Student Spotlight: Sylvie Baele

Sylvie Baele, a first-year MPA student, has recently earned the Race & Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) Student Leadership Award, an achievement that recognizes and supports student leaders who share RSJI’s mission for achieving systemic change for race and social justice. That makes Sylvie’s proposal, A Commitment to Increasing Diversity on Campus through the Cultivation and…

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Student Spotlight: Ebony Venson

Last week, the Race & Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) announced the recipients of their Student Leadership Awards. Ebony Venson, a first-year MPA student, was among the seven recipients, two of whom are MPA students. The award recognizes and supports student leaders who share RSJI’s mission for achieving systemic change for race and social justice. The…

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Student Spotlight: The Graduate Diversity and Inclusion Council

“Creating the future-perfect campus through acts of diversity and inclusion – cultural transformation through resolving unconscious bias.” That is the motto for the Graduate Diversity and Inclusion Council (GDIC), who’s board is currently made up of four MPA students: Loretta Simpson, President; Tranard Harvin, Vice President; Chloe Stuber, Secretary and Advocacy Chair; and Melanie Seidel, International…

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Adjunct Professor Spotlight: Jorge Luna

This semester we were fortunate to welcome Jorge Luna as an adjunct professor, teaching Urban Transportation: Problems and Prospects. Students in this course analyzed theories and policies surrounding urban transportation, explored contemporary problems and solutions, and investigated political and ethical implications within the transportation planning process. To learn more about how an MPA degree can…

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SECoPA Recap

Last month, members of our Master of Public Administration program attended and presented at the 2018 Southeastern Conference of Public Administration (SECoPA) in Birmingham, Alabama. SECoPA is an annual gathering of researchers, practitioners, and students who share innovative ideas, engage in scholarly discussion, and network with the public service community. Four members of our program…

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Adjunct Professor Spotlight: Jim Budds

The MPA department is pleased to welcome Jim Budds as an adjunct faculty member this semester. He is teaching Local Government Politics and Administration. Students enrolled in this course will examine the role of local government administrators and explore the theory and institutions behind their political environments. The  following is a Q & A with…

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Alumni Update: One Year Later

           Sarah Fichera completed the MPA program at the College of Charleston in May of 2017 and currently resides in the Charleston area. Her current position is Director of Grants Management at the Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center in Summerville. Upon entering the program, Sarah knew she wanted to work for a…

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Student Spotlight: Rebecca Hopkins

Public administrators are often called to action amid emergent and disastrous circumstances. In the example of the Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting, assessing the network of response can become a tool for future development. Rebecca Hopkins, College of Charleston MPA student, recently completed a Capstone Seminar built on her interest of cross-sectoral partnerships. This Student…

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Student Spotlight: The Gap Between Research & Administration

Last semester, eight MPA students completed a Capstone Seminar. The Capstone requirement provides an opportunity for students to apply skills developed throughout the program to a research project of interest. Our Student Spotlight features a retrospective look at Concurrent MPA/MES student Lucy Davis’ journey through the MPA program and her interesting research on bottlenose dolphins…

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