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.
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