What professional and/or personal ventures have you undertaken in the last year? Any highlights? Challenges? Things to celebrate?
In the last year, most of my ventures have been purely academic as I continue to power through my degrees. My favorite part of the last year is likely my SPEA capstone, which was an international project with the United Nations Development Program office in Armenia. That was certainly a highlight for me.
What are your plans for the upcoming year (or beyond)?
I plan to finish out my degree program and continue planning for the future as I navigate my career goals and narrow them down even further.
How has working for OCE impacted your personal or professional experiences? What are some of your favorite parts?
Working for OCE has been a very interesting experience. I use that word because it has given me the opportunity to observe and see the wide variety of ways people choose to connect with one another. Some of my favorite experiences have been the moments when people were welcoming and inviting. Thankfully, I had a lot of positive experiences this summer.
What professional and/or personal ventures have you undertaken in the last year? Any highlights? Challenges? Things to celebrate?
Last year, I started a Master of Public Affairs program while working a few jobs. It was important to me to apply what I learned in the classroom to the real world. I would be lying if I said it was not a challenge juggling those responsibilities, but it was well worth it. This summer, I participated in the Global Leadership Program by interning for an organization in Guatemala and learning Spanish. It was such a fulfilling experience to deepen my understanding of the culture and help the organization fulfill its mission.
What are your plans for the upcoming year (or beyond)?
This year, I am participating in the D.C. Accelerator program. I will be living, working, and finishing my last year of graduate school in Washington, D.C., as I take the next step toward my career goals.
How has working for OCE impacted your personal or professional experiences? What are some of your favorite parts?
Working for OCE as a research assistant and team lead improved my confidence in leading, training, and motivating coworkers in a professional setting. The professional communication skills I acquired from interacting with organizations are incredibly transferable to my future career. I also enjoyed consistently observing organizations because it was rewarding to become a familiar face to leaders and participants over time. Even though I could not interact much, it was a pleasure to see them at the same time each week.
What professional and/or personal ventures have you undertaken in the last year? Any highlights? Challenges? Things to celebrate?
I was accepted into the Stimson Center Foreign Policy Futures program. This year-long program provides mentorship, research development, and networking opportunities to students with experts in the foreign policy sector. It has exposed me to different aspects of foreign policy while providing experience in policy writing, analysis, and research.
What are your plans for the upcoming year (or beyond)?
Apart from my academic pursuits, I will continue my involvement with the Foreign Policy Futures program, hone my policy skills, and network with others. I also plan to work on research and publications while improving my technical skills.
How has working for OCE impacted your personal or professional experiences? What are some of your favorite parts?
OCE has exposed me to the dynamics of civil society, allowing me to better understand the impact of a vibrant civic society in building an inclusive and equitable society. It has helped bridge the gap between what I learn in school and what I see in real life.
What professional and/or personal ventures have you undertaken in the last year? Any highlights? Challenges? Things to celebrate?
After four years as an O’Neill doctoral student, I successfully defended my dissertation, “Navigating Differences to Equip Individual and Organizational Outcomes in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors,” in July. I am incredibly grateful for the guidance and mentorship from Professors Baggetta and Fulton, as well as the opportunity to work with the OCE Lab and Project for nearly three years. In August, I joined the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government as an Assistant Professor of Public Administration and Government. My research and teaching focus on leadership and management.
What are your plans for the upcoming year (or beyond)?
As my research projects progress, I expect to place a strong emphasis on writing, collaborating with co-authors, and attending several public administration conferences to share project details and findings, including ongoing work with the OCE Project. At the School of Government, I will begin serving as lead faculty for the Human Resource in the Public Sector course and plan to redesign the course layout, including collaboration with the nonprofit sector and voluntary associations.
How has working for OCE impacted your personal or professional experiences? What are some of your favorite parts?
I have long been a member of civil society organizations in Bloomington, and despite spending a great deal of time volunteering with those organizations, that part of my personal life did not translate to my academic research until I joined the OCE team. One of my greatest takeaways was being able to involve groups I care deeply about in the work OCE does—with research assistants attending meetings and collecting data over several years—and then sharing findings with organizations that are near and dear to my heart. I am excited to see OCE’s partnership with Bloomington civil society organizations continue, and to see this research keep growing.
