News: MPA

Walking across the country seemed like a romantic idea at the time.

On a near daily basis, I am in meetings that relate to a real-world version of grad school group work. Whether it is assisting in development of a new citywide housing policy, compiling information on digital innovations, or coming up with ideas for #cityhallselfie day, much of the work I’m engaged in involves a deep level of communication and collaboration.

Graduate school has been incredible in helping me find new areas of interest and connecting me with professionals and peers who have been instrumental in setting me on a path that I am confident about.

At the La Follette School, I learned how to work with and manage large data sets and manipulate them with statistics. I use those skills every day.

Before entering the La Follette School, Emily Frank served as a legal advocate for people facing issues with their food stamps and public assistance in New York City.

UW–Madison Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Laurent Heller appointed Jennifer Klippel (MPA ’06) as interim budget director following the retirement of Tim Norris, who served in that role since 2004.

The Health Behavior and Policy Review has published a paper by Joseph Bates (MPA/MPH ’17), Key Stakeholder Responses to Impaired Server Ordinances in Selected Wisconsin Municipalities.

The most rewarding aspect of my current position is constituent casework. ... In my opinion, assisting constituents with these issues defines what it means to be a public servant and to work in public affairs.

The analytical skills-based approach to teaching in coordination with the small class sizes have been hugely beneficial to my personal and professional career goals.

The La Follette School’s strong emphasis on development of analytical skills has made me a more intelligent consumer of information and increased my ability to use data to create evidence-based narratives framing public policy issues and solutions.