Personal Statement

Welcome!

I am committed to enhancing the collaborative work of communities to come together to solve common problems and celebrate strengths.  My previous experiences have fostered this commitment and demonstrated to me that the bounds of community-driven action are limitless.  As a Peace Corps Volunteer working on HIV programming in Swaziland, and as a Social Services Manager for two homeless shelters in San Francisco, I repeatedly experienced the value of teamwork.  By working together with counterparts and community members, we identified how to apply community strengths as solutions to community needs.

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My interest in language learning illustrates my desire to connect with and learn from diverse people in our global community.  Advanced studies in Japanese, Siswati, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish have allowed me to develop a sophisticated understanding of the role language plays in community, culture, and identity.  This perspective has provided me a unique framework with which to analyze social issues.

The desire to better support community problem-solving prompted my interest in the Public Administration program at San Francisco State University.  Through my graduate studies I have gained knowledge and honed a wide range of skills that are highlighted throughout this website.  My courses in public administration have equipped me with analytical skills for policy-making, budget formulation, and statistical analysis.  In addition, I have gained an understanding of the dynamics of organizational behavior, leadership, resource development, e-government, and human resource management.

I look forward to applying my commitment, professional strengths, and newly developed MPA skills to support positive change in our global community.

Thank you for taking a look at my journey and accomplishments.  I appreciate your visit!