- 2008 PPA Alumni News
Craig Cross: For the past 4 years I have been an Environmental Scientist with the Department of Water Resources here in Sacramento. The majority of my time is spent managing water supply and water quality projects funded by AB 303, Proposition 50, and most recently Proposition 84 grants. I also assist in writing the guidelines and proposal solicitation packages for these grant programs and perform CEQA/NEPA analysis on submitted grant applications.
Deborah Franklin: It's been 9 years since I graduated, which I find very hard to believe. I still talk up the program when I get a chance. My new subject area at work is health education. I'll be the lead staff person on the new framework in health. It's not something I know a lot about and I'm looking forward to learning more.
CharrLee Metsker: I graduated from the MPPA Program in 2001 and it was a significant consideration in my gaining an appointed position in the Schwarzenegger administration in 2005 as the Deputy Director overseeing California’s welfare programs. I have used this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of millions of low-income Californians. My husband and I have also been recently blessed with two grandchildren and have been enjoying that new role. I have also been striving to improve my golf game and handicap. I have found golf to be a challenging game and not for the faint of heart
Erin Riches: I returned to the Legislature in May 2007 to the Senate Office of Research. I work four days a week and spend Fridays with my 4-year-old daughter, Kate. We will be starting our second year of parent participation preschool in September. My current "extracurricular" project is starting a Neighborhood Watch program on my street
Michael Spears: Currently I am assigned to the Army Staff as the Chief, Force Integration Division, in the Office of the Chief Army Reserve. Essentially, as the chief, I lead and manage the design of the Army Reserve thru the process known as Total Army Analysis (TAA) and we are currently working on what the Army will look like from FY 2010 to FY 2015. TAA is also linked to the budget process, and the Defense Review. The MPPA program is a perfect fit for this job. Understanding and participating in the process of how organizations are designed and where they link into the process or battlefield and then building the organization at the department level is straight out of the program taught at Sacramento State. Investing in a capability (unit) or capacity (how much) or divesting links to the budget dance and balancing our checkbook of total force structure with planned supply and current demand is a challenge. As we all know you never have the capability to resource all the demand, however with the Army MC does not always equal MR as in Econ 101.
Cathy Gregg (Sawaya): Shortly after moving to Reno in October 2005, I started working for Nevada’s Executive Budget Office as a budget analyst. Just recently, I was assigned the entire Nevada System of Higher Education. I also work with a handful of other agencies, such as the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (think EDD). In other news, I got married in early 2006 to Robert Gregg who is now also a PPA alum. We spent one month in New Zealand for our honeymoon and it was amazing. Without a thesis looming over my head, there's definitely more time to enjoy family, travel and work. But the many opportunities and good fortunes I have today can be attributed to the PPA program (i.e. the husband, the job, and the traveling).
Jovanna Radillo: In September 2008, I will be starting my first year at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. I am glad to say that my thesis, "Providing Animal Preventative Care To Low-Income Communities In Los Angeles : Analysis And Recommendations For Change,” proved to be a great discussion in my interviews. The Dean from the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine actually requested a copy of it! Thanks again to Rob and Ted for all of your support on it!
Catherine Scott: I am in Chicago now and I am working as a policy analyst for Walgreen Co. (the parent company for Walgreens, Walgreens Health and Wellness and Walgreens Health Initiatives). This means that I am doing everything from pushing legislation on pharmacy re-engineering and formulary management, to working on our defense against those certain California cities that are under the misconception that tobacco is not healthy - who knew? Roderick and I also welcomed our daughter Madeleine Margaret into the world on May 28th, 2008.
Amy Springmeyer: After graduating in May, I began working for a local organization, Evaluation, Management, and Training (EMT) Associates, Inc. I provide technical assistance to school districts across the nation that receive grant funding from the Department of Education's Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools program.
- PPA Alumni Chapter
- If you are interested in learning more about the PPA Alumni Chapter, feel free to contact Chapter President, Jean-Marie McKinney or PPA Department Chair, Rob Wassmer.
- Theses Completed Since September 2007
- This list is so long that we had to put it on a separate page. Congratulations to all those hard working students who recently became alumni.
Alumni, please share your good news and professional activities with us. Use our Alumni Update form or call the department office at 916/278-6557.
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