Carolina MPA Career Digest January 2022
Good Morning,

Welcome back to a new year (I realize we're a month in - and 2+ snowstorms in central NC!). Last year I did a lot of comparing of career services to sailing, which was a fun challenge each month. This year I have another activity to compare career to, running. Running is something that I do, I'm not the fastest (by far), the fittest, not at the top (though sometimes I get lucky and place in my age group - but I think that is more due to lower numbers racing right now), but no matter where I am in a race or a run, I'm out there, and in all the articles I've read that still qualifies me as a runner.

Sometimes, I question my qualifications as a runner, if I'm not running marathons am I really a runner? We may also have these thoughts when it comes to our job search, or even in professional development situations. Am I qualified to present at that conference (yes!), do I have what it takes to do that job (potentially), and while all of these questions creep into our thoughts, one thing you can do to gain confidence in the skills and experiences you have, much like putting one foot in front of the other in a run is to try, apply for that job, apply to present at a conference, share a project or idea to a supervisor. You may not get the job or get to present at the conference, but you may also gain valuable feedback or upon reflect may learn something so that you can improve in the future! You may also be more prepared than you think, and as always I'm always here to help with that preparation!

In this Career Digest, I will share a few professional development opportunities, which will include conferences and workshops, upcoming events, and a few resources.

I am always available to discuss your career goals, help with your Professional Development Plan, and/or review your resume/cover letter, help with your job search, and/or help as you negotiate a job offer. Wherever you are in the program or in your professional journey, I'd love to connect and help you develop your plan for next steps!

Lastly, don't forget to connect to the Microsoft Teams Career Services and Professional Development Team - access teams through Heelmail. We encourage you all to engage in the conversation in the teams group, ask questions, answer questions, share resources, etc. In addition to the team group, I am available for individual chat through MS teams - chat me anytime.

Allison
Professional Development Opportunities

We are pleased to share with you an opportunity for students at all levels to participate in the 2022 National Forum for Black Public Administrators Poster Contest, which recognizes and awards student research.

This year’s research poster contest asks the question, “How do police officers regain the public’s confidence through embracing advances that rebuild and strengthen public value?” The competition invites students to investigate the theory and practice of law enforcement advances that endeavor to change the narrative of policing, focusing on communities of color. 

Poster abstracts are due February 17!  First, second, and third place will be acknowledged and awarded $2,500, $1,500, and $1,000, respectively. Payments will be made to the students’ colleges. Ford School faculty will be among the distinguished judges.

To participate, students (undergraduate, master’s, and doctorate) must be enrolled at a traditional four-year college or university with at least one academic semester remaining after April 2022, and research must have been completed during their time as a student. Research that incorporates the effort of a professor or a professional researcher (e.g., think tanks) is prohibited. 

The deadline to submit a poster abstract is February 17, 2022. View poster abstract guidelines and register for FORUM 2022 here.
As you all may know, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has been a pillar in the MPA Strategic Plan. We are in the process of developing strategies around our DEI goals and welcome any feedback you have on this.

One DEI-related suggestion that came from students was to create structured identity groups for underrepresented students of similar identities to have a space to connect. After input from various student leaders, faculty and staff of the MPA program, and the Graduate School here at UNC we would like to announce Identity Groups and Interest Groups in the MPA Program. 


The identity and Interest Groups are a great way to make connections, build social capital, and engage with others who have similar identities/interests as yourself. We encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities!
Seeking Master's and Ph.D. students or recent graduates from degree programs related to Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, and Public Policy for temporary, part-time Research Assistant assignments (remote opportunity). This is a unique opportunity to influence the formation of one of North Carolina's largest state agencies and reimagine the operations of the remaining agency.
 
The Division of Adult Corrections in the NC Dept. of Public Safety will become a separate state agency effective January 2023. Adult Corrections contains over 15,000 employees working as correctional officers, skilled healthcare professionals, probation and parole officers, facility management staff, administrative staff, and more. In addition, the remainder of the Dept. of Public Safety will need to be redesigned to ensure continuation of operations that are currently integrated with Adult Corrections. Find more information and to apply here.


Our next MPA Community Conversation is, "Emergency Management: Practices During COVID and Beyond". This Community Conversation will be on February 10th at 9:30am EST, so bring your favorite morning drink! RSVP Here.

We're excited to invite students to participate as Community Conversations Champions. If you have a topic area you are interested in and want to partner with alumni to champion a Community Conversation, contact Kristin today!

Wednesday, 9 February 2022
8 am to 10 am Eastern Time (EST)

This online webinar is open to all current students and recent alumni who want to learn more about professional opportunities at the United Nations. They will be able to hear special presentations on job opportunities that make a difference in the world, the value of adding the UN to their career journeys, and much more. This session offers an exciting opportunity to make promising connections with the UN as a prospective employer and gain valuable insight into the process of becoming a competitive applicant. 

We kindly invite you to forward this invitation and the following registration link to your network of students, alumni, or any other interested parties who wish to register and receive the YouTube livestream link. 
Facts That Matter: Coastal Resilience in the Wilmington Region
In the past 5 years, Hurricanes Matthew and Florence caused massive amounts of damage in southeast North Carolina lasting for years beyond landfall. Municipalities and education institutions in the region are implementing measures to improve their resiliency in anticipation of future storm events. Issues involving natural resource management and storm damage mitigation do not respect county or municipal boundaries. Read about how local leaders are collaborating in an effort to achieve long-term resiliency. Learn more about UNC-Wilmington's effort to train future leaders in mitigating storm damage and promoting resiliency in the region through a new curriculum in Coastal Engineering, the first of its kind in the nation. 

Professional Organizations
Join ELGL - Free
  • As an SOG faculty, staff, or student, you can join our ELGL membership at no cost!
  • ELGL Memberships - Add A New Member - email at the top of form should be foster@sog.unc.edu
  • If you've joined in the past your membership should renew

ELGL Benefits:
  • Jobs Newsletter, join ELGL to get curated jobs from all over the country in your mailbox!

ASPA’s goal, particularly with our student members, is to help you find the resources you need to connect with others, provide you with a clear picture of the public administration profession and help you learn how to start on their career path. ASPA’s resources—especially for students—are an invaluable starting point, potentially for the rest of your careers.

Access a PDF of the membership application here (https://www.aspanet.org/ASPADocs/membership/ASPAMembershipApplication.pdf); students also can apply online at www.aspanet.org/membership.
MPA and SOG Resources

In Case you missed the conversation earlier this week, you can find the recording here



As much of the country settles into another cold weekend, I know you all are looking for a cozy read! Look no further than the many topics and resources on the Career Section of the Intranet! Happy Exploring.
Career Resources
Find PWE Opportunities through this dashboard, check back often as new experiences are always being added!
Job Opportunities - emailed directly to you each week!
Connect with classmates, colleagues across formats, and stay connected on Career and Professional Development news and opportunities
The MPA Intranet has many resources for your entire time in the program. These pages serve as a great resource for where to start when thinking about your career development, how to write a resume, interview prep, how to network, etc.
Professional Development Plan
  • Email Allison (binkley@sog.unc.edu) to meet to discuss your Professional Development Plan.
  • While the job market has begun to really hit its stride, and you most likely have your pick of organization, it is still important to make sure you have positioned yourself best for positions. I'm here to help you do that!
Carolina MPA | UNC School of Government | carolinampa.sog.unc.edu | Website
The Carolina MPA Intranet houses information and resources for students during the program.