SCHOOL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
May 2016
A View From the Top
THE EXCHANGE
A Message from Our Director
CREDITS
Dr. Ethel Williams
Editor Megan Nelson
The School of Public Administration has earned a global reputation for preparing students for public and nonprofit careers through its outstanding scholarship, excellent teaching and community engagement. This was affirmed again this year with the 2017 U.S. News and World Report rankings showing we remain in the top ten percent in the nation. We remain dedicated to strengthening this reputation by continuing to build upon traditional public sector values and principles while encouraging innovation.
Associate Editors Lizz Barnhart Meagan Van Gelder
I would also like to congratulate our graduates! Hallmarks of great educational programs are great graduates. We applaud you on your accomplishments and encourage you to begin or continue to make a positive impact on public service.
Contributors Anthony Campbell Jody-Ann Coore Jim Harrold Alesia Montgomery Ji Hyung Park James Rashilla Britta Tollefsrud Mary Van Winkle Ethel Williams STORY IDEAS Submit story ideas and updates for the next issue of The Exchange to Megan Nelson at megnelson@unomaha.edu. CONNECT WITH US spa.unomaha.edu facebook.com/spa twitter.com/unospa
Student Re
James Rashilla
Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management I first came to the University of Nebraska at Omaha after Lyndsey Rice and Dr. Patrick O’Neil spoke at a career fair for the Nebraska Army National Guard. Before then, I had never heard of Emergency Management, but the thoughts quickly took hold. After spending nearly three years studying civil engineering at UNL, I transferred to UNO. This transfer was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. The experiences I have had in this degree are unlike anything I have ever seen at another college. I’ve been given the opportunity to be on the front line of natural disasters and work alongside city, state and federal agencies. It has truly broadened my horizons about how much goes on in the world each day. The level of dedication of the professors here is spectacular. Professor Mancuso and Dr. O’Neil, in particular, show an exceptional level of professionalism and knowledge in emergency management. Of course, they are not the only examples of excellent instructors in this program, but they are certainly the tip of the spear. If the world is all about “who you know, not what you know” than this program has given me hearty doses of both. The number of times I have been able to drop Joe Mancuso’s name is astonishing—but don’t tell him! I feel extremely prepared to step forward into the next stage of my life because of the quality of my education here at UNO.
Alesia Montgomery
Master of Science in Urban Studies First, I must thank the director, my advisor, professors, and support staff in the School of Public Administration for the encouragement, support, and rigor that you have offered me. As my graduation date approaches, I am extremely proud to be receiving my Master of Science in Urban Studies from UNO. Two and a half years ago, I enrolled at this great university because I was interested in acquiring greater depth in an area that I am so passionate about...urban issues. Urban challenges such as poverty, disproportionality in education and healthcare, and individual and community empowerment have been a lifelong interest of mine. In my current role as a Senior National Training Consultant at Boys Town, this degree enhances my knowledge and problem-solving skills allowing me to better consult to the many schools I support across the country. In addition, I believe that this degree will assist me in mentoring and empowering the communities in those affected school districts to make positive changes. I also look forward to using my newfound knowledge to collaborate with various organizations to strengthen my local Omaha community.
eflections... Anthony Campbell
PhD in Public Administration Gazing back on the many years I’ve spent in the classrooms, halls, and offices of the School of Public Administration, I am reminded of many emotions and moments that in concert with one another leave me wearing a smile. I have no doubt acquired a vast array of new information and skills during my time as an SPA student; however, what will stick with the most, and most likely influence my future more than anything else, is what I’ve learned about myself. The structure of the curriculum, the use of field instead of comprehensive exams, and the entire program’s approach to the dissertation experience, all of these decisions are seemingly structured around the goal of developing doctoral students in a holistic manner. Yes, one can certainly fake his or her way through the process by becoming aware of one’s personal relationship to knowledge in general and public administration specifically, but in the end I think few actually succeed in that gamble. Earning a doctoral degree is a daunting challenge, marked by pronounced highs and lows along the way. I could wax poetically about how I’ve plumbed the depths of the discipline and become an “expert” in the areas associated with my dissertation research, and such an offering may or may not be true. However, what I can say without hesitation is that I’ve explored and examined that magical milieu between myself and the rest of the world–what I felt was being asked of us all from the first day in the classroom. It is in that space where we encounter the world and all the individuals, institutions, and dynamics that so powerfully impact public administration. Moreover, it is in that space where we discover ourselves and how we understand the world we inhabit.
Ji Hyung Park
PhD in Public Administration As I get ready to graduate, I want to reflect on my experience here in the School of Public Administration. When I started I felt lucky to be accepted. I gained confidence every year, but the road was difficult at each stage: coursework, field exams, dissertation proposal and finally, the dissertation. I want to tell other doctorate students that they do not have to walk the road alone. Take the opportunity to make friends with your peers and get to know all the faculty. Their advice and support has been indispensable to me. I am indebted to the faculty and my colleagues. I will begin work as an assistant professor at James Madison University this fall semester. I intend to support and encourage my students in the same way that I was nurtured here at UNO.
Mary Van Winkle
Master of Public Administration Hi! I cannot say enough about the great staff of the School of Public Administration! I am one of so many who have found the need to return to school as a result of a life changing event, in my case, the loss of a job that I had held for almost 20 years. As a resident of rural western Nebraska, my only option to further my education came as an online student. The University of Nebraska at Omaha is the third educational institute that I have attended as I completed my BS degree and began to consider pursuing a master’s degree. As an online student, my experience with UNO has by far been superior to my other experiences. Beginning with the orientation for the program, the groundwork was laid to not only provide me with a quality education, but also to ensure that I felt included and part of the UNO family. This experience has continued through the efforts of wonderful and caring professors who use innovative methods such as VoiceThread, Google Hangouts, and Blue Jean sessions. They are able to bring their classes to life while creating an interactive learning environment even when some students are halfway around the world! Their outreach did not end there, always making themselves available by phone and email, even offering their guidance and assistance outside of their specific classes such as with my Capstone project. As I move forward in my professional life as an employee of the State of Nebraska, I will use my acquired knowledge from this program to enhance and to build upon my work experience in the nonprofit and public sectors, continuing to strive for the greater good while serving as an example of ethical public leadership. And I will always consider myself part of the UNO family. Go Mavericks!
Britta Tollefsrud
President, Nonprofit Leadership Alliance I have found myself at that pinnacle moment, prior to graduation, reflecting on my last years of joys and triumphs spent at UNO. I have so much gratitude to the School of Public Administration, as well as the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, for providing a vehicle to which I have found my professional voice and merits. My time spent at UNO has been a circuitous path, bending with each new mentor and experience. I began my collegiate career in 2009 wanting, much to my parents chagrin, to dedicate myself to Studio Arts. This path did not lead me to my sophomore year, instead I was fortunate to take a hiatus where I went to travel and work in Europe. This experience brought me, two years the wiser, back to UNO with an idea of what I wanted to do. I then met with the perfect advisor, who set me on the right path, helped me network with the perfect community, and formed the best curriculum to suit my desires: Arts Administration. Post-graduation I will be volunteering at a performing arts school in Chennai, India called Kattaikkuttu Sangam. I will use my skills in music and theater to teach English as well as provide my administrative skills in their office writing grants and creating marketing strategies. Once I return
to Omaha I plan to continue my work with a performing arts company as Managing Director. My overall goal is to work with an arts organization in town that offers programming for the underserved populations. After beginning college, then taking my short hiatus and returning with a fresh perspective–I have learned that college is a tool that is only as good as you make it. UNO has offered a fantastic network of people who can assist in setting my career path, but it’s my responsibility to reach out and make those connections. My best advice–make the most of the opportunities before you and you will witness so many doors open to you.
Jody-Ann Coore
Master of Public Administration I completed my undergraduate career at UNO and so the idea of pursuing my graduate career at UNO came naturally. Choosing to come to UNO was the best choice I could make but choosing to pursue a degree in Public Administration was better. I started my graduate career in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and quickly realized that this field was not the most fitting for me at the time. So, I started doing my research across campus of potential degree programs I could switch to. I had a conversation with Dr. Meagan Van Gelder about my immediate and future goals and how they fit with the public administration program. After that conversation I was convinced that public administration was the next step in my journey and was ready to sign up. It so happened that I had only two days until the deadline for spring applications. Luckily, since I had just completed the graduate application it was easy to get the information submitted and Meagan was very helpful. I am used to challenges and overcoming obstacles, after all I was a collegiate sprint hurdler. However, the last two and a half years have been the most challenging, never-ending rollercoaster ride I have had to endure. Fortunately, I was surrounded by some of the kindest, most helpful, most understanding, and most supportive people at UNO and in the MPA program. Throughout those years it was the kindness of Heike Langdon (current MPA student and world’s most awesome supervisor), Dr. Barbara Hewins-Maroney, Dr. Ethel Williams, Dr. Gary Marshall (I came so close to not finishing his class in my first semester), Dr. Jooho Lee, Sara Woods, Megan Nelson, and my Weitz CEC family. The conversations I have had with Lizz, Sue, and Rhonda have helped to brighten my days even when they didn’t know it. I have enjoyed my coursework from PA & Democracy with Dr. Eikenberry, Budgeting with Dr. Maher and Research Methods with Dr. Chen to Strategic Planning and Management with Dr. Bryan and Program Evaluation with Dr. Blair. In the immediate future I am pursuing a career in academic advising. My ultimate goal is to open a nonprofit school in Jamaica for at-risk youth. In continued pursuit of this goal, I hope to complete my doctoral degree in Human Development and Educational Psychology in the near future. This experience has been humbling and empowering. I will be a lifelong ambassador for UNO and the School of Public Administration. If you are reading this and thinking about a graduate degree, look no further, welcome to the program!
#25 The School of Public Administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is proud to announce our new and improved ranking -- 25th in the nation -- for our esteemed Master of Public Administration degree.
Class of 2016 Master in Public Administration Neal Bonacci Claire Buddenberg Aaron Burnett Robert Caldwell Rachael Cohen Jody-Ann Coore Marybeth Ferree Robert Gottsch Spencer Head Luke Hoffman Patrick Kilcoyne Stephen Mehlhaff Michael Meyers Patrick Morris Blake Renner Dustin Rief Lydia Sand Erik Servellon Mary Van Winkle Samantha Weiss Laura Wise
Master in Urban Studies Lacey Matney Alesia Montgomery Ryan Morrissey Royce Sheibal PhD in Public Administration Michael Campbell II James Harrold Shihyun Noh Graduate Certificate Amy Lillethorup
Aviation Rayan Abdulmajeed Tristan Anzalone Christian Barry Jonathan Collins Steven Dethlefs Zach Eden Jessica Herren Seth Hunt Mallory Huntimer Sean Kirker Daniel Manning Travis Nelson Raudel Perez Payton Rockwell Nicole Straavaldson Jason Struebing Matthew Willford David Winn Andrew York Taylor Young
Emergency Management Jason Casady Stephen Driscoll Teriyana Morton James Rashilla Jordan Roseborough Ryan Wheatley
Student Honors Jody-Ann Coore
Student Marshal for the College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS) I am honored to have been chosen as the student marshal representing CPACS. During this exciting time I will have the privilege of carrying the CPACS banner and leading my fellow graduate students into the ceremony. The process for selecting the student marshal for the college is as follows: • The College requests nominees who are graduating from departments across campus • Students are nominated by faculty who must provide information about the nominee’s academic achievements, awards and honors, and any other information that supports why the particular student should be selected • The Dean of the Graduate College, Deborah Smith-Howell, reviews the information presented on each nominee and makes the final decision Thank you to the faculty, staff, and students who have played a part in getting me to the finish line to be able to have this opportunity.
Jim Harrold
Graduate Student Speaker for 2016 Commencement This year I will graduate with a PhD in Public Administration. I received my Master of Public Administration from UNO, and am a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, the Public Administration Honors Society. I also hold a Master of Logistics Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree in Geography from UNO. I chose to do my PhD at UNO because “Omaha is my home.” After serving in eleven states and overseas for 26 years as an active duty Air Force officer, I returned to my hometown. I advise all students to seek a lifetime of learning. After graduation I will stay in Omaha. Currently I work as a part-time faculty member for the School of Public Administration.
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