UVM’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program provides a hands-on learning experience for emerging leaders in today’s changing public sector. It does this by focusing on community engagement for positive social and political change.   

“So many young people are motivated and passionate about doing good for the world,” explained Dr. Christina Barsky, director of the MPA Program. It stands out for its focus on implementation and delivery as opposed to just theoretical ideas, she said.  

The program’s curriculum is flexible to accommodate students in all stages of life and provides a safe space for learners to engage with faculty and the wider community with its transdisciplinary approach and emphasis on collaboration.  

Public administration, any form of public service for the community, is especially evident in the nonprofit and health sector, local, state and federal governments, and public sector in general.  

Three MPA students demonstrate how they are using their studies to make real change in their local communities and beyond. From Starksboro Town Administrator Amanda Vincent and Public Research Fellow Miranda Degreenia to fire marshal & UVM Deputy Emergency Manager Barry Simays, the utility of an MPA degree transcends government and nonprofit work.  

“The MPA program is like an MBA for the nonprofit sector,” explained MPA student Amanda Vincent. Currently working as the Town Administrator for Starksboro, Vermont, Vincent wears many hats for her job, including writing grant proposals, running audits, and attending town meetings.  

Vincent has been working in public administration for the past two years and is pursuing an MPA degree to explore more possibilities in the nonprofit and government sector.  

“Working in the town office was a great place to start working for the government,” Vincent shared. Serving as Starksboro’s Town Administrator allows her to advocate for people in the small community.  

Expectations of the roles and responsibilities of Town Administrators have increased over the past decade or so, especially in the area of funding for public projects. Small towns, particularly in Vermont, are demanding more fiscal resources than local governments have to give. Vincent is learning how to navigate these new challenges by applying skills acquired in two of her MPA courses Public and Nonprofit Budgeting and Building Resilient Communities.  

She appreciates the “direct relevance and applicability to [her] line of work” the program provides, as she is able to use the information she’s learned when developing the annual town budget for Starksboro, VT.  

Current undergraduate student Miranda Degreenia is taking a different approach to earning her degree through the Accelerated MPA program. With only one additional year needed after completing their undergraduate degree, students on the accelerated track save both time and money.  

Degreenia works with the UVM Center for Rural Studies, where she directly applies the concepts she learns in the classroom. She the MPA program as having “an enriching classroom environment with a diverse cohort of people with different backgrounds.”  

In 2023, Degreenia served as a Simon Family Public Research Fellow where she conducted field work, analyzed data, and made slideshows displaying her findings while helping rural Vermont communities recover from recent flooding.  

Through the Accelerated MPA program, she expanded her knowledge in housing policy, municipal development, and how to better serve rural communities by establishing stronger infrastructure.  

When it comes to serving the public, Degreenia said “It’s less about sticking to the status quo and more so about adapting to current needs.” Despite the challenges and uncertainty facing many public administrators today, Degreenia expressed that being a student in the MPA program has given her “a lot of hope just being around people who actually still care.” 

MPA student Barry Simays has worked in the public sector for over 25 years. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts where he was a fire fighter and student employee in fire safety, Simays moved home to Vermont and began working for the Burlington Fire Department.  

Pursuing a master’s degree was a life-long goal. “I’m glad I didn’t attempt this program coming right out of an undergraduate degree because the life and career opportunities I gained have greatly enriched my MPA experience,” he explained. Simays brings unique skills and perspective to the classroom and his fellow students.  

“Listening is critical to understanding what is happening in the world,” explained Simays. Through the MPA program, Simays wants to connect his past experiences with theories in the field for his work in public safety and as the Fire Marshal and Deputy Emergency Manager at UVM. He implements MPA skills such as conflict resolution and emergency response management into his everyday responsibilities on campus.  

Whether it be creating more effective and efficient emergency response plans for a university, educating rural communities about flood risk in their local area, or working as a local Town Administrator, MPA students are continually searching for ways to serve people better and make a lasting impact in their communities.