I can truly say that I wouldn’t be where I am today had it not been for the Master of Public Administration Program at Missouri State University. I just started my 20th year working for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), a job I got because of the great faculty in the master’s program.
I started the MPA in August 1995 after leaving a full time job as a journalist in Springfield. As a reporter, I always enjoyed covering city, county and state government agencies. I admired the commitment of public employees to serving their communities. Their drive to make sure that every tax dollar was spent wisely and for the good of the citizens.
One of my mentors and MPA advisor was the late Mary Alice Cantrell, professor of political science. She was instrumental in pushing me to continue down the path of becoming a public information officer. It was her guidance that lead me to seek out an internship with the city of Springfield. I worked with the city’s public television station, City View. Because of my internship and relationships I built at the city, I was recommended for and was hired as a public information officer with MoDOT.
My MPA degree has served me well over the last twenty years. With my education and my past experience as a journalist, I’ve been able to share MoDOT’s story. I’ve developed many public involvement and communication plans for future and current highway projects. One of the largest highway projects I’ve been directly involved with is the upgrade of the Route 60/65 interchange in southeast Springfield. The $61 million project was built at a major crossroads in Southwest Missouri and it required a great deal of prior communication to help MoDOT customers understand the need and the expected traffic impacts associated with the project.
From the large projects like the 60/65 interchange to the smaller projects to improve Missouri’s roads, I’ve used my education to help Missouri’s drivers understand why MoDOT does what it does.
The MPA is the backbone of my professional experience and has helped me fulfill my goal to be the best public servant that I can be.