MPA Graduate Stories
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program in Political Science at Idaho State University started in the mid 1970s. Since that time, hundreds of graduates have enjoyed long careers in public service. Some graduates have gone on to earn doctorates and now teach at the college and university level. Still other graduates work in the private sector and some even own their own firms. MPA graduates from Idaho State University are placed all around the country and work as planners, administrators, executive directors of non-profits, budget analysts, legislative analysts, policy analysts, educators, business owners, and many other occupations. Graduate are employed at the federal, state, local, and non-profit sectors and graduates have won prestigious Presidential Management Fellowships (from the United States Office of Personnel Management).
In 2008, the Department of Political Science collected some MPA testimonials and these have been used successfully to introduce new students to the program and its history. In 2012 and 2013, the department is collecting "MPA Graduate Stories" and including photographs of our graduates. We hope to use these stories to not only promote our program but also to help our current students network with graduates from the nearly 40 year history of the program. We started this project in the fall of 2012 and we hope to collect as many stories as possible.
Yvonne Perez, MPA, 2009
I entered the M.P.A. program with a passion to serve my community and fight for social justice. The M.P.A. program opened the doors to many opportunities, including a service project with AmeriCorps, a contract with the Idaho Centers for New Directions and the distinctiveness to enter the 2015 Juris Doctorate class at the University of Idaho.
Upon graduation, I began a service project with AmeriCorps VISTA, a national service program designed specifically to fight poverty and help those in disadvantaged circumstances. There I created the foundation for a sustainable KinCare Program for relatives raising relative children.
After completing a one year service project I became the Idaho Career Pioneer Network facilitator for the Idaho Career Pioneer Network (CPN). I served in this role for two years, helping to inspire individuals to explore and pursue a full range of career options by enhancing awareness and knowledge of nontraditional careers. I focused specifically on the identification of statewide strategies at the secondary and post-secondary level for the recruitment and retention of females in science, technology, engineering, and math careers.
After completing a two year contract as the Idaho CPN Facilitator, I applied to the University of Idaho College of Law. The M.P.A. program prepared me for the rigorous curriculum, and having an M.P.A. degree gave me an advantage, not only throughout my career, but now as a J.D. student. I am confident that my M.P.A. degree and JD degree will continue to open doors to more opportunities, so that I can make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.
Debbie Green, MPA, 2008
I can still remember the day some of my friends and colleagues encouraged me to look into the MPA program. I was working in the Health Professions College at Idaho State University, finished my undergraduate degree one year previous, and knew I wanted to further my education – in what I wasn't quite sure. After taking a course taught by Dr. Foster, "Public Administration", I was hooked. I loved everything about the class and was intrigued to learn more. Future classes brought more interest. I became fully engaged and engrained in a field that taught me so much about life, ethics, public personnel, democracy, stakeholders, power, leadership, policy making, budgeting, and most of all "a new way of learning." Memorizing was no longer my way of studying for exams. I became a "thinker, decision maker, and team player." I greatly enjoyed taking exams and going to class. I thoroughly enjoyed the class discussions and loved thinking about how the various subjects, theories and examples were interrelated and what they truly meant. Deborah Stone's books continue to be my favorite.
I am currently the "Associate Director of Scholarships" at Idaho State University. I work with undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students on a daily basis to also help them reach their educational goals/dreams. A day does not go by in which I don't make some type of decision. I work with a variety of stakeholders to come up with programs, hold committee meetings, and award scholarships in a fair and equitable manner. The MPA program has been a large reason for my success and I will always be a strong advocate of the program, MPA faculty, and philosophy of thinking. With 3 great boys, a great husband, a "rewarding" job, and a phenomenal education – life is quite good!
Linda Tigert, MPA, 2008
I entered the MPA program after completing an undergraduate degree in American Studies. I have always been a generalist who was captured by a too broad array of passions and interests. The MPA program promised to be a good fit – it provided educational structure and numerous career options while feeding a newly discovered appetite for politics and a life-long passion for learning. My goals were mostly personal; I wanted to pursue policy change and make a difference in my community and figured an extensive knowledge of how public policy worked, or didn't, was an honorable pursuit.
I appreciated the blend of theory and practice the MPA program offered. Throughout the coursework, I learned to see policymaking and public administration from a broad theoretical perspective while also developing practical tools that I rely on to this day. In the classroom, I enjoyed ample opportunity to wrestle with real problems, collaborate with other students, and become more comfortable presenting information to groups and decision-makers. I practiced ways to engage citizens in the policy process, grappled with the challenges a public administrator would likely face, and was guided to thoughtfully consider and develop my own ethical code. And along the way, the instructors were supportive, accessible, and knowledgeable.
Today, I am the planner for an Idaho county. Our planning department is very small, so I have the opportunity to wear many hats - including zoning administrator, database manager, policy analyst, records retention specialist, and copier mechanic to name a few. The MPA program provided me a solid foundation for this position, the knowledge and tools to serve the public, and, hopefully, the ability to make a difference.
Graham Garner, MPA, 2007
I had never planned to go beyond my bachelor's degree in college. While majoring in political science at Idaho State, I took some public administration courses that changed my mind. I realized that I could take the strong foundation in political science theory and transform it into practice.
Studying public administration helped me see how to become not only a good manager, but a strong leader. I learned how to develop policy, lead personnel, influence colleagues and the public, define and abide by a code of ethics, and otherwise act as a responsible public steward.
Professionally, I worked in several areas of advancement at Idaho State University as a director, including alumni relations, development, web communications, and university relations. Since I was the first-ever director of the newly created web communications office, my MPA education helped me know how to establish an office, recruit and select the right personnel, establish policies, secure resources, and work with others to gain buy-in to our goals.
After leaving Idaho State, I was the vice president for advancement at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and am now the associate vice president for marketing and communication at Wartburg College, a private liberal arts college in northeast Iowa. Both of these cabinet-level positions have given me the opportunity to work with other institutional leaders as peers and to counsel the president competently, in no small part because of what I learned in the MPA program.
I have recently completed my studies for a doctorate in educational leadership, with an emphasis in higher education administration. My MPA gave me a significant lead in the program, including a strong foundation in understanding the law, leadership, and working with others.
The balanced approach of theory and praxis within the MPA program has served me well through my career and additional education. I understand how to look at situations as case studies, identifying the key stakeholders and influences of power. I know how to examine situations from a variety of perspectives and play out potential solutions because of my MPA education. Most importantly, I know how to act and get results. I credit my MPA professors and curriculum with much of that.
Brad Cramer, MPA, 2007
"I decided to pursue an MPA degree because I saw value in its practicality and the ability to apply the skills learned in a variety of fields. I found my first (and current) job as the Assistant Planning Director for the City of Idaho Falls just a few months after graduation. My background in planning was non-existent, but because I had an MPA degree and because I had a background in landscape design I was selected. The MPA program may not have provided me with all of the technical know-how needed to be a planner, but it gave me knowledge and skills that someone from planning school wouldn't have had.
It taught me how to analyze policy options, how to deal with the different sides of politically challenging situations, and how to sort through emotions and facts brought up during contentious public processes. The program taught me how to manage an office and think through ways to reorganize responsibilities during times of downsizing and being short-staffed. Over the past 5 years since graduating, I've learned a lot about being a planner. I feel those skills now combined with the training from the MPA program give me an advantage over others in my field that may have only focused the technical aspects of planning. I would strongly recommend the MPA program to anyone, even if at first glance it doesn't look specific to their desired field."
Lynette Sampson, MPA, 2007
I entered the MPA Program will little knowledge about the field. My Bachelor was in Justice Studies so I enjoyed my first class, Administrative Law. I started as a full time student in August 2006 and liked every class I took throughout the rest of my program. I had the opportunity to work as a Graduate Assistant for the Political Science Program, was nominated as an Outstanding Graduate Student, and took the Presidential Management Fellowship exam. I enjoyed the coursework, instructors, and other students. I liked that I was able to work on a research project with fellow students that was turned into two separate papers. I made lasting friendships along with getting a great education.
Since graduating with my MPA I have worked five years at Southeastern Idaho Community Action Agency (SEICAA) in Pocatello, Idaho. Securing my official position, Community Development Coordinator, was due in large part to the grant writing course and experience I received during the Fall semester of 2006. Since June 2007 I have worked to secure over $4 million in grant funds for my organization, have gained extensive experience working with the media and community members, and have taken lead on regional Community Based Social Marketing campaigns.
The background I have, as a result of Organizational Theory, Personnel Management, Public Policy, and coursework in the Presidency helped me to complete the Executive Skills Portfolio and pass an extensive test to receive my Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP) distinction. In August 2012 I received my certificate as a CCAP and am now one of approximately 500 individuals nationwide with this professional certification. I feel that the MPA Program was vital to helping me achieve that goal and will continue to help me as I progress in my career.
Ryan Fowler, MPA, 2006
"When I entered the MPA program I didn't have a plan. I had graduated with my degree in American Studies and wanted something more before I threw myself on the mercies of the professional work force. After much research, I found the Masters in Public Administration. This program seemed to be a good mix of my personal interest and real world preparation. It turned out to be more than I expected.
The classes offered dealt with real world situations. Through the use of case studies we were able to exercise the tools that we were taught by the professors in the department. This allowed us to envision how we would use these tools in our current and future professions. I gained an immense amount of knowledge from Idaho State University's MPA program, but perhaps the most important thing I took away were lasting relationships with people invested in the future.
When I graduated from the program I was working at Portneuf Medical Center. They recognized the skills that I had obtained in my studies and promoted me to the position of Hospital Improvement Advisor in the Quality Management Department. In time, I left the hospital in Pocatello and joined Banner Health (a top 10 not-for-profit Healthcare System) as a Quality Manager in Ogallala Nebraska. I currently work and reside in Lander, Wyoming at Lander Regional Hospital. I work as the Director of Quality, Infection Control, Employee Health and Employee Education. I find my work to be very fulfilling, and use the skills I learned in the MPA program on a daily basis.
Eva Malvich, MPA, 2006
The Association of Village Council Presidents announces the hiring of Ms. Eva Malvich as the new Yupiit Piciryarait Museum Director/Curator. The museum is the regional Tribal museum located in Bethel, Alaska and serves the 56 Tribes on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
Ms. Malvich is a tribal member from the Native Village of Mekoryuk. She is the daughter of Eula David and the late Jerry David, Sr. "I've have Yup'ik and Cupik names, given to me by family. My Cupik name is Aggsirer, after my late Dad's mother. My Yup'ik name is Taurr'aq, after an elder from the community of Kwethluk who lived to be 100 and is remembered for his love of children." Eva and husband, Bryan, have three boys; Kyle Dean, Jeremy and Bryan.
Eva was raised in both Mekoryuk and Bethel. Ms. Malvich attained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Education with a focus on Community Health (2004), and a Master of Arts in Public Administration (2006) from Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. In addition, she earned a certificate in Records Management from the National Archives and Records Administration. Prior to joining AVCP, Eva spent 20 years working for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation. She was the Quality Assurance Manager for the Behavioral Health Department, monitoring compliance with Medicaid regulations and The Joint Commission (JCAHO) standards. Prior to that, Eva formed the Archiving Department, establishing a records retention schedule, implementing an inventory of records, and managing paper records from creation through destruction.
In her new role at AVCP as the Yupiit Piciryarait Museum Director/Curator, she is responsible for the overall management of the museum. "I am pleased to join the AVCP team and am excited to be part of the organization to help carry out AVCP's mission." As museum director, Eva's immediate goals are to inventory and prepare for an exhibit showcasing the Ludvig Evald Ost collection, made possible through a loan by the City of Marshall, and a generous grant from Donlin Gold. Ludvig Ost, or "Grandpa Ost" was a well known and well regarded Swedish missionary for the Covenant Church in Alaska.
Eva's long-term goals for the museum include researching the benefits and challenges of accreditation for the museum by the American Association of Museums. Another long-term goal is to re-design the museum's permanent display area and develop showcasing tools and materials which will guide visitors through a traditional seasonal cycle of activities for the indigenous populations of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region. This work will be funded by a grant from the Alaska Humanities Forum. Ultimately, her hope is to help AVCP plan and build a Regional Repository. Eva is involved in the community by serving as a Steering Committee member for the YKHC Sobering Center and is an active member of the Bethel Roller Derby League.
David Gertsch, MPA, 2005
Earning my MPA provided me a foundation of skills and knowledge that has been essential to my professional work and was also the catalyst to my professional career. The MPA program led to my first professional job working as a Community Development Specialist for Partners for Prosperity, a non-profit organization. I did an internship there to fulfill the required internship credit hours for the MPA program. This led to full-time employment there shortly after my graduation. The practical knowledge I learned from my class work in the MPA program helped me write successful grants, helped me complete community research projects, and provide leadership to a regional working group.
A couple years later I was hired as the Assistant Planner for Albany County, Wyoming. As a planner I have continued to use the research skills I gained in the MPA program and my knowledge of public administration and public policy has helped me get through the often slow and intense process of creating or amending policies and regulations. I was promoted to Planning Director and am now applying many of the leadership, management, and budgeting skills that I learned in the MPA program as I lead my department and work within the County political system with all of its uncertainties.
Molly Duplechian, MPA, 2005
I graduated in December 2005. I began working for the Budget and Management Office in the City and County of Denver in January 2007. I began as an Associate Financial Management Analyst and have worked my way up to a Financial Management Specialist. Having been here 6 years, I have worked as the budget analyst for many different agencies in the City. I have worked as a liaison with the Parks and Department, the Denver Public Library, the Public Works Department, the Department of Safety (Police, Fire and Sheriff), City Council and several other smaller agencies.
I work with the agencies throughout the year to assist them with policy analysis, budget administration and performance management. During the annual budget process, our office works closely with the Mayor's Office to align the budget with priorities for the upcoming year. Most recently, I have been the budget representative on the City's collective bargaining negotiation team and I am now responsible for writing the budget related ordinances that flow through the City's legislative process. As a consolidated budget office, we get a bird's eye view of the City and we are involved in many different aspects of City operations. I try hard to really understand the operations of the agencies that I work with so that I can make informed policy recommendations when it comes to budgetary issues. The budget office provides me with a perfect combination of process improvement and policy analysis work. Many of the classes in my MPA program helped provide the foundation for the work that I do now on a daily basis.
Ben Rogers, MPA, 2004
I entered the MPA program in Fall Semester 2002. The program prepared me for a career in public administration, specifically classes like public personnel administration, organizational theory, and public finance. I benefitted from the MPA program framework, which examined the legal, managerial, and political aspects of decisions and actions in the public sector. I think back often about these lessons while working in the Federal Government.
During my last year in the MPA program, I successfully competed for the Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) program, and chose to begin my career with the Department of Veterans Affairs at a small medical center in western Pennsylvania. Working in an administrative capacity in many areas of the hospital gave me ample opportunity to observe public administration in action. I applied many of the things I learned in the MPA program during my time there. After the 2-year fellowship ended, I was promoted within the VA and moved to a large VA healthcare system in Albuquerque, NM. While there I worked as the director of the Joint Venture, a partnership between VA and the local Air Force military treatment facility, experiencing firsthand the benefits and challenges of working in partnership with another Federal department.
I now work at the Boise VA Medical Center as the Ethics and Compliance manager, where I again apply many of the lessons I learned in the MPA program to ensure that we follow all applicable laws, rules and regulations within an ethical environment.
Greg Hill, MPA, 2002
I began Idaho State's MPA program in 2000 with an unclear picture of what I wanted to do with my future. Through truly fantastic faculty, a strong cohort of students, and deeply engaging intellectual readings and assignments, I ended up in the field of academia, and am now at Boise State University as an Associate professor, Chair, and Director of the PhD program and in the Department of Public Policy and Administration. At ISU, I was able to intern with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and gained an important understanding of how state agencies operate. That said, open faculty doors and the constant intellectual pressure put on me by Drs. McBeth, Foster, Gabardi, and others guided my interest towards a faculty position. I was accepted and admitted to Texas A&M University's PhD in Political Science program in 2002, attended conferences from Chicago to Cooperstown, NY, to Wales to present my research on managerial succession, and graduated in 2006. I took a faculty position at Boise State University in 2005 and have been here since.
Along with traditional academic duties, I have survey and research experience in the academic, public, and private sectors. Some of my recent survey consultation includes: surveying school district superintendents in Texas; working with the Office of Performance Evaluation in developing, managing, and analyzing multiple surveys of the Department of Health and Welfare; producing and analyzing data for the Public Policy Survey.
My research interests center on public management, administration, and policy theory and immigration policy. I have written articles for State and Local Government Review, Social Science Journal, The Oxford Handbook of Public Management and the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory and have presented papers at numerous conferences including the annual meetings of the Midwest Political Science Association and Association of Public Policy Analysis and Management. I am an avid baseball fan, and was invited to present some baseball-related research at the 16th Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004. I am married and have four wonderful children.
Tim Tingey, MPA, 1998
Dr. Tim Tingey has worked for fifteen years in urban renewal, economic development, redevelopment and land use planning. He is currently the director of the recently created Administrative and Development Services Department for Murray City Corporation where he oversees six divisions for the City including Community and Economic Development, Building Inspection, Geographic Information Systems, Information Technology, Recorder and Treasurer Office functions. He also serves as the Executive Director for the Redevelopment Agency of Murray and leads economic development efforts for the City. He previously worked for three years as the Director of the Community and Economic Development Department for Murray City and also worked for the City of Pocatello for eleven years. He currently serves as a board member for NeighborWorks of Salt Lake and in December 2011 was nominated and received the NeighborWorks America National Government Service Award in Washington D.C.
Tim was born in Sun Valley, Idaho and grew up in Carey, Idaho. He and his wife Gail have four children, two daughters and two sons.
Tim received his Masters of Public Administration from Idaho State University in 1998. The Masters of Public Administration (MPA) program at Idaho State University provided a solid foundation for Tim's career in local government work. He has constantly used knowledge and skills obtained from the MPA program to manage personnel, work with policy makers, facilitate group meetings, conduct research and manage public input processes. The MPA program also enhanced his desire to continue educational pursuits and in 2005 Tim completed his Doctor of Arts in Political Science at Idaho State University and taught as an adjunct faculty member at the university for three years.
Cydney Pearce - MPA, 1996
Cydney Pearce joined the ISU College of Education in August 2011 as Director of Development. A native of Helena, Arkansas, Cydney received her B.A. in political science in 1995 from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi. She received her M.P.A. in public administration from Idaho State University in 1996. After graduation from ISU, she returned to Arkansas where she served as a senior aide to former U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln focusing on economic development and legislative issues related to education and the environment.
She served in three U.S. Senate Campaigns as Deputy Campaign Manager and Financial Compliance Director. In 2002, she was named the recipient of the Jeffrey Ledbetter Memorial Award given to the state's outstanding young democrat and represented the state of Arkansas as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2004. Cydney is enjoying her new role in University Advancement at Idaho State University and will complete a certificate in fundraising management from The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University this fall.
Cydney and her husband John, a Pocatello native and current Blackfoot High School Principal, are the parents of two sons and enjoy golfing and snow skiing.