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Raised with the Jesuit notion of service to mankind, I have
always been interested in society's injustices and problems.
During my undergraduate studies, I was drawn to the political
science courses, but I never understood how I could apply
the knowledge I gained in them to a career. Only years later
did I recognize the potential of a career in public policy.
I first discovered an interest in the human services arena
through my work at the Crisis Clinic. Originally hired as
the publications coordinator for Where to Turn, King County's
comprehensive directory of social services, I soon became
a member of the management team. As a manager I helped determine
general and budget policy for the agency as a whole. While
I enjoyed the detail-oriented work required, I remained especially
intrigued by the big-picture issues surrounding the agency's
management.
At the end of my tenure, the agency's interim executive director
advised me to apply to a graduate program in non-profit management.
While I learned a great deal from my work at Crisis Clinic,
I was not sure that I wanted to make a career out of non-profit
management. My pragmatic side argued that the for-profit sector
would be more lucrative, and I accepted a position in the
software industry as an activities coordinator. Though my
duties were suited to my detail-oriented skills, however,
the company's mission did not appeal to me, and I quickly
lost interest. My true passion, I quickly realized, lay in
the human services sector.
I returned to the not-for-profit world as a grant inquiry
coordinator for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. After
a year, I transferred to my current role in the Pacific Northwest
Giving Program as a grants administrator, reviewing reports,
creating grant agreements, coordinating grant payments and
performing due diligence. On a more limited basis, I make
site visits to potential grantees, review applications and
participate in the grant approval process. In addition to
my work with the foundation, I read and rate funding applications
from human service providers for the United Way of King County;
in January, I will work with a diverse group of volunteers
to make funding recommendations to the Board of Directors.
Through my experiences in these various positions, I augmented
my knowledge of emerging social issues, barriers, and gaps
in service, and I gained experience in evaluating a program's
effectiveness in addressing these issues. Furthermore, my
career to date has accorded me an invaluable look into the
role of public and private funding sources in creating public
policy and providing human services. My exposure to nonprofit
management at Crisis Clinic, my program-related duties at
the Foundation and the United Way, my core values and interest
in larger social issues, and my detail-oriented problem-solving
skills all point me towards a career in public policy.
An Evans School of Public Affairs master's degree will provide
me with the set of core analytical and technical skills necessary
to evaluate an institution and its procedures. I expect to
gain a better sense of how policy is made, and to concentrate
on a specific policy field through one of the Evans School's
Policy Gateways. The leadership development and supplementary
training in budgeting, accounting, principles of management,
and survey methods will help me conceive and implement future
solutions.
As a student, I will bring a wealth of real-world experience
from my work in both a direct service organization and a private
funding institution. I also carry an understanding of the
social service community in the Puget Sound area, and of how
various organizations work together to form a continuum of
care.
Society's complex problems stem from many sources: economic
changes, the environment, social welfare, population, technology,
and family structure to name a few. Through my work as a graduate
student, I hope to gain the skills necessary to address these
multi-dimensional problems directly and effectively. Whether
my future lies in the public, non-profit, or private sector,
I look forward to completing a degree in public policy that
will ultimately allow me to contribute to any future institution.
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