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.
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