During the COVID-19 pandemic, Alex Jermeland was thrust into a new role: planning director for Dakota County’s COVID-19 Continuity of Operations Plan team.
“This was not a role I expected,” Jermeland, a 2014 Master of Public Administration alum, said. “Due to training I received at Missouri State, I was ready to step into it.”
He records internal actions and tracks current projects affected by the pandemic.
It’s in addition to his role as a management analyst in the office of performance and analysis with Dakota County, Minnesota.
Prepared for anything
“I have a lot of variety in my daily work,” he said, ticking off tasks like information gathering, reviewing requests, conducting long-term research or improving processes at the county level.
He credits the spectrum of specialty courses in the MPA program for his ability to step into these critical roles.
But he appreciated the out-of-class experiences even more.
“From the study away trip in Europe to class experiences that simulated emergency events, MSU offered incredible opportunities,” he said. “My favorite part was getting to know peers and professors in a way that built a network and also good friendships.”
Those connections extend over the public and private sector at every level.
“It’s a large field with a variety of career opportunities,” he said.