School of Government alumni panel focuses on value of M.A. in Public Policy
March 10, 2020 : By Natalie Dyess - Liberty University News Service
The Helms School of Government hosted a special panel of alumni on Monday morning and presented information on educational and career opportunities through Liberty’s Master of Arts in Public Policy (MAPP) program.
The panel discussed the benefits and opportunities of the School of Government’s Masters of Arts in Public Policy (MAPP) program.
The panel was moderated by the program’s director, Dr. Kahlib Fischer, and included MAPP graduates Shayne Sanders (’17,’19), a Country Officer in the U.S. Department of State; Aaron Van Allen (’15), employee of Congressman Ben Cline, David Vander Pluym (’16,’18), a Project Manager at WPA Intelligence; and Jayson Warren (’12,’16), an Air Force DAG Chief.
Government professor Dr. Mary Prentice and current MAPP student Shaddi Spencer also participated in the discussion.
The presentation opened with a video from School of Government Dean Robert Hurt, who talked about the importance of public policy and its foundation in self-government by its citizens.
“While every citizen has a duty to participate in self-government through our elections, there are those citizens who dedicate their education and careers to helping forge the best public policy at every level of government,” Hurt said.
Spencer pointed out the uniqueness and depth that the MAPP program offers students.
“The program is very unique because it deals with issues and focuses on getting in depth with the (policy) issue you are interested in,” Spencer said. “You really get to dive deep into your (policy) issues and the root causes of them.”
Spencer talked about the program’s dynamics, with 80 percent of the students being foreign nationals, and how it brings different worldviews together to discuss public policy issues from an American perspective. These differing views, combined with the skills obtained in the program, such as personal communication, research, and dealing with people with different views, make the MAPP program fascinating.
Current MAPP student Shaddi Spencer (right) shares about his experience and knowledge gained in the classroom.
Van Allen spoke about the real-world experience he gained as a student.
“The program offered a lot of real-world applicability that ‘This is what the theory side is saying but let us show you how it actually happens in the real world of professional politics,’” Van Allen said.
One idea that each of the panelists hit on was the need for students to develop excellent writing skills. These writing skills are critical not only at the university level but moving forward from applying to jobs to writing on job-specific assignments. The writing, research, and critical-thinking skills they obtained in the program led to their current jobs and their successes in their careers.
Fischer also mentioned new opportunities in the School of Government. The school is exploring an MAPP-MBA dual degree and is developing a “Journal of Statesmanship and Public Policy,” a new publication that will give students the opportunity to exercise their research and writing skills and be published before they enter the workforce.
In closing, the panelists encouraged students to get out of their comfort zones, gain experience through interning and volunteering, and keep God first.
