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USC Price Blog

Get the latest news and highlights featuring students and faculty from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy’s online programs.

Hear from USC Price Online students, alumni, and faculty.

November 21, 2024

USC Price grads help California city electrify vehicle fleet

Students identified ways to electrify Rancho Cucamonga’s fleet to cut emissions, save money, and comply with state climate regulations. When the California city of Rancho Cucamonga decided to electrify its vehicle fleet, Lindsay McElwain knew who to call. McElwain, the city’s Management Analyst III for Public Works, contacted her former professors at the USC Price…

November 7, 2024

Siblings in USC Price Online Master’s Program Share Path to Career Advancement

For Master of Public Administration (MPA) alumnus Bryce Steeves, family ties fueled his success in the online program. Reflecting on his Trojan journey — and the pivotal decision he and his sister, Allison Irvin, made to apply — Bryce Steeves is looking forward to advancing his career in the federal government. (Photo: Courtesy of Bryce…

October 14, 2024

Is using AI plagiarism? MPA Online professor breaks down generative AI in education

With the current state of developing technologies, students and faculty alike are trying to determine if they should use artificial intelligence (AI), how to properly integrate it, and how to cite ChatGPT and other AI tools in academic writing. In a recent webinar, Dr. Dora Kingsley Vertenten, faculty director for the Master of Public Administration…

October 2, 2024

Q&A: “Is an MPA worth it?” A Sacramento-based alum in government and public administration thinks it is

Vance Jarrard is a legislative advocate for the North State Building Industry Association, representing more than 500 member companies in the home building industry in Northern California. In 2021, he graduated from the USC Price Master of Public Administration online, bringing with him a robust background in public policy from his tenure in the Legislature…

September 18, 2024

Q&A: Engineer turned nonprofit consultant pursued MPA Online for second master’s degree 

Leslie Best is a 2016 Master of Public Administration online graduate as well as the managing partner and president of two organizations: The Best Group and In Good Company Consulting. With an undergraduate degree and a master’s in engineering, Best discusses how the MPA Online program’s flexibility and practical knowledge helped her navigate a significant…

September 13, 2024

Do presidential debates have enough policy?

Tuesday’s presidential debate featured memorable zingers, facial expressions and false claims of migrants eating pets. But for voters seeking detailed plans and policy positions, the debate likely left much to be desired. And, in some ways, that’s by design.

September 5, 2024

Q&A: Director of emergency services highlights impact of Trojan Network

Dr. Christopher Foster, originally from a small town in South Georgia, has served in the military and holds a PhD in Emergency Management. In his current role as director of emergency services, he is responsible for the police and fire departments, creating VIP protection plans, and managing budgets. Dr. Foster, who graduated from the Master…

August 23, 2024

What Is the Glass Cliff — and How Can We Avoid It?

You may have heard the term glass cliff lately and wondered how it differs from the metaphorical glass ceiling. Here’s how this concept describes the challenges minorities face in business and politics. Today, many organizations tout diversity and inclusion as their core values. But often, women and minorities are still underrepresented at the leadership level….

August 16, 2024

Q&A: First generation grad motivated to address energy and sustainability issues  

Master of Public Administration online graduate Paola Najera has a background in various sectors, including energy, finance, and nonprofit. As a first-generation Guatemalan Latina, she balanced professional responsibilities with academic pursuits. Najera, who graduated in 2024, discusses her motivations, experiences, and future aspirations just before landing her new role in Global Communications at Visa. Q:…

July 12, 2024

Q&A: Political science major turns to the MPA Online to focus on his public service career 

During the pandemic Nicolas Rodriguez was laid off from his sales and marketing job in the private sector, prompting him to reflect on his career path. With a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, he decided to return to his passion for the government and nonprofit sectors. Now, the 2024 USC Price Master of Public Administration…

July 8, 2024

Q&A: MPA Online gives hard working mom the skills to land job at one of the big four consulting firms 

Katherine Cooley is a senior consultant at Deloitte, focusing on regulatory and compliance issues for government clients. She graduated from the USC Price Master of Public Administration online in 2018 with a concentration in city and county management. Cooley reflects on her decision to pursue the MPA program online, her initial goal of becoming a…

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