Winter 2022 IPS Newsletter
Greetings, Alumni and Friends of the Institute of Public Service
As we move into the new year, we recognize the many social, economic and environmental challenges we continue to face. We also recognize the vital role for public service to address these challenges in ways that are inclusive, effective, just, and sustainable. The Master of Public Service (MPA) and Public Affairs (PUBA) programs are excited to be a part of this learning and educational process. We share a few highlights below. We also welcome news from all of you. Please, feel free to reach out!
Tanya Hayes, Director Institute of Public Service
Faculty Spotlight: Rich Nafziger Bridges Theory with Practice
Rich Nafziger has been teaching at Seattle University since 2010, working with students to bridge theory with practice in public service. Prior to joining Seattle University, Rich worked for 35 years as an economist in public policy in positions that ranged from Chief of Staff for the Washington State Senate Democrats to policy advisor to Governors Gardner and Locke. Through courses and professional development sessions, Rich links students up with leaders in public service and helps them gain the skills needed to work toward their own professional goals. In a recent interview with Tanya Hayes, Rich talks about what brought him to the Institute of Public Service, his approach to teaching professional students, and advice for those wanting to build their career in public service.
PUBA Students Dive Deep into the Legislative Process
Public Affairs students in Dr. Zachary Wood's Urban Public Policy class had the opportunity to transform their passions directly into the public policy process, through an intense and hands-on engaged learning experience. Dr. Wood, a 2021 awardee of the ENACT Faculty Fellowship through Brandeis University, redesigned his course to create a highly engaged experience for students to examine and apply “urban” issues directly into the state legislative process. In small teams, students selected pending bills, researched the issues in-depth, connected to community organizations in the field, and met with legislators and their staff to partner alongside these real “conversations already in progress." Tracking what is an incredibly fast-paced process, students learned about policy-making and advocacy through participation, and over the ten week quarter completed Legislative Research Reports, Meeting Scripts and Notes, Op-Eds, and Social Media Campaigns. Their experience culminated in a “Present and Defend” event with teams presenting their bills in three distinct scenarios that challenged the preparation and advocacy skills students developed over the quarter. On reflection, Dr. Wood shared, “Despite a totally new format for this class, I had a great feeling beginning with our first day together. There was an excitement and tension about what we were planning to accomplish. This crew blew me away with their work. They proved to be tenacious, bold, thoughtful, and agile in the face of uncertainties. Frankly, I was stunned.” Public Affairs now plans to run this engaged course annually.
Institute of Public Service Conversations Series Sparks Debate on How to Address Homelessness in Seattle
At a October, 2021 Seattle Town Hall event co-sponsored by the Institute of Public Service, Professor Larry Hubbell and journalist and lecturer Joni Balter asked a panel of Seattle homeless experts why we have been unable to address the problem of the unhoused in Seattle and explored best steps for moving forward with solutions. Panelists Marc Dones , CEO of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority; Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan; Tiffani McCoy , advocacy director for Real Change News; and Jon Scholes , President and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association debated the reasons why Seattle continues to struggle with homelessness and its causes, and proposed and discussed possible solutions.
Internship Equals Opportunity for Sector Shifter
After working 20 years at a law firm as an Information Technology manager, Alice Thorell was ready for a change. Fighting burnout, she started working with a career coach. She knew she wanted to work in public service, and decided pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Seattle University was the perfect next step.
While the MPA classes provided Alice with an opportunity to expand her skillset, she needed practical experience in the public sector. She started looking for internship opportunities to help diversify her resume and gain real world knowledge in government. Alice accepted an internship position with Seattle City Light, working with the Solutions Design Management Team, part of the Customer Energy Solutions Department.
Alice’s team designs and manages programs that help residential and commercial customers implement energy efficiency solutions in their homes and buildings. Alice’s responsibilities include research, writing program documentation, and implementing business process improvements.
Alice enjoys focusing on stakeholder and community engagement work. She's excited to see how government can positively influence environmental policy. She notes, "Since buildings are huge emitters of greenhouse gases, helping owners think through small changes they can make can have big impacts." Alice is more motivated than ever to find ways to get communities involved in the decisions that impact them. The Seattle City Light internship has been a foundational part of her MPA education. It has allowed Alice to increase her skills and make a positive difference.
If you are interested in gaining more practical experience or expanding your skill set through an internship, contact Dr. Noreen Elbert at elbertn@seattleu.edu for more information.
Seattle U Gives 2022
Seattle U Gives 2022 happens on Thursday, February 24th, midnight to midnight! Join us to make a difference for the Redhawk causes you care about most. On this special day, our entire community will come together at the grassroots level to positively impact students, scholarships, programs and our mission to create a more just and humane world.
Consider making a one-time or ongoing gift to the Institute of Public Service, home of the Master of Public of Administration and Bachelor of Public Affairs programs. Your gift will support student scholarships, as well as professional development opportunities for all IPS stakeholders.
Are you interested in further supporting IPS? There are several ways to get involved:
- Post job opportunities to our MPA and BPA LinkedIn groups
- Post internship opportunities to our undergraduate Public Affairs LinkedIn group
- Contact us about creating a Named Endowed Scholarship Fund or Named Annual Scholarship for IPS students scholarship or endowed chair in your name