Last Monday, the MPA Student Association hosted a graduate student field trip to our state’s capitol.  As students of public administration, many of us in the program look toward our government centers with a sense of respect and admiration, because these places are the centers for new policy, political movement, and government sponsorship of community development.

Administrative Law Professor Nick Handy was our knowledgeable host as he guided us through the legislative, house, senate, and superior court buildings.  He currently works within the Secretary of State’s office as the Director of Elections.  He oversaw the 2004 Gubernatorial Election recount, the 2008 Presidential Election, and he is currently finishing up our most recent election as recounts continue if a handful of races across the state.

With Nick as our guide, and the general lure of the capitol, generating interest for this event was not the challenge.  Instead, it was finding the people with the time to attend.  About 80% of our graduates work full time, and the capitol buildings are closed on weekends.  Even so, our turnout was pretty good.  Six of us made the trek south in style with one of SU's 12 passenger vans.  We stopped at Old School Pizza in downtown Olympia for lunch, watched the Capitol building's Christmas tree go up in the rotunda, and then commenced our tour at 1PM. We even ran into some Seattle U MPA program alums who are now state employees. The tour ended shortly before 3 and were back in Seattle by 4.

This event gave us a cohesive, insider's look at the operations of our state capitol that will help inform our future career decisions. A few of us may now be inspired to apply for jobs in Olympia. In addition, the trip gave the participating students a unique networking opportunity outside of the classroom.

Darcy Cinq-Mars

MPA Student Association