Students

MPA Student Profile

True Carolina Blue: Carrie Cook

by Jean Coble, MPA External Relations Coordinator

Carrie Cook is a first-year student in the MPA program. She received her undergraduate degree from UNC-Greensboro, where she majored in communication with a minor in exercise sports science. “I loved Greensboro,” Carrie said. “Greensboro is really a college town. I have friends at all of the universities and through UNC-G I was able to get involved in community outreach projects. ” She mentions Project Effort in particular, noting that it was a wonderful way for her to connect with youth in the community while she was an undergraduate. “Students from local schools were bused to us and we used physical activity to teach life skills,” she explained. “For example, the lesson of the day could be patience. We would have students play volleyball. At the beginning of the activity we would discuss what patience means, and once the activity was completed, students would rate themselves on how well they used the skill of the day, and list ways to take the skill beyond the gym into their everyday lives. ”

When asked how her childhood affected who she is today, Carrie responded with one word: “adaptability.” She went on to say, “I call Charlotte my hometown, but Atlanta is very much in my heart because we lived there for eight years. My family is everywhere: Maryland, Atlanta, North Carolina. And my parents introduced me to new places and cultures. Those adventures help me to adapt wherever I go. My study abroad in Sweden reinforced my self-identity and adaptability.”

Carrie has a strong sense of service. “Throughout my life my role models were people who have been public servants,” she said. “I’ve been fortunate to have parents that surrounded me with wonderful examples of what public service is. Also, my high school track coach, church members, and several undergraduate professors further defined purposeful living through service. Public service, not government, was my attraction to UNC's MPA Program. But I believe working in local government will help me have a direct impact on the quality of life for all people.”

Before entering the MPA Program, Carrie worked in Chapel Hill with AmeriCorps. She said, “AmeriCorps was the best experience of my life. I worked for a mentoring program set up by the school system to work with closing the achievement gap of Latino and black students. I developed mentoring objectives, ran a weekly tutorial program, and created monthly enrichment activities. I believe in this program because it builds social  networks for youth. Bridging gaps between access, resources, and information is critical to student success.”

To really have an impact, Carrie knew she needed to go to graduate school. “I applied to several programs but really felt UNC was a great fit. Carl Stenberg and Maureen Berner both called me. They took an interest in what I wanted to do. No other program made that personal contact upon acceptance. I knew Carolina’s MPA Program is where I needed to be. I made the right decision. Also, I heard wonderful things about the alumni network and from talking with family friend Doug Bean ’74.”

While in the MPA Program, Carrie has most enjoyed “classes with numbers.” She continued, “Maureen Berner loves program evaluation and has a passion for statistical analysis so I really enjoy her courses. You can see the fire in her when she is teaching. She wants to see students succeed. The other course I really enjoyed was Chuck Szypszak’s Law for Public Administrators. His high moral code is refl ected through his teaching. It was inspiring.”

Carrie went on to say, “It’s not all work though. I really enjoy intramural sports with my classmates. We are now in the basketball playoffs. It is great to see that other side of people. There are times you feel you are drowning in a sea of work. Finding ways to connect outside the classroom makes the work manageable because you know you have a supportive cohort.”

Carrie is now looking for a summer internship. “I’m a generalist floating in opportunity land. I would like for my internship to provide me with a variety of experiences where I can see local government from several angles.” Graduation is three semesters away for Carrie, but she is already looking ahead. “I want to have a direct impact on people. That could be in local government or a nonprofit.”

Carrie is the 2007–08 recipient of the J. Edward Kitchen Scholarship. Ed, a member of the MPA Class of 1974, said, “I had an opportunity to meet and spend a little time with Carrie during the annual conference and was really impressed. She’s the kind of young professional we need going into public service: bright, articulate, poised, and passionate about serving. I am pleased and proud that our program’s scholarship resources are attracting students of Carrie’s caliber. We need to keep building our capacity to enroll top students, because the need for high quality administrators in public service is so great.”

This profile was first published in the Spring 2008 issue of Impact newsletter.