GRADUATES SEEKING EMPLOYMENT

as of Summer 2016

Carolina MPA GraduatesThe Master of Public Administration program at UNC-Chapel Hill is considered among the best public administration graduate programs in the country, ranking sixth nationally in the specialty area of city management. Our alumni transform organizations, influence public policy, and effect positive change in communities throughout North Carolina and across the country.

The challenges facing our world today need the passion, integrity, intelligence, and leadership of individuals committed to public service—well-prepared individuals who are trained to think critically and act with compassion and reason. Graduates of the Carolina MPA program are equipped to make substantial contributions to the organizations that hire them, to the communities they serve, and to the world.

Employers who recruit from Carolina’s MPA program have access to individuals with experience in team-building and problem-solving. In addition to completing extensive coursework, graduates have developed skills and knowledge through meaningful professional practicums.

In the following pages, you will meet students who are seeking employment after graduation in May 2016.

Students in the online format of the Master of Public Administration program (MPA@UNC) are available year-round, and many of them have seven or more years of substantive professional experience in the public sector. We can easily connect you with students and alumni who meet your hiring needs.

To request further information: Contact Susan Austin, career services director, at 919.966.4159 or austin@sog.unc.edu.

To view student resumes: Visit mpa.unc.edu/node/104. To log in, enter password 2tarheel2.

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LUISA AGATHON seeks a career in local government management.

My internship experience with Catawba County and the City of Claremont, North Carolina, solidified my interest in a career in local government as a management analyst. I would like to manage projects, establish performance measures, and help departments think strategically about their work. This interest aligns with my professional experience in program implementation and evaluation for a Charlotte nonprofit and my work as a UNC research assistant. I look forward to an opportunity to broaden my knowledge and skills to help local governments work effectively.

LAUREN BRUNE seeks a position with a nonprofit or higher education organization focusing on arts administration and advocacy.

I am especially interested in making visual and performing arts more accessible to children and young adults in their communities, whether through primary schools, extracurricular programs, or universities. I strongly believe in the power of art to foster connections between people and improve their emotional and mental well-being.

WILL CHEATHAM seeks employment as a local government budget or management analyst.

I would like to apply my analytical and creative problem-solving skills to help a local government develop its capacity to deliver the best services possible. I have a particular interest in the budget process, especially finding innovative ways to save money while strengthening organizational effectiveness. I also aspire to serve in a leadership role, and would appreciate the opportunity to work closely with upper-level management. My ultimate goal is to become a city or county manager.

MARIA CHIOCHIOS seeks a career in a library, nonprofit organization, or local government agency that focuses on outreach, community education and development, civic engagement, and/or knowledge preservation and management.

My professional experiences have taught me the importance of information accessibility, equitable service delivery, and the need for people, places, and platforms that facilitate connections and opportunities. My skills include program management, performance measurement, relationship building, creative outreach, and knowledge transfer. My career goals center on empowering and collaborating with citizens to strengthen civic engagement and community human capital and improving my skills as a community advocate. I value opportunities that embrace collaborative governance, create an active citizenry, preserve community knowledge, and promote transparency and accountability.

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KHADIJAH DIAZ seeks a career in the mental health field, ideally working in conjunction with county, state, or federal prison systems.

I have a background in public policy, and I have focused my public administration studies on policy implementation, program management, and program evaluation. I am especially interested in economic justice, human services, and diversity in the workplace.

OLIVIA HAMMILL seeks a position in communications and public affairs at a government agency or university.

I am particularly interested in how organizations market and brand themselves, communicate the services they offer, and use communication to improve the lives of those they serve. The ability to explain complex issues in simple terms is invaluable. I look forward to a career in public affairs where I can apply the skills I developed working at a communications firm, in local government, and in higher education.

CATHERINE HUGHES seeks a career in a local, state, or federal agency or a nonprofit organization that engages in emergency management and planning.

I am interested in how decisions are made before, during, and after natural disasters and how relationships and communication between different organizations affect emergency management and planning. My interest in this area was influenced by my family’s experience during Hurricane Hugo and my relief work following Hurricane Katrina. I am eager to gain more practical experience in emergency management, especially in planning, preparation, risk management, hazard mitigation, and communications.

MATTHEW JAMES seeks a career working in environmental sustainability.

I am interesting in resolving the economic, social, and environmental issues related to sustainability. I have experience working with North Carolina’s recycling program and Orange County’s solid waste program. My ambition is to help the state decrease its environmental impact in an economically feasible way.

ANNA JOYCE seeks a position in local government in North Carolina.

I am interested in serving as a project manager and eventually as a town manager in a rural North Carolina community. Through my ongoing work experience in the Town of Pilot Mountain, I’ve learned how to address a large variety of local government concerns. As a lifelong resident of rural North Carolina, I have insight into what it takes to achieve a greater quality of service provision for rural communities.

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JUSTIN KREFT is interested in digital governance—the thoughtful management of data and information assets that governments generate as part of their service to citizens.

As a dual-degree student in the Master of Public Administration and Information Science programs, I have a passion for public information management, open data advocacy, and innovative problem solving. I appreciate how policy creates opportunities to leverage technology and deliver programs and services efficiently and equitably.

TREVOR LOBAUGH seeks a position with a federal, state, or local government agency.

I have two specific areas of interest: budgeting and environmental sustainability. I am interested in a role that helps develop policies and initiatives leading to a more sustainable future. My experience working with state and local government organizations and a national nonprofit taught me how budget decisions affect policy-setting priorities. A budget’s composition establishes the blueprint for an organization’s activity, and I am interested in helping to shape that process to ensure efficient and effective operations.

PATRICK MADEJ seeks a position involving project management, communications, human resources, consulting, or management analysis.

During my two years as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer and through my recent experience as a graduate intern with the Town of Chapel Hill, I have contributed to organizations and the communities around me through practical means. While I am currently focused on public sector work, I am also open to new and challenging opportunities in the nonprofit and private sectors.

JOE MAUGERI seeks a career in public finance or program evaluation.

My work as a high school math teacher in Detroit sparked my interest in public finance and program evaluation. Conducting program evaluations with financial implications at the school level showed me the importance of sound decision-making in public finance and that effective evaluations can be used to achieve desired outcomes. I’ve continued my work in education with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, where I learned more about the power of effective, efficient financial management and program evaluation in education.

MEAGAN MCDOUGALL seeks a career with an organization focused on women’s rights and equality through community and international development.

I am eager to combine my knowledge of and passion for women’s rights with effective organizational management and cross-sector collaboration to enact and administer positive social change in the lives of young women and girls. I have particular interests in improving the ability of women to safely access health-care facilities, pursue higher education, and institute governmental and societal safeguards against rape, domestic and sexual violence, and sexual trafficking.

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CHAZ OFFENBURG seeks a career in public sector leadership.

My interests include organizational behavior and public policy. During my time managing federal and state government offices, I helped multiple, diverse constituencies achieve their goals in both public and private bureaucracies. These experiences helped to develop my analytical, communication, and organizational skills. In my studies and work since, I have acquired applicable skills and learned theories of leadership. I want to help an agency find creative, collaborative, large-scale solutions to the many complex problems facing their constituents.

AMY O’NEAL seeks a career working as an attorney for the state or federal government.

My work at the General Assembly sparked an interest in effective policy formation and implementation. My experience working with the Domestic Violence Clinic at the UNC School of Law coupled with a trial advocacy class increased my competency in the courtroom and in working with clients. I enjoy analyzing policy decisions and observing how a policy is implemented once it becomes law.

JORDAN PASCHAL seeks a career in local or state government budgeting and evaluation.

I am interested in evaluating programs and using performance measures to construct effective fiscal policies. My previous work experience, including at the North Carolina General Assembly Fiscal Research Division, showed me that budgets are reflections of community values and compromises. Public budgeting is at the core of improving the lives of constituents and the competent delivery of government services. I am eager to use my theoretical and practical training in a position in a local or state budget office.

CALEY PATTEN seeks a position in local government administration involving management, budget analysis, or communications.

Through my internship with the Person County Manager’s Office, I gained valuable insight and experience into the responsibilities of local government administrators. I completed projects for a variety of departments, further expanding my knowledge of local services. I am interested in using my skills in budgeting, research, and analysis in a local government entity. My background in broadcast journalism and communications provides additional expertise in media relations, social media management, and communications.

NICK PEAK seeks a position in state-level public finance.

I have a particular interest in public finance research and analysis. This stems from my studies in economics and policy formation. I want to apply the skills I have developed through my MPA coursework and work experience to the public sector in a position where I can combine my passions for policy research and implementation.

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STEFAN SCHROPP seeks a career at the intersection of government and the law.

I have a special interest in working through legal channels to address fundamental challenges facing citizens of North Carolina and the United States. My experience with low-income urban families through Teach for America fueled a desire to work with leaders who are acting on behalf of this constituency. My MBA and political experiences give me a broad understanding of issues facing low-income families as well as the skills to work on them. I am specifically interested in finding solutions through a combination of community engagement and sound policy decisions.

BETHANY SHEWMAKER seeks a career in environmental management.

My primary interests include conservation biology, natural resource management, and land conservation planning. I have undergraduate degrees in biology and environmental studies with more than 10 years of professional work experience in public, nonprofit, and private organizations. I have participated in policy-related research projects on a variety of environmental issues, including open space and recreational land use in North Carolina, California, and Costa Rica. My focus has evolved from field research to environmental management with the goal of effecting change on a broader level.

AUDREY SHORE seeks a career in higher education or a nonprofit organization with an emphasis on fundraising and development.

My experience working for several nonprofits and in the development office at the UNC School of Government illustrated the importance of fundraising and development within these institutions. Development creates opportunities to strengthen programming and further an organization’s mission by fostering relationships, working collaboratively across departments and organizations, and raising funds that have an impact. I’m especially interested in the role of social media to increase engagement and interaction with established constituents and create opportunities for meaningful interactions with new individuals and organizations.

TAYLOR SMITH seeks an internship with a governmental organization focused on disaster management.

I have experienced many hurricanes firsthand and studied their effects in college, but it was a trip to Staten Island, NY, after Hurricane Sandy that motivated me to work in the field of disaster planning and relief. In getting to know that community, I recognized my passion to alleviate suffering in the wake of disaster through relief and recovery projects. I am interested in a position where I can research best practices for improving community resilience through hazard mitigation and planning.

FRANCINE STEFAN seeks a position as an operations officer or project manager.

I am interested in pursuing a career in operations or project management. Over the past four years, I have gained experience through managing a national outreach and training program while demonstrating leadership and commitment to colleagues, partners, and clients. Ideally, my day-to-day responsibilities would include program implementation, relationship building, and organizational development.

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ANDREW TRUMP seeks a career in community economic development.

I’m a real estate and community economic development professional interested in strengthening local economies and revitalizing neighborhoods through the strategic use of public and private resources. Through eight years of experience in real estate and economic development, workforce readiness, fundraising, and volunteer management, I have gained a skill set that includes the technical knowledge to identify and pursue community economic development opportunities; the ability to articulate a compelling, shared vision; and the interpersonal skills to build productive relationships with public, private, and community stakeholders.

ALEXANDER VAZQUEZ seeks a career in local government management and budgeting.

Working with the manager’s office in the City of Durham exposed me to the varied and complex work local governments carry out on a daily basis. I am interested in working with a municipality or county that will allow me to use my research, analytical, and communication skills to identify and implement practical strategies to improve operations and the quality of services provided to residents.

PAIGE WALTZ seeks a career in federal government focusing on oversight or communications.

I am especially interested in public policy research and implementation, legislative relations, and communications. During my time working on Capitol Hill in media relations and communications for a senior member of Congress, I observed the legislative process and its subsequent effect on the district’s constituents. Materials and messages I helped create played a crucial part in keeping constituents informed and maintained open lines of communication between our office and the district. I am interested in building on this experience with a federal government agency or a committee within the US House or Senate.

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