SPAA Graduate Profile: Devin Ellison (MPA'24)
Name: Devin Ellison
Hometown: Bordentown, NJ
MPA Grad Month/Year: January 2024
Current Position/Organization: Intelligence Analyst, NJ Office of Homeland Security & Preparedness
Why did you enroll at SPAA?
During COVID quarantine in 2020, I realized that I wanted to further my education. I was already working in the public sector, so enrolling in a master's program geared towards public sector and nonprofit professionals seemed like the perfect transition for me while working toward goals to advance the next phase of my career.
What do you hope to accomplish with your degree?
With my degree, I plan to use the knowledge and lessons learned during the MPA program and apply them to the workplace in real, practical settings. I plan to merge my passion for the field of law enforcement with a strong foundation for leading and managing in the public sector. In my aspirations to someday obtain a leadership position within my organization, I hope to implement the leadership theories that I learned in my Leadership of Public Organizations concentration to lead a team that is efficient, effective and most importantly, feels appreciated.
Favorite SPAA memory and/or most meaningful experience at SPAA?
My favorite SPAA memory was creating my capstone portfolio. I think that it was a really great opportunity to be able to reflect back and review work that I had written throughout the entirety of the MPA program. I really got to put the pieces together to form a holistic view of the MPA curriculum and see how topics in different courses related to and supported one another. I also liked being able to see how my writing became stronger throughout the program and how my perspectives on a few topics shifted after working full-time for a few years, especially through a pandemic.
Biggest challenge(s)?
My biggest challenge was starting the MPA program during the pandemic in Fall 2020 when all courses were virtual, and then due to starting a new job, becoming a fully online MPA student for the remainder of the program. I had never taken an online class during undergrad so I did not know how I would adjust to not seeing my classmates and professors in-person. At times it was difficult to be disconnected from my classmates, but I made the best of it and still got so much out of the program!
Next steps?
My next steps are continuing my journey in my current field. I want to gain experience, get out of my comfort zone, make connections, and work toward leadership positions in the future. Having a foundation supported by the knowledge I gained during the MPA program will make these goals easier to achieve.
Advice to incoming students?
Make the most of the program! It is an investment into yourself and you will get out of it what you put in.