Where are They Now?

Amy Barrett (MA ’90)

I had a public affairs major, with concentrations in social policy and public/nonprofit management.

For the past three years, I have been self-employed as a free-lance writer and public relations consultant, working primarily with education-related clients, including the University of Minnesota, Saint Paul Public Schools, and the State of Minnesota. I got a full-time job as a public information officer for the City of Minneapolis after my first year at the Humphrey School, and I finished my degree by attending classes on a part-time basis.

After six years at the City of Minneapolis—-where I coordinated media relations, edited publications, and wrote speeches for mayor and city council members—I moved on to the Minneapolis Public Schools, where I managed media relations and served as spokeswoman. From 1999 to 2004, I worked in communications for the Saint Paul Public Schools, promoting literacy and coordinating the citywide Saint Paul Reads campaign.

John and I had two kids and a house when I left my full-time job as an editor at MPLS.ST.PAUL magazine to pursue my graduate degree at the Humphrey School. After a year of grad school, finances were tight, and it was tempting to put the degree on hold. But my adviser encouraged me to hang in there and apply for the Alumni Tuition Grant. It was just enough to help us make ends meet while I took the remainder of my classes, during which time I also had a third child. I am very grateful to the Humphrey School for supporting me through that time, and I have loyally given back every time current students call and ask me for a donation.

Dave Van Hattum (MA ’90)

I am employed by Transit for Livable Communities (TLC), a local nonprofit advocacy organization, as policy and advocacy program manager. My primary responsibility is to convince the Minnesota State Legislature to substantially increase funding for public transit. .I am also responsible for a number of research projects that support TLC's advocacy work.

I have worked in the transportation planning and policy field since my studies at the Humphrey School. I was fortunate to get my start in this exciting field as a research assistant with the State and Local Policy Program.

The Alumni Tuition Grant Program was instrumental in advancing my academic studies and career. Being new to Minnesota when I arrived at the Humphrey School, it was a tremendous relief and honor to receive this tuition grant.

Matt Welbes (MA ’90)

I studied energy and environmental policy and organizational management at the Humphrey School. Both of my graduate student jobs while in school prepared me for my career in transportation. One research assistantship was conducting metropolitan transportation data analysis, and the second was managing a program to promote bicycle commuting, which helped to establish bicycle advisory boards in Hennepin County, Minneapolis, and St. Paul.

Today, I am senior adviser to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) administrator in Washington, D.C. FTA supports public transportation by funding capital investments—things like Twin Cities’ Metro Transit bus purchases or construction of the Hiawatha light rail line—as well as funding transit service in rural areas, for seniors, and people with disabilities. My role in managing the administrator’s office includes providing direction and advice on FTA policy, legislation, and governmental affairs, as well as internal agency operations.

I received an Alumni Tuition Grant the first year of the program. It proved incredibly helpful, and without it I probably would have needed to work more to cover expenses while taking fewer courses each semester. Because of the Alumni Tuition Grant, I completed my degree in two years and that allowed me to accept a Presidential Management Internship, which led directly to my current work.