Public Administration Alumni Association Fall 2011 Newsletter

Bringing alumni together for social networking, knowledge sharing, and professional development

Issue 2, Fall 2011

Message to alumni: The Public Administration Alumni Association became active in fall of 2010, making this our first anniversary. We have grown out of a small handful of graduating students and the Public Administration Student Association (PASA) in alumni Portland to a vast network that spans the globe. We now have a listserv with over 100 members, a LinkedIn group with nearly 170 connections, a newly created Facebook group that is adding friends daily, and, of course, this newsletter published quarterly.

While this growth is impressive, we look forward to further expansion over this next year and beyond. We are currently in the process of organizing monthly get-togethers to bring alumni together for informal networking, to connect with old friends, and form bonds among alumni that may not have gone through the program together, but share the common experiences associated with a public administration and public health education.

As we continue to grow as a group, the Alumni Association will need input and participation from all members. Future endeavors include alumni events outside the Portland-Metro region, increased engagement with the Hatfield School of Government, and an exploration of topics relevant to all degree tracts. To do this, we need your participation. Attend events, participate in online discussions, or maybe contribute to the newsletter. We can advertise your events, your organization’s job postings, and discuss issues relevant to our fields. I look forward to growing this organization with you all!

ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER

This newsletter is published quarterly according to PSU’s academic calendar. The topics and authors will vary, but will always be relevant to the study and practice of public administration, public health, and nonprofit management. Drawing from all degree tracts, we aim to bringing you relevant content to aid in your continuing professional development, and are always seeking input on the newsletter as well as article contributions. For more information, see page 6.

In this Issue

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Alumni Spotlight: Amber Fowler, MPA, Founder/CEO Dress For Success Inland Northwest

Public Administration in Practice: Building skills in

finance and technology

Professional networking opportunities throughout the Portland-Metro region

How to Get Involved in the

Alumni Association

Division of Public Administration

Alumni Association Portland State University

Mark O. Hatfield School of Government

Alumni Association Newsletter Issue 2, Fall 2011

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Alumni Spotlight: Amber Fowler

Since 2008, I have enjoyed

serving as the Founder /CEO to Dress for Success Inland Northwest. We are one of nearly 120 global sister affiliates to Dress for Success Worldwide. We help low income and economically disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women ages 18+ thrive in work and life.

Before that, I enjoyed a career that has focused on branding, marketing strategy and corporate and crisis communications for organizations like Nike and the Trail Blazers. While I was pursuing my master’s degree full-time in public administration at PSU, I was also working full-time as the Fund Administrator to the Spirit Mountain Community Fund. I give deep credit {and sincere thanks} to PSU Professor Theresa Rapida who was integral to helping me understand the Native American culture.

How My Education Contributed to My Career Path

While at PSU, I was routinely inspired by my fellow students and the faculty. Even as a non-

From PSU to founding and serving as CEO for a successful northwest nonprofit

traditional student with a lot of life experience under my belt, I was always amazed at the enthusiasm, tenacity, and fortitude of my fellow classmates to learn and broaden their worldview.

My professors, thank goodness, were always engaged in the learning material, willing to have students challenge the course work, and share their experiences. I loved being a student at PSU.

This past June I was able to attend the Mark O. School of Government Student Awards & Graduation Celebration. At this event, I was able to reconnect with some of my most favorite professors including Drs. Erna Gelles, Sherril Gelmon, and Ron Cease. In fact, I give significant credit to Dr. Cease for increasing my interest in public service. Dr. Cease and his active career with the Oregon State Legislature, and his ability to share those experiences with myself and other students is an example of why I loved MY PSU experience – it was the interweaving of real life experiences with academia. {Did I mention how much I loved being a student at PSU? ☺}

Advice For Those That Would Like To Do Something Similar

As I mentioned earlier, being a non-traditional student – I was 36 when I graduated – my experiences at PSU challenged me to reinvent my own life and future. Armed with my degree and PSU instructor Kay Sohl’s The Oregon Nonprofit Handbook, I was able to use this as the foundation for launching Dress for Success Inland Northwest. This included writing the business plan, file for IRS tax-exempt status, and generally create a thriving nonprofit organization that serves 600 women annually.

In closing, patience and tenacity while helpful for anyone aspiring to launch or serve as a nonprofit leader, I strongly encourage fellow PSU alumni to support the University and its next generation of graduates. How? You can become an ambassador, a student mentor, a Facebook follower – yes, you read that right! and of course a financial donor. Having started a modest scholarship at PSU to help low-income students pursuing their education in Public Administration, I want to help other PSU students transform their lives. PSU was THE game changer in my life and I attribute many great things to my student experience at Portland State. Eleven years later and still proud to be a Viking!


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“Why didn’t you get an

MBA?” In popular culture, when we think about professionals with deep technical skills in finance or technology, we often think about an MBA. This is a reasonable question for many who serve the public in technical/professional roles such as financial or technology management. We can smile politely and explain that we chose an MPA because we love the public sector. We want our career to be a commitment to our community. We want to participate in public life. Careers built on finance and technology can be stable, can pay well, and can be an excellent way to serve the public. This article explores career opportunities in finance and technology for MPA graduates.

A Wide Range of Options

As a student in the Portland State MPA program (2005-2008), it was obvious to me that for my fellow graduates, a very wide range of career options would be available. In fact, MPA graduates range from those respected in government (David Petraeus, Director of the CIA) to those in controversial pop culture infotainment (Bill O'Reilly, Fox News TV Host).

For MPA students in the process of narrowing their career path, options worth considering include serving the public sector in finance and technology. These careers offer many benefits. The US Department

of Labor reports that 40% of the top 20 occupations with the most job openings in the country involve finance or information technology. These positions are in demand, pay well, and are among the most stable opportunities available. In addition to the obvious direct benefits, jobs in finance and technology disciplines can be challenging and exciting. Financial management and information technology are pervasive, supporting all operations of an organization. Working as an IT Manager or Finance Manager in a government agency can be an exciting career track that allows full participation in the most interesting aspects of a public organization.

There are many options for MPA graduates in these disciplines. Some of those that you may consider include:

• Management Analysis and Consulting – Analysts and consultants often are called to help public sector organizations analyze operations, improve efficiency, or develop new capabilities. Jobs with prestigious firms can be competitive, but can offer rapid career growth and an opportunity to serve large organizations with big challenges early in your career.

• Audits – Performance audits, financial audits, and information technology audits are an important tool to foster transparency in government. Auditors can build technical skills in a particular discipline,

and participate in analysis of some of the most important operations at many organizations.

• Compliance and Regulation – In a modern economy, government regulators in a variety of industries serve an important role in maintaining the quality of our lives. And demand for regulators is high. For example, the recent passage of the Dodd-Frank Act reforming bank oversight has created a significant need for consumer compliance regulators. While experience in a particular industry may be helpful, a broad understanding of government and public policy can be a great background to have.

• Financial Management – Managing the finances of an organization is much more than accounting for revenue and expenses. In fact, financial managers are frequently involved in important management and planning decisions, are responsible for internal controls and maintaining the public trust, and for budgets and borrowing. A number of entry-level jobs appropriate for MPA graduates with some technical skills are available in this discipline, making it one of the best options for students who aspire to jumpstart a career.

• Technology Project Management – Technology projects frequently fail, and can

Public Administration in Practice Alumnus Dave Dyk describes how skills in finance and

technology can benefit the careers of public administration professionals

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tortor.


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be high risk and costly endeavors. Many organizations are creating project management offices to professionalize the discipline of project management, and MPA graduates with skills in both technology and project management are in an excellent position to fill this need.

These are just some examples of the types of career options available to MPA students who can demonstrate technical competence in finance and technology. But Public Administration programs are often rooted in the social sciences, and unlike many MBA programs, may have limited offerings for finance and technology skill development.

Demonstrating Technical Competence

Current MPA students interested in pursuing a position in finance or technology should consider opportunities to gain those skills through elective courses and internship opportunities. Because finance and technology are some of the most in-demand skill sets, many organizations are willing to allow students opportunities to learn technical skills while on the job during an internship period.

During school and throughout a career, another important way to learn and demonstrate technical competence complementary to an MPA is through professional certifications. The most widely known professional certifications associated with a discipline and licensure, like the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation, are widely respected and can be obtained by MPA graduates with additional coursework and professional experience. However,

other professional certifications may be of interest to MPA graduates interested in building their technical skills as well. Some to consider are:

• Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) – Offered by the Association of Government Accountants (AGA), the CGFM credential focuses on financial management at federal, state and local levels, but is particularly popular with employees and consultants who serve the federal government. The requirements for the CGFM include a level of experience, as well as successful completion of three exams covering the government environment, government accounting, reporting, and budgeting, and financial management and control.

• Certified Government Audit Professional (CGAP) – The CGAP credential is offered by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), and focuses on the skills used by public sector internal auditors, including those who perform performance audits, information technology audits, and financial audits. The certification exam covers fund accounting, grants, legislative oversight, confidentiality rights, and similar areas.

• Certified Information Privacy Professional/Government (CIPP/G) – Information technology, finance, and compliance professionals in government frequently need to demonstrate knowledge of privacy regulations. This certification focuses on regulations that affect federal, state, and local agencies. The certification content addresses

government privacy laws, regulations and policies.

• Project Management Professional (PMP) – The professionalization of project management, especially within the discipline of information technology, has been a major trend in the past decade. The PMP certification, offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), is the credential that is most associated with this trend. The certification exam focuses on project initiation, planning, execution, and monitoring.

There are many opportunities for careers in the finance and technology disciplines serving the public. For MPA graduates, understanding what you want in a career and what opportunities are available to you may lead in that direction.

David Dyk earned his Master of Public Administration from Portland State University and is currently a Manager with the IT Audit and Consulting Division at Moss Adams LLP. He has over 8 years of experience in the areas of Management Consulting, Information Technology, Public Administration, and Internal Audit. David frequently works with organizations in the areas of governance, policies and procedures development, performance evaluation, project management, and organizational assessment. He also has a background in Information Technology, and is able to act as a subject matter expert in the areas of IT and automation best practices. Prior to consulting, David spent five years with the City of Portland.

David holds a number of current certifications, including the CISA, PMP, CISSP, and CGFM designations.

Continued


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The last issue of the newsletter

contained an article asserting that the key to success in this difficult economy is to build an expansive professional network. The purpose of that article was to describe the informational interview process. While still important, the informational interview is not the only way to build an extensive professional network. There are many opportunities throughout the Portland-Metro region to both engage in professional development and meet others in your field. These opportunities include attending professional conferences, joining a professional association, and engaging in informal networking.

Professional Conferences

For those who live in the Pacific Northwest, the region is a magnet that attracts many professional conferences in a variety of fields. While at times the registration fee can be high, these conferences afford students and alumni opportunities for extensive networking. As an added bonus, your attendances at the conference, as well as the skills or concepts learned, demonstrate your professional commitment to your field and should be added to your resume.

Professional Associations: Emerging Local Government Leaders

For those who are in or wish to enter local government, an organization worth exploring the Emerging Local Government

Leaders group, which has grown dramatically over the last year and includes many PA students, practitioners, current leaders, and those professional intertwined with local governments, such as contractors and nonprofits. Group events are typically held over the lunch hour or after work, require only the cost of the food provided (average around $15) and feature influential leaders from state and local governments. Past events include former and current city managers, the state Attorney General, and other experts in local government management. Upcoming events include tips on recruiting, an informal networking event, and the Oregon Secretary of State.

Informal Networking Opportunities

In addition to expanding your network beyond PSU, it is important to remain connected to those who share and understand your educational experience, as well as the challenges we all face now. The Alumni Association is currently organizing monthly happy hours. Keep in touch through our LinkedIn site or the new Facebook page. See page 6 for more details.

These are just a few examples of the many opportunities in the Portland-Metro region to help you expand your network. However, I have clearly missed many in the various fields alumni enter, as well as opportunities that exist outside this area. Use our social media sites to get in touch with fellow alumni in your area to find additional opportunities.

Upcoming Events:

• Conference on Government Performance Measurement and Leadership, October 1-2. This conference is hosted by the Hatfield School of Government and will feature leading scholars and practitioners discussing innovative techniques to improve government performance. For more information, see http://www.lanzhou-hatfield.pdx.edu/2011-conference.

• Oregon Program Evaluation Network annual conference entitled “Evaluation in Society”, October 7 at the Portland World Trade Center. This conference will feature a keynote address by Dr. Donna Martins on “Linking Evaluation and Social Justice.” For more information, visit http://www.oregoneval.org/program/.

• ELGL, October 12 in Oregon City. Speaker Heather Gantz will provide tips on recruiting.

• ELGL, December 8 “Holiday Happy Hour” from 5:00-7:00pm at the Lucky Lab Public House in Multnomah Village.

• ELGL, December 14 at the West Linn Public Library Community Room. This event will feature Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown.

For more information on ELGL events, visit http://elgl.org/.

Do you have an event you would like to see advertised in this newsletter? Please email [email protected].

Networking Opportunities Abound MPA Alumna and newsletter Editor Amanda Lamb

highlights several opportunities for social and professional networking

Email Amanda Lamb, MPA ‘10 Newsletter Editor [email protected]


The Alumni Association is expanding! There are now many ways to get involved, including:

• Attend alumni events: Planning for a monthly networking event is currently in the works. Watch for communication of time/location for those events! All are welcome!

• Check out our new Facebook page! Special thanks to alumna Elia Unverzagt, MPA for expanding the group’s social media presence.

• Join our group on LinkedIn or the listserv: The Alumni Association LinkedIn page allows you to connect with hundreds of alumni, remain informed of upcoming events, and receive the newsletter.

• Provide feedback: This Alumni Association is OURS. We can build it the way we want. Make sure your voice is heard.

The Alumni Association will continue to grow, and your participation is the key to our success. Thank you for your support!

Now soliciting contributions for the winter edition of the newsletter. Want to contribute to the content?

For more information, to join the listserv, or provide feedback email [email protected]

Documents

Public Administration Alumni Association Fall 2011 Newsletter