA Career Expo • Career development workshops and alumni panels • Free continuing career development assistance post-graduation
SPEA involvement: Service Corps Fellow, Foundation of Monroe County Community School Corporation; President, SPEA’s Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Association; Internships: SPEA’s Development Office; Development Assistant, Foundation for Monroe County Community Schools Corporation Current position: Consultant, CCS Fundraising, LLC (Midwest region)
“When I signed up for the informational interview, I knew very little about the company. My intention was to practice my interviewing skills in a low-pressure situation. As I learned more about the company through my preparation for the On-campus Interviews and Employer Information Sessions interview, I found that I was very interested in its model and The CDO partners with employers from across the country to host on-campus the work it did. The person with whom I interviewed, a interviews and information sessions. Employer participants vary from year to year, SPEA alumna, was brilliant and inspired. I left the but past participants include: US State Department (multiple locations); interview knowing that this was the position I wanted, US Environmental Protection Agency (multiple locations); Grant Thornton, LLP and this was the company I wanted to work for. I (Alexandria, VA); Crowe Horwath, LLP (multiple locations); PricewaterhouseCoopers, know that initial informational interview and my LLP (multiple locations); CCS Fundraising, LLC (multiple locations); Education Pioneers follow-up helped get my application considered (multiple locations); Eli Lilly (Indianapolis, IN); Rolls-Royce Corporation (Washington, D.C.); and was one of the reasons I was and Cardno Ltd. Emerging Markets Group (multiple locations). able to get the job.”
Career Exploration Trips
SPEA’s master’s students get a competitive advantage with career exploration trips to Washington, D.C., Chicago, Denver, and Indianapolis. Career Exploration Trips offer students the opportunity to network with practitioners and alumni in their fields, learn about career and internship opportunities, and gain insights on career preparation and the job search in a particular field or location. Each year, many full-time positions and internships directly result from students’ participation.
Sample 2012 Internship Placements
SPEA Internships
International European Risk Forum (Brussels, Belgium) Fate Foundation (Lagos, Nigeria) International Organization for Migration (Geneva, Switzerland) Mtongwe Community Initiative (Mombasa, Kenya) United Nations Environment Programme (Kingston, Jamaica)
Experiential education is an essential component of a SPEA master’s degree. All students are required to complete an internship as part of their professional program (select master’s students are exempt). Required professional experience for students is part of what sets SPEA apart from other public affairs programs. Below are examples of internship programs that SPEA offers.
Federal Government Center for Disease Control (Cincinnati, OH) US Department of Agriculture - Rural Development (Indianapolis, IN) US Department of State (Washington, D.C.) US Environmental Protection Agency (multiple locations) US Fish & Wildlife (multiple locations) US Government Accountability Office (Washington, D.C.) Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (Washington, D.C.)
Each year, John D. Graham, SPEA’s Dean, and the CDO collaborate with organizations to provide high-profile internship opportunities for SPEA students. These funded internship opportunities are only open to SPEA master’s students. Past Dean’s Internships include: Environmental Risk Intern, ChemRisk (San Francisco); Environmental and Public Health Intern, Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health (Cyprus); Research and Development Intern, Dow AgroSciences (Indianapolis); Regulatory Reform Affairs Intern, Dow Chemical (Washington, D.C.); Risk/Research Intern, International Risk and Governance Council (Geneva, Switzerland); Transportation Analysis Intern, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, TN); and Climate Leadership Awards Intern, Pew Center on Global Climate Change (Arlington, VA).
State & Local Government California Legislative Analyst’s Office (Sacramento, CA) City of Bloomington (Bloomington, IN) City of Cleveland (Cleveland, OH) City of Indianapolis (Indianapolis, IN) Indiana Department of Education (Indianapolis, IN) Indiana Department of Transportation (Indianapolis, IN) Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (Baxter, MN) New York City Purchasing Office (New York, NY) State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (Indianapolis, IN) Nonprofit CCS Fundraising (Chicago, IL) Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps (multiple locations) Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (Cambridge, MA) Institute for Development Strategies (Bloomington, IN) IU Office of Sustainability (Bloomington, IN) The Nature Conservancy (Indianapolis, IN) The Wilderness Society (multiple locations) United Way of Monroe County (Bloomington, IN) Private BP America (Houston, TX) Dow AgroSciences (Indianapolis, IN) M Squared Strategies (Washington, D.C.) Rolls-Royce Corporation (Washington, D.C.) Strategic Development Group (Bloomington, IN) The Cadmus Group (multiple locations)
Dean’s Internships
Seoul Global Internship Program The Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Global Internship Program provides SPEA students with a unique opportunity to gain an international perspective of public administration as they intern with a department of city government. As interns with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, SPEA students work with a diverse array of government departments as project consultants. Past projects have included: development of best practices reports and policy briefs in emergency management, parks and landscape management, public infrastructure, and business improvement districts; comparative analysis of international economic development plans; cost-benefit analysis of urban disaster management practices and software; fund development and foundation research; and proposal development and grant writing for City cultural projects.
Internship Profile: Sarah Hughes (see below), Urban Safety Office Intern with the Seoul Metropolitan Government “Thanks to SPEA’s on-going partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, I was able to experience the daily life of public administration in an international context. As the metropolitan area of Seoul is the second-largest metropolitan area in the world, I had a first-hand glimpse of how they grapple with one of the classic challenges in public affairs – how to satisfy unlimited wants and needs with limited resources. The internship allowed me to directly apply my SPEA coursework, as I researched international best practices to challenges and opportunities facing my department before drafting policy memoranda that were used to inform the actions of leaders in city government. Meanwhile, I found South Korean public servants’ dedication, pride in their city and country, and tireless work-ethic inspiring as I start my career with the U.S. federal government.”
Sarah Hughes MPA 2013 Economic Development and International Development Undergraduate institution: Depauw University (Greencastle, IN) SPEA involvement: Nonprofit Community Coordinator of the Service Corps Program, International Career Committee, Dean’s Student Advisory Council Summer internship: Urban Safety Office Intern, Seoul Metropolitan Government (Seoul, South Korea) Current position: Presidential Management Fellow, US Small Business Administration
Public Affairs Alumni Profiles PUBLIC Weston Merrick MPA 2013
Jessica Rogers MPA 2012
Economic Development, International Development, Policy Management
Local Government and Public Financial Administration
Undergraduate Institution: University of Missouri (Columbia, MO) SPEA involvement: Student Academic Center; Research Assistant for Professor Jennifer Brass Summer internship: Research Assistant, Indiana Nonprofit Scope and Dimensions Project (Bloomington, IN) Current position: Economic Analyst, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (St. Paul, MN)
Undergraduate Institution: Texas A&M University (College Station, TX) SPEA involvement: Ryan Fellow with the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Summer internship: Youth Programs Intern, US Department of State (Washington, D.C.) Current position: Management Assistant, City of Dickinson (Dickinson, TX)
NONPROFIT Sarah Morris MPA 2012
Kevin Sonoff MPA 2013
Nonprofit Management, Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship
Public Management Undergraduate Institution: George Fox University (Newberg, OR) SPEA involvement: Service Corps Fellow with the Monroe County Planning Department; IU Office of Sustainability Summer internship: Graduate Assistant, The Center on Congress (Bloomington, IN) Current position: Presidential Management Fellow, US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (Lynnwood, WA)
Ashley Ames MPA 2013 Public Financial Administration and Policy Analysis Undergraduate Institution: Indiana University (Bloomington, IN) SPEA involvement: Graduate Assistant for Professor Craig Johnson; Co-President of SPEA’s Public Finance Association Summer internship: Fiscal and Policy Intern, California Legislative Analyst’s Office (Sacramento, CA) Current position: Analyst, California Legislative Analyst’s Office (Sacramento, CA)
Undergraduate Institution: Rhodes College (Memphis, TN) SPEA involvement: Service Corps Fellow with Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana; President of SPEA’s Nonprofit Management Association Summer internship: Finance and Operations Graduate Intern, Social Venture Partners Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN) Current position: Business Manager & Project Consultant, Impact Strategies Group (Minneapolis, MN)
Laura Beth Griffith MPA 2013 Nonprofit Management Undergraduate Institution: Centre College (Danville, KY) SPEA involvement: Service Corps Fellow with Area 10 Agency on Aging; Special Projects Coordinator for IU’s Education Policy Student Association Summer internship: New Student and Parent Programs Intern, University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY) Current position: Development Associate, United Way of Greater Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH)
PRIVATE Kristen Barry MPA 2012 Economic Development and Policy Analysis Undergraduate Institution: Indiana University (Bloomington, IN) SPEA involvement: Research Assistant for Professor Craig Johnson; Graduate Assistant with the Masters Program Office (MPO) Summer internship: Budget & Financial Analysis Intern, Indiana Department of Workforce Development (Indianapolis, IN) Current position: Project Consultant, Thomas P. Miller and Associates (Indianapolis, IN)
Environmental Policy, Management, & Science Alumni Profiles PRIVATE
NONPROFIT Susan Wambugu MPA 2012 Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management Undergraduate Institution: University of Nairobi (Nairobi, Kenya) SPEA involvement: Research and Teaching Assistant for Professors Evan Ringquist, Jennifer Brass, and Henry Wakhungu Summer internship: Research Fellow, ASB Partnership for Tropical Forest Margins (Nairobi, Kenya) Current position: Research Consultant, ASB Partnership for Tropical Forest Margins (Nairobi, Kenya)
Bryson Ogden MPA-MSES 2012 Applied Ecology and Environmental Policy and Natural Resourde Management Undergraduate institution: University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AK) SPEA involvement: Teaching Assistant for David Audretsch; SPEA Overseas Ofice Summer internship: Consultant, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (Nairobi, Kenya) Current position: Analyst, Rights and Resources Group (Washington, D.C.)
Mark Milby MPA 2013 Sustainability and Sustainable Development Undergraduate institution: University of Georgia (Athens, GA) SPEA involvement: Teaching Assistant for Professor Shahzeen Attari; SPEA’s Environmental Management and Sustainable Development Association Summer internship: No Waste Program Coordinator, IU Office of Sustainability (Bloomington, IN) Current position: Senior Program Associate, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (Chicago, IL)
Jacob Rebholz MSES 2012 Water Resources Undergraduate Institution: Thomas More College (Crestview Hills, KY) SPEA involvement: Research Assistant for Professor Jeff White Summer internship: Research Assistant, Greenland Arctic Methane Emissions Project (Greenland) Current position: Contractor, US Environmental Protection Agency (Cincinnati, OH)
PUBLIC Natalie Messer MPA 2011 Sustainability and Sustainable Development and Policy Analysis Undergraduate Institution: Emory University (Atlanta, GA) SPEA involvement: Service Corps Fellow with Monroe County United Ministries Summer internship: White House Office of Climate Change (Washington, D.C.) Current position: Economic Development Specialist, City of Austin (Austin, TX)
Ashraf El-Arini MPA-MSES 2012 Energy and Policy Analysis Undergraduate Institution: University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA) SPEA involvement: Graduate Assistant for Professors Jennifer Brass and Sanya Carley Summer internship: Global Governance for Development Intern, South Centre (Geneva, Switzerland) Current position: Consultant, The World Bank (Washington, D.C.)
Sample 2012 Employers
SPEA Employment Outcomes The SPEA Career Development Office (CDO) sends out an exit survey to our graduate students after graduation inquiring about employment status. SPEA awarded degrees to 227 graduates between December 2011 and August 2012. As of December 1, 2012 data was collected for 70.9 percent of graduates.
2012 Employment by Sector
Continuing education 7%
Fellowship 5%
International 8%
Federal Government 4%
Private 29%
State Government 9% Local Government 7% Nonprofit 31%
2012 Employment by Function
Program Administration or Management 8% Budgeting or Financial Management 2%
Environmental Science 10%
Fundraising 8%
Other 4% Advocacy 9%
Consulting and Contract Work 21% Analysis or Research 38%
International Fauna & Flora International (Jakarta, Indonesia) Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Hanoi, Vietnam) Walking the Talk (San Paola, Brazil) Federal Government Corporation for National and Community Service (Washington, D.C.) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Indianapolis, IN) ORISE (Chicago, IL) US Bureau of Reclamation (Willows, CA) US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Portland, OR) US Environmental Protection Agency (Arlington, VA) US Office of Management & Budget (Washington, D.C.) State & Local Government California Budget Project (Sacramento, CA) California Department of Health Care Services (Sacramento, CA) California Legislative Analyst’s Office (Sacramento, CA) Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (Durant, OK) City of Bloomington (Bloomington, IN) City of Dickinson (Dickinson, TX) City of Indianapolis (Indianapolis, IN) Illinois Governor’s Office of Management & Budget (Springfield, IL) Indiana Department of Environmental Management (Indianapolis, IN) Indiana Office of Energy Development (Indianapolis, IN) Indiana Office of Management & Budget (Indianapolis, IN) Monroe County Planning Department (Bloomington, IN) Tennessee Valley Authority (Nashville, TN) Tucson Office of Sustainable Development (Tucson, AZ) Wyoming Game and Fish Department (Casper, WY) Nonprofit Aloha House/Maui Youth and Family Services/Malama Family Recovery Center (Maui, HI) American Red Cross (Washington, D.C.) Araphahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network (Denver, CO) Black Hills Area Community Foundation (Rapid City, SD) Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County (Bloomington, IN) Impact Strategies Group (Minneapolis, MN) Indiana University Alumni Relations (Bloomington, IN) Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing (Bloomington, IN) International Research and Exchanges Board (Washington, D.C.) IPM Institute of North American (Madison, WI) Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) (Nashville, TN) LIFEDesigns, Inc. (Bloomington, IN) Madison Square Boys & Girls Club (New York, NY) Oregon Volunteers Commission for Voluntary Action & Service (Portland, OR) Riley Children’s Foundation (Indianapolis, IN) The Solar Foundation (Washington, D.C.) Timmy Global Health (Indianapolis, IN) Utah State University (Logan, UT) Private Ambient Group, Inc. (New York, NY) Crowe Horwath (multiple locations) Cummins Inc. (Columbus, IN) Davey Tree Expert Co. (Fort Wayne, IN) Dow AgroSciences (Indianapolis, IN) Eli Lilly and Company (Indianapolis, IN) General Motors (Pontiac, MI) Grant Thornton (Alexandria, VA) Mundell and Associates (Indianapolis, IN) Prager & Co, LLC (New York, NY) PriceWaterhouseCoopers (Washington, D.C.) Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. (Kansas City, MO) Summit Environmental Technologies (Cuyahoga Falls, OH) The Cadmus Group, Inc. (multiple locations) Thomas P. Miller and Associates (Indianapolis, IN)
Funding Opportunities At SPEA, we believe that financial constraints should not limit our students from pursuing internships and other career development opportunities that will enhance their academic training and further their career path. A wide array of funding opportunities in support of minimally paid and unpaid experiential learning opportunities are made available to SPEA students each year through SPEA’s Career Development Office (CDO), Masters Program Office (MPO), Development Office, and Dean’s Office.
Student Internship Fund The Student Internship Fund (SIF) supports students who contribute their skills to nonprofits, government, and social enterprises. The fund brings students’ critical skill sets to organizations addressing important issues while providing students with applied experience that enables them to apply their academic training. Students who intern with a SIF organization are provided with a scholarship. SIF organizations vary year to year, but past examples include: Center for Urban Youth & Family Development (Detroit); International Rescue Committee (Silver Springs, MD); Solar Energy Industries Association (Washington, D.C.); Primeros Pasos (Guatemala); and Cabarete Language Institute (Dominican Republic).
Annual SPEA Auction & Gala Scholarships Each year, graduate students organize the Annual SPEA Auction & Gala to raise funds for SPEA Auction & Gala Scholarships. Scholarships are awarded to applicants pursuing minimally paid or unpaid internships that complement their SPEA academic training and career goals. Students may also receive funding for other professional development opportunities, such as attending a professional conference or training. In addition to supplying funds for the scholarship program, the SPEA Auction & Gala brings the entire SPEA community together for a night of celebration, including prospective students, current students, alumni, faculty, staff, and members of the Bloomington community.
Kate Meehan Masters of Public Affairs (MPA)Juris Doctorate (JD) 2015 Undergraduate institution: Southern Illinois University (Edwardsville, IL) SPEA involvement: Graduate Assistant, SPEA Office of Alumni Relations Internships: Intern with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance; Intern, The Wilderness Society’s Attorney Office “Thanks to the SPEA Auction & Gala Scholarship, I was able to take two unpaid internships in Denver — one with the EPA and the other with The Wilderness Society. This has provided me with the opportunity to gain invaluable work experience and to network with a variety of professionals in the field of environmental law and policy in a location that I would love to move to after graduation.”
MASTERS PROGRAM OFFICE speainfo@indiana.edu 800.765.7755 | 812.855.2840 1315 East Tenth St. | Bloomington, IN 47405
www.spea.indiana.edu
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