MPA Newsletter
January 2019
Good News
Theodore Arapis (MPA Faculty) has accepted an invitation to join the editorial board of the journal, State and Local Government Review.
Theodore Arapis (MPA Faculty) on December 13th, 2018, MPA students enrolled in Professor Arapis’ Advanced Statistical Analysis course (MPA 8199) presented their research developed during the semester. Topics presented included fiscal savings accumulation and maintenance of Pennsylvania charter schools (Sean Brandon & Kevin Magee); the impact of Pennsylvania charter school competition on school district financial management (Elizabeth Svenson & Aaron Walizer); factors affecting fiscal transparency between developed and developing countries (Max Kroschwitz & Tolu Omodara) and between democracies and autocracies (Sydney Camisa & Ann Riddle). Presentations can be found on YouTube here.
Adam Blum (MPA '16) is now Staff Assistant for State Senator Maria Collett in the Pennsylvania State Senate.
Ron Burks (MPA '15) is now Human Capital Functional Specialist at CACI International Inc. in Bowie, MD.
Marquis Coates (MPA ’11 and Part-Time Faculty Member) invited Philadelphia’s Mayor Jim Kenney to record an interview for the online undergraduate course, PA 6000 The Vocation of Public Service. Mayor Kenney took time out of his busy schedule to sit down with Marquis at Villanova on December 12, 2018 to discuss his path to public service. To view the photo from the interview please click here.
Jean Wintz Dabney (MPA '17) is now Assistant Director for Parenting Services at the Public Heath Management Corporation in Philadelphia, PA.
Caitlin Dalik (MPA '18) is now Assistant Director of Donor Communications & Stewardship in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.
Jenna Fenstermacher (MPA 14) is now Manager, External Relations at Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ, Inc.in Wilmington, DE.
Adam Johnson (MPA '12) is now Sales Operations Executive at Eggplant in Philadelphia, PA.
Terrell Johnson (MPA '17) is now NCCN Quality & Value in Cancer Care Fellow at National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) in the Greater Philadelphia Area.
Alex Kaker (MPA '18) is now Interim Township Manager at Upper Gwynedd Township in the Greater Philadelphia Area.
Larry Krauter (Current MPA Student) was confirmed Secretary/Treasurer for the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Board of Directors. To read the full press release please click here.
Erin Kuchar (MPA '12) is now Director of Development at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) New York/New Jersey in the Greater New York Area.
Kaliff Malabo (Current MPA Student) was the Military Honoree for the Villanova Unviersity basketball game on January 8, 2019. To view photos please click here.
Hallie Martenson (MPA Nonprofit Certificate '15), Director of Development and Communications at the Pig Iron Theatre Company in Philadelphia, was featured in an article published in American Theatre. To read the full article please click here.
Andrew Maylor (MPA '15) was appointed as Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by Governor Charlie Baker.
Leonard Morrissey (MPA '08) is now Director of Global Business Development and Strategy at American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International in Conshohocken, PA.
Emily Poworoznek (Nonprofit Certificate '14) is now Senior Account Manager at AKA NYC in Princeton, NJ.
Kathleen J. Smith (Nonprofit Certificate '13) is now Federal Management Consultant at JPI in the Washington D.C. Metro Area.
Richard Thieme (MPA '15) was appointed Commissioner to the Northampton Township Historical Commission in Bucks County, PA.
Adrienne Webb (MPA '18) is now Corporate Partnerships and Annual Fund Manager at The Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, PA.
Student Spotlight: Kelsey Rode
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Wesley Proctor
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Lauren Mitlenberger
Important Dates & Procedures
Comprehensive Exam
- Exam Date: March 16, 2019
- Deadline to Apply: February 4, 2019
For all details regarding the comprehensive exam, application, and the MPA Guide to the Comps, visit our website here.
Graduation Procedures
May 2019
- Deadline to Apply: January 31st
- How to Apply
- Graduating in September? Interested in participating in the May ceremony? Submit a Permission to Participate form here for approval.
Certificates
- For those who will be completing a certificate with their degree or receiving only a certificate, please make sure that you have submitted your Certificate Intent Form and Certificate Completion Form by March 20, 2019 (please note the different Certificate Completion Forms for online and campus students). Please send all forms to michele.griffin@villanova.edu.These forms will make sure that your certificate is processed.
Commencement Weekend 2019
Thursday, May 16
- VU-Pi Alpha Alpha Chapter Induction Ceremony - 5:30 pm (for all new and current members)
Saturday, May 18
- MPA Graduation Brunch at 10:00am-12:00pm
- Graduate University Commencement Ceremony at 1:00pm
- Baccalaureate Mass at 4:30pm
Review the Graduate Checklist to ensure that you have completed all necessary steps for graduation and participating in Commencement.
Graduate Academic Calendars
Campus Graduate Academic Calendar
- Last day for authorized withdrawal without academic penalty (WX) - 4/3
- Final day of classes - 5/2
- Spring I - last day for authorized withdrawal - 2/17
- Spring I - last day of classes 3/3
- Registration for Summer 2019 begins - 2/28
- Spring II - first day of classes - 3/4
Program Initiatives
American Society for Public Administration - Student Memberships
Upcoming Events
Department Events - Spring 2019
NASPAA-Batten Student Simulation Competition - Saturday, February 23
Villanova University was chosen as one of the global sites to host to the NASPAA-Batten Student Simulation Competition. The theme of this year’s competition is global migration and students will be coming from regional graduate programs to participate in the event. Please join us for the final presentations, judge deliberations, and awards on Saturday, February 23 from 4:30-7:30 p.m as well as for a reception afterwards at Dundale Mansion! To attend the final presentations and reception, please email publicadmin@villanova.edu
VU-Pi Alpha Alpha Webinar - March 2019
Join the PAA Chapter for their Spring 2019 Professional Development webinar featuring alumnus, Col. Ken DeTreux, MPA '18. Additional information and registration details will be available soon!
MPA Regional Meetup in Washington, D.C. - Thursday, March 7, 2019
Calling all students and alumni in the DMV area: Join us on Thursday, March 7, 2019 from 5-7:00pm for a DC Regional Meetup and Happy Hour. Faculty and staff will be in the area for the upcoming ASPA Conference and look forward to connecting with many of our community members in the area. Additional details regarding location and registration details will be available soon.
VU-Pi Alpha Alpha Spring Colloquium featuring Judge Kerr - Thursday, April 4, 2019
Join the PAA Chapter for their Spring event on Thursday, April 4 at 5:30pm, as we welcome Judge Kerr to campus and listen to her story and call to public service. Additional details and registration will be available soon.
ICMA Chapter Event and Wolek Speaker Series - Thursday, April 11, 2019
Save the date for the ICMA Chapter spring event and kickoff to the Wolek Speaker Series on Thursday, April 11, 2019 at 7:00pm.
19th Annual MPA Dinner - Saturday, April 27, 2019
See our Save the Date below! Our featured speaker will be announced soon!
MPA Alumni Panel w/ MPA 8041 Human Capital Management - Monday, April 29, 2019
Save the date to join in an upcoming alumni panel in Dr. Miltenberger's MPA 8041 Human Capital Management course this Spring. Students and alumni will be able to join in virtually to this event. Additional details will be available soon.
Additional events, registration details, as well as recordings of previous Department events can be found here.
Op-Ed Writing 101: A Workshop with Jonathan Zimmerman
Date: January 31, 2019
Time: 11:30am - 1:00pm
Location: St. Augustine Center Room 300, Villanova University.
Additional Information: The Lepage Center welcomes Jonathan Zimmerman, historian, author and writer of hundreds of opinion pieces and popular articles, for a workshop on how academics can use op-eds to communicate scholarly research. Zimmerman is Professor of History of Education at the University of Pennsylvania and a frequent contributor to the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New York Review of Books, and other popular newspapers and magazines. He is a member of the Lepage Center Advisory Council. Open to Villanova faculty, staff, and graduate students. RSVP to lepage@villanova.edu.
Breaking the Cycle: Taking Control of Your Financial Life
The Kickoff of the McNulty Institute Transitions Series
Date:January 31, 2019
Time: 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: Villanova Room, Connelly Center Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085
Please click here for more information.
Villanova Women's Professional Network (VWPN) - Spring 2019 Events
VU Charles Widger School of Law - PIFP Auction
The auction supports current students who work in unpaid legal aid and public interest positions over the summer (such as domestic violence advocacy, public defense, and immigration law).
There is still time to donate! Read more details here. Also, please find the Auction Donation Form located here. Donations due by February 8, 2019.
Penn State Grant Writing Class
Date: February 25-27, 2019
Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Location: Newtown Township Police Department, 209 Bishop Hollow Road, Newtown Square, PA 19073
Additional Information: Co-sponsor: Newtown Township Police Department.
The Grant Writing class is a hands-on program that will help participants gain the information and skill sets necessary to find, apply for, win, and manage grants and foundation awards. You will have an opportunity to develop and present a grant application with instructor feedback.
Key concepts and topics include:
· Definition of a "grant"
· Types of grants and funding sources
· Goal of your grant proposal
· Resolving problems
· Performance measures and objectives
· Project narrative
· Detailed project budget
· Project evaluation
· Grant writing- final exercise
Cost: $450/person
Registration: Enroll online at JASI.PSU.EDU
Questions? Contact us at 814-863-0079.
Villanova University and Regional Clubs - Event Calendar
The event calendar includes service events, game-watches and much more. These are great opportunities to engage with the great Villanova Community!
Additional Events - Greater Philadelphia and Beyond
Veterans Career Conference
Date: March 27, 2019
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Villanova University
Additional Information: This conference will focus on career readiness, social media presence, networking and opportunities for Veterans in the Philadelphia Region.
Additional Resources and Opportunities
Want to Help an Aspiring Villanova Undergraduate Student interested in Public Service? Say Yes to Being a Mentor! One of the major strengths of our Villanova MPA is the community connections we have with you - our outstanding alumni and current students. We would love to share this strength with aspiring undergraduate students enrolled in our Public Service & Administration minor. The new mentoring program will connect undergraduate students who want to learn more about public service as a profession with our network of Villanova MPA public service leaders. Interested in helping out? Please email Professor Lauren Miltenberger at lauren.miltenberger@villanova.edu to learn more about the new mentoring program.
New course offering - “Understanding Grammar.” The course begins on January 30th and runs through April 10th on Wednesday evenings. It meets from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, and costs $450. The goals of the ESL courses in CPS are to increase English language fluency and individual confidence in listening, speaking and writing. The spring course is focused on understanding and using English grammar in a more advanced setting. We will offer additional courses again in Summer and Fall. Students who are interested in signing up for this course can register and pay for the course here.
Summer Language Workshops - The Office of Graduate Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences sponsors intensive language training during the summer to assist students in preparing for reading proficiency examinations. Typically, 1-2 workshops will be offered annually (French, German, Biblical Hebrew, or Koine Greek) on a rotating basis.
No previous language background is assumed. Please click here for more information.
The Center for Speaking and Presentation: Tutors and Appointments Available! Do any of your classes require a presentation? Looking for more resources as you create your presentations? The Center for Speaking and Presentation is here to help! The Center provides highly-trained tutors to assist students or groups with slide design, content organization, speaking anxiety and control of pesky vocal interruptions such as “like” and “um.” Book an appointment with their easy online scheduling system.
Join the Nova Network - Villanova's Social and Professional Networking Platform
The Nova Network is Villanova's official, new social and professional networking platform!
Click here to join the Nova Network to find Villanovans in your industry and local area, discuss career-related topics and access resources for your professional development.
It takes just a few minutes to sign up and you can even use your LinkedIn profile to assist. Learn all about the Nova Network here. Questions? Contact the Alumni Association alumni@villanova.edu.
Helpful Links
Villanova Career Center| The NonProfit Times |Insider’s Guide to Philadelphia Campaign US Jobs | Alumni Association Professional Development
Stay connected with classmates, professors and network with other MPA professionals.
Share your news with us and update your contact information - Email publicadmin@villanova.edu
The Department of Public Administration
Follow us on social media @VillanovaMPA and join our group on LinkedIn.
Email: publicadmin@villanova.edu
Website: mpa.villanova.edu
Location: 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA | St. Augustine Center 486
Phone: 610-519-3934
Facebook: facebook.com/VillanovaMPA
Twitter: @VillanovaMPA