| Happy Spring…sort of. Typical Michigan weather: snow and wind last week with 70+ degree days this week. Hearty folk are we…out of necessity! We are thrilled about several developments described below: our NPM certificate program has been launched and is well-received, the Lily School is coming to campus with strong local enrollment, and we have forged new ICMA, AFP and CFRE ties. I also can’t tell you how proud we are to be associated with alumni like David, Kathy, Matt, and Marc – they are good people and model public servants. Go Tigers! Pat Piskulich, MPA Director
| |
| | What's Happening in the Program?
| |
| Principles and Techniques of Fundraising Seminar Fundraising professionals can maximize their fundraising success through this course that teaches practical skills of effective fundraising. Strengthen your fundraising abilities by learning proven fund development tools, and draft a specific fundraising plan to grow your organization. Offered in partnership with Oakland University and IUPUI, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. The seminar runs 4 days: April 24 - 27, 2017, daily 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in the Oakland Room, Oakland Center. Registration is required.
CFRE Certification The Certified Fund Raising Executive credential (CFRE) is the highest rated and most desirable certification for fundraising professionals. It takes years of experience, continuing education, fundraising success, and passing an exam to achieve this reward. For initial certification, 80 points of continuing education (valued at 1 point per hour of in class instruction) is required. Re-certification is required every three years with additional education, experience and fundraising performance benchmarks achieved.
After reviewing our curriculum, the CFRE organization awarded our Nonprofit Management Certificate program with 117 points of continuing education credit if a student attends every class. This acknowledges the rigor of our program and the value of the instruction students are receiving. It also means that for those looking to become CFRE certified, completion of our Nonprofit Management Certificate program will satisfy the continuing education requirement.
| |
| New Courses If you are still looking for electives to take, two exciting new courses will soon be offered. Workshop in Budgeting (PA 5210) will be offered the second half of the Fall 2017 semester on Thursday evenings. In this 2-credit course, students learn the basic principles of governmental budgeting from the perspective of a practitioner at the state and local level. This course is paired with Risk Management (PA 5070), also a 2-credit course, which is offered the first half of the Fall 2017 semester on Thursday evenings and gives students an overview of the concept of risk management in the public sector.
For those of you who are really planning ahead we have another elective course that will be offered Summer I of 2018 called Civil Liability for Public Service Professionals (PA 6900) that will help students of public administration understand basic constitutional principles, concepts, and values; through the use of readings and cases students will learn the fundamentals of constitutional law that will govern their conduct as public servants.
As a reminder, effective Fall 2017 all courses will be renumbered from 3-digits to the new 4-digit system. More information can be found here, or contact Suzanne Rossi at ssrossi@oakland.edu with your questions.
| |
| New Graduate Assistants for the Program We have two new Graduate Assistants for the program to introduce! Kathy Mielke and Molly Knappenberger began their work as GA's in January, and have been busy planning events, representing the program at recruiting events, and coordinating with our student organizations to provide our students with more opportunities for professional development.
| |
|
Kathy is in her 2nd semester of the MPA program and is focusing on a career in hospital administration or the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Originally from Ohio, she has a background in business, and spent over a decade in the long-term care industry prior to getting her degree and license as a Registered Dental Hygienist twelve years ago. She is in clinical practice in Livonia while attending OU and is honored to be working as a Graduate Assistant for the MPA program. In this role, she provides support to the SAHL and AFP organizations, as well as the MPA faculty and students. She is married with one daughter and is thrilled to be a part of the Grizzly family! If you need anything or she can help you in any way, feel free to connect with Kathy via phone at (248) 370-2674 or her email at kmielke@oakland.edu.
| |
| Molly received her bachelor's degree in Political Science from Oakland University in the spring of 2016, and she loved her undergraduate experience at OU so much that she decided to pursue her graduate eduction there as well. She plans to have a career in local government management once she completes the program, and she is taking courses that focus on law and finance. In addition to her GA responsibilities, Molly is president of Oakland's new ICMA Student Chapter and Treasurer of the Pi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society, and is also a member of OU's new AFP Chapter. She is looking forward to working with MPA faculty and students in the coming months in support of the program. You can reach Molly at maknappenberger@oakland.edu or (248) 370-2364.
| |
| | What are our Students Involved In?
| |
| Association of Fundraising Professionals
| |
| You may not recognize our new name, but we have fantastic news to share. Not only have we had a successful semester with monthly meetings and events, but our student organization AFP (formerly known as ANP - Association of Nonprofit Professionals) has been accepted as an official collegiate chapter with the national organization in Virginia! With this national affiliation, as well as sponsorship from the local Greater Detroit chapter, our students will have many opportunities for professional development, research and practice tools, member discounts and networking. We will make new connections and have new responsibilities, one of them being an annual philanthropic project, but what a great way to connect our students, our campus and our community. We'd also like to thank all who were involved in making this happen!
| |
| International City/Council Management Association
| |
| The ICMA Student Chapter at OU is the MPA program's newest student organization, and we are looking for students interested in local government to join. Our chapter seeks to introduce our members to the local government management profession, to familiarize our members with the ICMA Code of Ethics, and to acquaint our members with local government professionals and the many resources available.
ICMA is the premier organization of professional local government leaders building sustainable communities to improve lives worldwide. Membership in ICMA provides access to valuble resources you need as you embark on your local government career, and you can join our chapter for only $10! As a student chapter, we will have all of the benefits of full ICMA membership, as well as offer our own perks like special networking and knowledge sharing events. We'd also like introduce our officers: Molly Knappenberger (President), Jessica Wawrzynski (Vice President), Brandon Skopek (Treasurer), Meggan Brown (Secretary), and Suzanne Rossi (Faculty Advisor). The Chapter is also excited to announce that Tom Tanghe (City Manager of Auburn Hills) and Blaine Wing (City Manager of Rochester) will serve as our ICMA Chapter Mentors. Upcoming Events MAY: ELGL (Engaging Local Government Leaders) is having its annual conference this year in our own backyard, downtown Detroit! The event is May 11-12, and is a great opportunity for those who wish to attend a conference but are not able to travel far. We hope to have some of our members participate, and even have some event volunteer options for those who wish to be even more involved.
We also have a spring networking event in the works with our ICMA Chapter Mentors, more information on this soon to follow.
| |
| Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society
| |
| On March 24, PAA hosted its annual Induction Reception at Meadow Brook Hall for their new members. Congratulations to our newest PAA inductees: Michelle Cecil Melissa Ciampichini Breanna Cook Alex DeSantis James Gallagher Kyla Kellermann Sarah Klieman Leah Konal
Anna Markiewicz Victoria Martinuzzi Micheal McGinnis Timothy Nickels Joanna Niecalek Amy Olind Allison Radell Jazmyn Thomas Thomas Van Koughnett
Pi Alpha Alpha is the national honor society for the field of public affairs and administration. Its purpose is to encourage and recognize outstanding scholarship and accomplishment in public affairs and administration.
To be inducted in the PAA National Honor Society, students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.67 and have completed 20 credits in graduate-level public administration course work. Congratulations again to all of our new inductees for their hard work!
| |
| Student Alliance of Healthcare Leaders We have had a busy semester coordinating events and opportunities for our OU students, as well as developing our calendar for the rest of the year and in to 2018. We are fortunate to be involved with the annual Job Shadow Day in February where we correspond with the Midwest Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (MCACHE) to match graduate students with Execs for a hands-on experience in a real-world healthcare setting. We were proud to have four OU students selected for this opportunity.
| |
| We are also proud to share that four of our students attended the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) annual Congress in Chicago in March. Congratulations to Kalena Shaw, Gabriela Sullen, Sarah Raouf and Ebony Babbs-Brown on being selected for this event! As we finish the Winter semester, we will be transitioning our leadership, so if you are interested in a board or committee position, or just want to be in the know, please reach out and get involved. Also, if you are not already a member of SAHL, or know someone that may be interested in this organization, please contact Kathy Mielke at kmielke@oakland.edu.
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing our passion for healthcare!
| |
| | Sarah Weinberg's Memorial Scholarship
| |
| Our OU MPA family suffered a great loss when Sarah Hasenmueller Weinberg (MPA ’16) passed away in a car accident just before Christmas. Sarah inspired her classmates and all who knew her as the quiet one with the huge heart. The classic introvert, she performed brilliantly at academics and research. Yet, she also blossomed into a confident woman with a strong voice working tirelessly for the causes she believed in – The Art Experience and Common Ground – even as she suffered through some overwhelming personal setbacks. Sarah’s classmates have established a scholarship at OU to help other MPA students who are experiencing life transitions as they enter and go through the program. Please consider making a donation to support Sarah’s memory.
Sarah was much loved and will be missed. She was a star and remains so, today. Not surprising to find this quote on her Facebook page: "He whose face gives no light, shall never become a star." --William Blake.
| |
| David McGhee Pi Alpha Alpha and the MPA Program are excited to announce OU alum David McGhee as our guest speaker for the MPA Awards & Pi Alpha Alpha Induction Ceremony on March 24.
David, program director leading the Skillman Foundation’s youth development strategy, joined the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2014. Prior to joining the Foundation, he served as a program director for Big Brothers, Big Sisters and as a congressional liaison for U.S. Representative Dan Kildee, who represents Michigan’s 5th Congressional District. David was also recently selected by the Council on Foundations as one of the 24 promising philanthropic leaders to participate in their Career Pathways program.
| |
| Kathleen Forzley Kathy Forzley has recently been named as the next director for Oakland County's Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, Kathy has served as the county's health officer as well as the administrator for Oakland County environmental health services. In her new position as director, which she begins at the end of the month, Kathy will be overseeing the county's Children's Village, Health Division, and Homeland Security Division. Congratulations Kathy!
| |
| Matt Baumgarten Congratulation to Matt Baumgarten for being named one of Oakland County's Elite 40 Under 40 by County Executive L. Brooks Patterson's office, which honors exceptional individuals under the age of 40 who excel in their fields and and improve the quality of life in Oakland County.
Matt is the city manager of Berkley, a position he began last year after having served as city administrator of Lathrup Village for a number of years.
| |
| Marc Ott Congratulations to Marc Ott on his selection as a 2017 recipient of the prestigious National Public Service Award. The award, created by the National Academy of Public Administration and the American Society for Public Administration, recognizes "individuals who make outstanding contributions to and whose accomplishments can be viewed as models of public service, both inside and outside the work environment." You can read even more about Marc's accomplishment here.
| |
|
Do you have news you'd like to share with us? Email us at mpa@oakland.edu so we can share it on Facebook!
| |
|
|
|
|
