
Degree: MPA, 2010
Location: St. Paul, MN
Why did you choose the Humphrey School?
I lived in California for 10 years and could have gone to grad
school there, but I'd wanted to come to the University of Minnesota and
study at the Humphrey School for years. I valued doing my undergraduate work at
a Big 10 school (Michigan) and was determined to find the best public
affairs program in the Big 10 for graduate school. I think I succeeded
in choosing the Humphrey School, especially since I was most interested in
nonprofit administration and the school is well known for its high
caliber of research in this field.
Why is the Humphrey School unique?
At the Humphrey School, I was encouraged to pour my attention into what
interested me most. Professors work with you to achieve in
the areas of study that work best for you. And, given that the MPA is a
mid-career program, there's a great variety of experiences in
the classroom. Add to that Humphrey's emphasis on recruiting
international students and you wind up with courses that include a very broad set of
backgrounds, experiences, and insights.
How did the Humphrey School help with your career choice?
I was fortunate to land my dream job in conservation right after
finishing my MPA, so there wasn't much of a lag time between the two.
But I do know that having an MPA greatly expanded my potential choices
here in Minnesota. The Humphrey School is well known in this state and held in
very high regard by employers.
What is your job?
As a project manager at the Minnesota Land Trust, I am responsible
for implementing conservation projects that lead to the protection of
sensitive shoreline habitats in the heart of Minnesota’s premier lake
country of Aitkin, Cass, and Crow Wing counties. I work closely
with other Minnesota Land Trust staff, landowners, and project partners, including the
Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation, to advance conservation in this
part of the state. I also am the chair of the advisory board of directors for the Twin Cities Agricultural Land Trust, a new nonprofit dedicated to preserving land for urban food production.
March 15, 2012