Gwendolyn Voelpel
- Pi Alpha Alpha
- MPA (2007)
- Assistant City Manager, City of SeaTac
Additional Information
Alumni Update
For anyone thinking of applying to the UNO MPA program, all I can say is: What are you waiting for?!I had such a great experience in my program. I earned my MPA online while working full time as Assistant to the City Manager in Tacoma, Washington, and raising two daughters. It was perfect. I took one class at a time every quarter (including the summer) and wrung every little bit of knowledge I could out of my courses.
I found the professors very responsive. I earned my undergraduate degree in a bricks-and-mortar setting and I have to say the distance learning professors in the UNO MPA program were just as, if not more, accessible as my undergraduate faculty. I also really enjoyed the diversity of the people in my cohort. We had people from all over the United States as well as Nebraskans, young people aspiring to their first fantastic careers in public service as well as some of us with a bit of experience on the ground and interests as varied as the courses we took. The interaction was key to my experience and my ability to transfer my coursework into my career.
Since leaving Tacoma, I have served as a city administrator, parks and recreation director and now in my current for three years. I can say with certainty that my UNO MPA coursework is still very relevant, whether it's deciding the best way to analyze policy options and present to the City Council or being able to read financial statements.
So, what's not to love?! If you like challenging, relevant classes with smart, accessible professors and diverse, interesting classmates the UNO MPA program will feel just right. Like it did for me!
Additional Information
Alumni Update
For anyone thinking of applying to the UNO MPA program, all I can say is: What are you waiting for?!I had such a great experience in my program. I earned my MPA online while working full time as Assistant to the City Manager in Tacoma, Washington, and raising two daughters. It was perfect. I took one class at a time every quarter (including the summer) and wrung every little bit of knowledge I could out of my courses.
I found the professors very responsive. I earned my undergraduate degree in a bricks-and-mortar setting and I have to say the distance learning professors in the UNO MPA program were just as, if not more, accessible as my undergraduate faculty. I also really enjoyed the diversity of the people in my cohort. We had people from all over the United States as well as Nebraskans, young people aspiring to their first fantastic careers in public service as well as some of us with a bit of experience on the ground and interests as varied as the courses we took. The interaction was key to my experience and my ability to transfer my coursework into my career.
Since leaving Tacoma, I have served as a city administrator, parks and recreation director and now in my current for three years. I can say with certainty that my UNO MPA coursework is still very relevant, whether it's deciding the best way to analyze policy options and present to the City Council or being able to read financial statements.
So, what's not to love?! If you like challenging, relevant classes with smart, accessible professors and diverse, interesting classmates the UNO MPA program will feel just right. Like it did for me!