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What attracted you to the University of Delaware? to IPA? |
| A. |
I decided to enroll in the MPA program at UD because of its commitment to the integration of academic and professional work. I chose to work with IPA because their work correlates with my interest in state and local government administration. |
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What has your experience been like as a UD grad student working at IPA? |
| A. |
I have an interest in environmental policy, especially its development and implementation at local levels. My assistantship with the Water Resources Agency is an eclectic and exciting assortment of projects; the work involves activities as diverse as educational outreach with middle-school children, computer applications of GIS technology, and collection of field samples by kayak. I have researched and written a number of reports on droughts, floods, impervious cover, and source-water protection that others have used in the [development] of public policy and I have used in my academic work. |
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What opportunities have been available to you as a result of your association with IPA? |
| A. |
IPA has provided me an opportunity to attend conferences and present papers with a number of organizations such as the American Society for Public Administration, the American Water Resources Association, and the American Planning Association. Participation in these meetings has enabled me to establish academic and professional contacts and obtain information that furthers my research opportunities. IPA also helped me acquire a summer internship with the Town of Smyrna, Delaware, where I updated their comprehensive plan and zoning codes. |
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What immediate and future career plans do you have? |
| A. |
[After I get my Ph.D. at Delaware], I hope to continue working in environmental policy with a state or local government or an academic research institution. I also hope to someday teach at the university level. |
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Why would you recommend IPA to prospective students? |
| A. |
In addition to the supportive network of faculty, staff, and students, I would recommend IPA because it provides its research assistants with challenging and meaningful work and the opportunity to obtain genuine experience in the field of public administration. |
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What advice would you give to a student who is considering joining the MPA program/IPA? |
| A. |
IPA has a great number of resources; I would advise prospective students to be assertive in speaking with faculty members and research advisers about creating unique opportunities for research and independent study based on their personal interests. |
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