PPA Newsletter Current Students

Fall 2007 New Admits: We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new students. Click here to learn a little about them.

News and Notes: Naomi Drumm (MS-ULD Student): I obtained my notary license in 2004 and continue to run a residential real estate brokerage in South Placer and NE Sacramento (1994-2008). I am pursuing a Hawaii State Broker license and look forward to returning home to Maui to assist in the prudent planning of this popular island!
: Winnie Fong (MPPA Student): I just started my new job this week with Economic & Planning Systems (in Sacramento) as an Associate. As for projects, I am submitting a research poster that showcases my findings from my PPA 207 regression analysis paper "The Relationship between Obesity and Sprawl" for the Student Poster Competition at the 2007 California Chapter American Planning Association (CCAPA) Conference in San Jose on October 1, 2007. I also want to acknowledge Rob and Mary for assisting me on the poster. Here is the website for more information.*
: Fielding Grieves (MPPA Student): I hold a part-time job with the Governors Public Employee Post-Employment Benefits Commission simply by emailing that I was part of the MPPA program.
: Eric Harper (MPPA Student): I work at the Department of Finance on the Business, Transportation & Housing assignment. I was promoted to this position after 6 months working as a budget analyst with the Employment Development Department. My wife Monica and I recently had our daughter Isabelle, who is now 9-months old.
: Lindsay Keyes (MPPA Student): I resigned from my job at the end of last semester, got engaged, and spent two fantastic months traveling with my fiancé around Europe (Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands). The objective of the trip was art and culture, so I don't have any public policy stories to offer.
: Camron King (MPPA Student): I have recently been elected as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the VHL Family Alliance, a national non-profit organization centered on research and improving the lives of families facing von Hippel-Lindau disease, a genetic form of cancer. As well, I have been invited by the Genetic Alliance to serve as a member of the Consumer Taskforce on Genetic Testing which serves to provide the voice of consumer perspectives in developing guidances and regulations through the Food and Drug Administration and federal Department of Health and Human Services. In the paid work world, I have taken over grassroots mobilization and environmental regulatory advocacy efforts for the California Association of Winegrape Growers. We are expecting our second baby, a little girl, in November!
: Jason Lindgren (MPPA Student): On April 19th, 2007 the world welcomed Owen James Wilderness Lindgren and Tigerlily Genevieve Joyce Lindgren (I figure just the kids’ names alone will fill up some newsletter space). So now I’ve got two colleagues now to help me get through my Thesis Project this year. I am still working with the City of Elk Grove. On a professional note I am mid way through the exam schedules to attain designation as a CRM (Certified Records Manager) from the Institute of Certified Records Managers, my expected completion date is February 2008 (the CRM certification is attained by qualifying to sit for exams – a mix of proving education and work experience – and then passing a series of five multiple choice exams with a final sixth case study exam).
: Ted Muhlhauser (MPPA Student): I am Chief of Staff for Assembly Member Betty Karnette. I've worked my way up from the bottom and held performed every conceivable role for Ms. Karnette, including Senate Fellow, legislative aide, principal consultant, legislative director and chief of staff. I am also a lucky husband; new, first-time father; former Legislative Director and Board Member for California State Student Association.
: Justin Paddock (MPPA Student): I am a Legislative Analyst for the California Air Resources Board.
: Ana Rodriguez (MPPA Student): I just completed my year-long fellowship. I am happy to share with you that I got hired on as a permanent Legislative Aide with Senator Patricia Wiggins' Office (2nd District).
: Joyce Stone (MPPA Student): In my capacity as manager of the Amador Child Care Council, and in collaboration with the Calaveras Child Care Council, I applied for a received a grant from the Low Income Investment Fund called ABCD (Affordable Buildings for Child Development). We are just completing our second year and have been notified that the grant has been extended for three additional years. It is funded by First 5 California. The purpose of the project is to streamline the system for creating new or expanding existing child care centers in our counties. On a more personal note, I bought a new house this summer in Ione which cuts my commute to campus by 20 miles each way – good news for me.
: Maya Wallace (MPPA Student): I am spending the Fall in Washington, D.C. as a Thomas B. Fordham Foundation Fellow, working on education policy issues--primarily high school reform and science achievement-- at The Education Trust (http://www.edtrust.org). The Fordham Fellows Program provides high-level education policy opportunities for young education professionals with classroom experience. More information is at: http://www.edexcellence.net/foundation/fordhamfellows/index.cfm.

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