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IU South Bend Master of Public Affairs Program Indiana University

MPA Program to Hold Open House April 9

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Attend the IU South Bend MPA Program‘s upcoming open house on April 9 to learn more about the curriculum, career paths, and meet program faculty. Learn about our concentrations in Criminal Justice, Government Admin., Health Systems Admin., and Nonprofit Management!

Ask about getting the application fee waived and learn about IU South Bend’s Direct Admissions program for graduate studies.

Drop-in on April 9, 2023 from 4-6:30 PM
IUSB Wiekamp Hall – Room 1165
Parking available in the Wiekamp parking garage

RSVP to jms21@iu.edu (walk-ins also welcome)
Visit https://clas.iusb.edu/public-affairs/index.html or e-mail jms21@iu.edu for more information

MPA Alumni Hillak Featured on IU Emerging Alumni Series

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Christopher Hillak, MPA ’21, was recently featured as part of the IU Emerging Alumni Series. Christopher also earned his Bachelor of General Studies from IU South Bend in 2017. Christopher volunteers in many capacities with IU, and serves as member on several boards, including the IU LGBTQ+ Alumni Association Board and the IU Alumni Association South Bend Region Board. He is the co-chair of the IUAA South Bend Region Spirit, Pride, and Tradition Committee and a member of the IUAA South Bend Region Scholarship Committee. He works as the Registration Management Specialist at the University of Notre Dame.

Watch the full interview here!

MPA Alumni Profile: Charlotte Pfeifer

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Charlotte Pfeifer is a pillar of our South Bend community. Her work in public affairs and the nonprofit sector has been extensive, demonstrating the versatility of an MPA degree from IU South Bend and her commitment to public service and justice.

Across her career, Pfeifer has served in elected office, founded a nonprofit and served as its executive director, and worked as a lead administrator in higher education while also teaching classes. In all of these areas, Pfeifer says, she has applied skills and context gained from earning her MPA degree at IU South Bend.

“Getting my MPA was the most practical thing I ever did,” Pfeifer, who also holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from IU South Bend, says. “The MPA is related to everything. I established lifelong peer relationships, developed leadership skills, and negotiation skills.”

Pfeifer put these to use in founding the DuComb Center, a community-based corrections center for St. Joseph County, and serving as executive director for over 14 years. The Center has a residential component, electronic monitoring, and an out-patient based program. In other nonprofit work, Pfeifer has served as a Volunteer and Counseling Coordinator at Planned Parenthood North Central IN., where she recruited and supervised volunteers, counseled women about birth control and pregnancy options, and developed and taught educational modules.

Pfeifer was elected to represent the 2nd District of the South Bend Common Council on three consecutive occasions and served in the role for 12 years. As a member of the Council she focused on issues close to her MPA training—human rights, neighborhood development, and public safety. During this time she also organized the 2nd district into neighborhood associations and did the research, planning, and organizing that lead to the passage of the Human Rights Ordinance.

Once on the job in these leadership roles, Pfeifer utilized specific skills from the MPA curriculum to improve efficiency within organizations. For example, Pfeifer “learned how to develop, read, and initiate a budget for my institutions, departments, and the city.”

In her work at IU South Bend Pfeifer took on several roles, including  Director of Campus Diversity. She taught classes in several departments during this time, including the MPA program, supervised the Child Development Center, the Counseling Center, Housing, and retired as the Director of Judicial Affairs where I enforced the Student Code of Conduct. As Director of Campus Diversity, Pfeifer developed programs, brought in national speakers, supported student groups, developed and taught campus-wide modules on understanding diversity. At IUSB she also developed Conversations on Race, worked with the Black Man’s Think Tank, served as an organizer of Celebrations of Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, LGBTQIA+ celebrations and Disability Awareness Month while supporting the corresponding student groups.

With her scope of impact, it’s difficult to identify just one or two highlights of her work, but Pfeifer points to one aspect of her career across all these fields as the most rewarding: “standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.” She has done this in myriad ways, including passing legislation, organizing community activism, supporting distressed faculty, students, and staff on campus.

Pfeifer’s concentration in the MPA program was Criminal Justice, a concentration that will soon be available again to MPA students at IU South Bend. Whether potential students select Criminal Justice or another field in the program, Pfeifer says they should pursue an MPA if they want to be at the top of their organizations and lead in the community.

“I wanted to be in a leadership position. I wanted to be in charge,” Pfeifer says. “I wanted to be in a position to control my own destiny. I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. Students can do the same thing and more.”

More recently, Pfeifer has worked with IU South Bend School of Education Dean Dr. Hope Davis in 2021 to develop an Educational Symposium. She is also currently working with Dr. April Lidinsky, Director, Master of Liberal Studies at IU South Bend on organizing and developing the community around Reproductive Justice. Another working project focuses on local women authors at the St. Joseph County Public Library with retired IU South Bend professor, Dr. Gabrielle Robinson.

Alumni Profile: Casey Norton

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Casey Norton (Health Services Administration and Policy, ’19) efficiently sums up the benefits of an MPA degree from IU South Bend: “It puts you on another level.”

Norton, who is a Physician Liaison with Beacon Health System needs to operate on that higher level daily. She describes herself as a department of one, overseeing the onboarding process for new specialist physicians across Beacon’s offices in the Michiana region and acting as a point of contact for all physician offices across five counties.

The MPA degree, Norton says, opens doors for health care professionals like her to step into positions of leadership.

“We need leaders in health care. There are so many opportunities once you are MPA-trained,” Norton says. “I see the people in our organization that have the MPA, and they’re all in phenomenal positions.”

In her experience, the MPA degree and training have come to communicate an understanding that she is management-focused, analytical, and focused on leadership.

“I make sure those MPA initials are on my business card, and when I’m walking into physicians’ offices…they’re able to see that I have that training—I think you’re treated differently. The program equips you to become a leader in health care.”

We need leaders in health care. There are so many opportunities once you are MPA-trained. I see the people in our organization that have the MPA, and they’re all in phenomenal positions.

Norton’s accomplishments in the health care sector certainly speak to her leadership skills. When she started at Beacon over 11 years ago her work was focused on one hospital. Today, her management role means she is working with doctors and staff across 8 hospitals. While Norton handles several aspects of managing the onboarding process for new physicians at Beacon, she also truly enjoys helping them get comfortable in their new community, introducing them to the assets of the region.

Despite her career responsibilities and being a single parent, Norton sought out the on-campus experience of IU South Bend’s MPA Program. The smaller classes and networking opportunities were attractive to Norton as she considered in-person versus online programs.

“I chose the MPA program because of the classroom setting,” Norton says. “I wanted to connect with, network, and learn from people. I loved that setting of the small classrooms, getting to know people from other health institutions, nonprofit organizations—I have friends now in networks across many organizations.”

The skillset Norton developed as part of her MPA degree has also set her up for continued success in her professional life, where she applies a managerial mindset to approach multiple tasks.

“The MPA Program changed me as a person. I have a different mind than when I started out,” Norton says. “I had the mind of a nurse, and I was trained in health care and bedside nursing, and I really work for senior leadership now. And the program changed the way that I think—I understand research, I understand management, and my conversations are different. I can speak on a level I never would have previous to the MPA Program—life-changing, definitely.”

The international health care class was among Norton’s favorites when she was a student in the program. She was part of a group that traveled to Sweden to study different approaches to health care, something that helped her in thinking analytically about the health care system in the United States as well.

On that trip, and in her other health care classes, one big takeaway was the relationships she built with other MPA students. On the Sweden trip a few of the students were also part of the MPA program’s ongoing relationship with Family Health residents at Beacon’s Memorial Hospital. These are individuals Norton still works closely with today.

MPA Grads Celebrate at 2022 Commencement Ceremony

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From left, Dr. Sungkyu Jang, Alexus Davis, Jordan Moore, Denis Kilde, and Dr. Jamie Smith after the commencement ceremony.

The Master of Public Affairs program at IU South Bend celebrated members of its 2022 graduating class at the May 10, commencement ceremony held at the University of Notre Dame’s Joyce Center.

“Commencement is a joyous occasion at IU South Bend,” said program director Dr. Jamie Smith. “It was wonderful to see our graduates celebrating their many accomplishments and we wish them the best in the next stages of their professional and academic journeys.”

This year’s MPA graduates will be putting their degrees straight to work in the fields of nonprofit administration, hospital administration, as well as in the private sector.

From left, MPA graduates Denis Kilde, Kayla Isenbletter, Alexus Davis, and Nichole Rodriguez with MPA faculty Dr. Jamie Smith and Dr. David Blouin.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student Profile: Mae Kratzer

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Mae Kratzer, a land-use planner for Elkhart County’s Planning and Development Department, embodies the Mission Statement of the IU South Bend Master of Public Affairs Program.

The program “directly improves my ability to serve the public and lead within my department,” Kratzer says, which fits perfectly with the program’s mission to prepare students for careers as leaders in administration and policy within government, nonprofit, and healthcare organizations.

While Kratzer already serves the public through her work in a government office, she decided to enroll in the MPA Program as a way to build new skills and advance her career.

A student in the Government Administration and Policy concentration, Kratzer received her undergraduate degree in urban planning and development from Ball State. In her studies and her work, she is focused on local government and planning decisions. It’s no surprise, then, that her favorite class to date in the IUSB MPA program was Urban Development, Policy and Planning.

“Development is what I’m passionate about,” Kratzer says.

Of course, this shines through in her day job as well. Kratzer appreciates being a part of a planning department where each day brings new tasks and challenges.

“I enjoy the public meetings my department is a part of,” Kratzer says. “It’s always interesting to see how decisions are made.”

In addition to working on her MPA degree, Kratzer recently completed her Certified Public Manager course through Ball State University.

MPASA Announces Social Event for March 11

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UPDATE: The MPASA will meet in the Commerce Center in downtown South Bend, 401 E. Colfax.

The IU South Bend Master of Public Affairs Student Association has announced the date for a Spring social event March 11, 6-8 p.m.

MPASA president Kayla Isenbletter said that the location for the event will be announced soon.

The gathering will serve as an opportunity for students to reconnect, discuss issues relating to the MPA Program, and reflect on the first half of the semester.

Student Profile: Nichole Rodriguez

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Nichole Rodriguez appreciates the way her research for classes in the IU South Bend MPA program places her work as a physician recruiter at St. Joseph Health Systems in context.

“Recently I’ve had the opportunity to focus on environmental factors in health, specifically rural health outcomes,” Rodriguez says. “This helps me to research and understand the impact I have by placing physicians in our rural, underserved practices.“

Rodriguez, a student in the Health Systems Management and Policy concentration of the IUSB MPA program, will graduate in the Spring of 2022. She’s found the convenience of the program’s evening classes, which allow her to balance work, family, and school life, to be a key benefit.

In both her professional life and her coursework, Rodriguez finds that a focus on the local is rewarding. One of her favorite courses in the MPA program featured an emphasis on the relationship between place and health outcomes, and in her career at St. Joseph Health Systems, she finds distinct value in “bringing talented new providers to the Michiana area to care for the residents and community I adore.”

The MPA degree from IU South Bend will be Rodriguez’s second degree in the field of public affairs, and her second degree from an IU institution—her undergraduate degree in public affairs is from IUPUI. In her time at IU South Bend Rodriguez says she’s enjoyed the small class sizes and connecting with other students who are working professionals in the community. In addition to collaborating with students in the classroom, she has taken on a leadership role in the MPA Student Association this year as the treasurer.

Student Profile: Gloria Navarro

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Gloria Navarro is a government administration and policy student in the Master of Public Affairs Program at IU South Bend.

Navarro, who works as the Drug Court Coordinator at Elkhart County Court Services, decided to pursue an MPA degree as part of her effort to grow professionally. The program at IU South Bend appealed to her because of the in-person classes and her familiarity with campus—her undergraduate degree is also from IU South Bend (Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice). The MPA program’s evening classes allow her to meet new people working in professional fields similar to her own.

Like many MPA students at IU South Bend, Navarro’s career is focused on public service. In her role as the Drug Court Coordinator, Navarro works to  find ways to best serve  clients, including communicating with outside agencies about potential collaborations. One highlight of her work is seeing individuals graduate the Drug Court program.

“Seeing them restore their lives, mend relationships, and gaining love for themselves is what it’s about,” says Navarro.

While her studies are primarily focused on governance and management, she also enjoyed an elective class that focused on the role of nonprofits in cities, particularly with regard to community health. Students often find that courses outside their concentration (the MPA curriculum allows for three elective courses) contribute to new ways of thinking about their own professional and research interests.

Welcome!

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You’ve landed at the IU South Bend MPA Program’s blog site.

It’s our first post of the year!…and ever!

This will be a space to read about program news, MPA events, student accomplishments, and other program-related information.

Check back soon to read about what some of our students are doing both inside and outside the program! In the meantime, you can visit our website and follow us on Twitter @IUSB_MPA.

For now, let us just say: Welcome to the blog and Spring Semester 2022!

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