USC Price Blog

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…

Luther Davis, Thomas Mitchell and Erica Pechek each transitioned from the military to civilian life for different reasons. Here’s how they dealt with the major change while leveraging the leadership skills they learned at USC to build their futures. After eight years in the Air Force, Luther Davis wanted to live closer to his family…

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…

After observing that many of his patients struggled to navigate the complexities of the health care system, David Cheng decided to pursue an online graduate degree in health administration to streamline health care delivery and enhance the patient experience. David Cheng pivoted his career to Associate Chief of Staff for Rehabilitation and Extended Care at…

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…

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…

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…

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:…

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…

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…