Students

MPA Student Profile

True Carolina Blue: Ryan Ewalt

by Jean Coble, MPA External Relations Coordinator

This issue of Impact introduces you to Ryan Ewalt, our first Rothwell Scholar. Ryan grew up in Salisbury, Maryland, on the Delmarva Peninsula. Ryan says that his childhood laid the foundation for who he is today. “Salisbury is a rural town in a heavily agricultural area,” he explained. “I lived next door to my grandparents and was surrounded by family. The values of my parents, grandparents, and the small church I attended shaped who I am and how I see the world. I know the strong bonds I have there will eventually lead me back home.”

I asked Ryan why he chose a career path in public service. I liked his response: “I feel like public service chose me. My grandfather has run for office four times. Although he never won, he stayed committed. He has been a great example of perseverance and dedication to public service.”

Ryan has already shown a dedication to public service. He has applied his bachelor’s degree in systems engineering from the University of Virginia to solving government problems on the federal, state, and local level. While at the University of Virginia, Ryan participated in a public service internship with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Ryan said, “They wanted to put engineering students within reach of science and technology policy. That internship was my first direct experience with public service since helping my grandfather campaign. I came back to campus much more focused on others. After helping start the first fraternity at Virginia that was hazing-free with an alcohol-free house, I was elected president of Inter-Fraternity Council during my third year. Each day I woke up

with a heart more humbled and on fire to serve than ever before. That year really opened my eyes. I loved it.”

After graduation, Ryan worked for the Washington Federal Practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers as a consultant, primarily for the US Department of Veterans Affairs. For him, the federal level was too big, and he felt called toward more direct public service. These experiences led Ryan to Chapel Hill. He said that his admissions interview gave him “the opportunity to see how the MPA Program is valued at the School of Government by alumni, students, and faculty.” He realized that the cohort experience had the potential to be very positive and the post-graduation implications were important. “Knowing that I can call faculty members who are subject matter experts after graduation, even if I am not in North Carolina, is extremely valuable,” Ryan said.

Over the summer Ryan interned with the Wake County Manager’s Office. “That internship was an  excellent way to learn about local government management and services from within,” Ryan explained. “While I was in Raleigh, I also had the opportunity to continue to develop my friendship with Senator Richard Stevens ’74. I truly value his wisdom and selflessness. He has been a great mentor to me.”

Ryan is now halfway through his second year in the MPA Program. He is working on his research assistantship, which focuses on improving development review processes in nine North Carolina cities, as well as his capstone project, which will focus on what factors influence the price of government in North Carolina counties. Ryan will graduate in May. “I am open to all possibilities after graduation,” Ryan said, “but I have one ultimate goal: to return to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I’m not sure how I can serve back home, but I would like to serve my family, friends, neighbors, and fellow Marylanders.”

As the first Rothwell Scholar, Ryan had an opportunity recently to meet the generous donors who established the scholarship, MPA alumni Doug and Sharon Rothwell. After meeting Ryan, Doug Rothwell said, “Ryan is just the kind of individual we hoped the scholarship would attract to Carolina. He has an excellent academic track-record, practical work experience, and a commitment to government. He could have gone to any graduate school he wanted to. Ryan told us the scholarship made a big difference in him choosing Carolina. Sharon and I are delighted that this scholarship can help further boost our program’s national reputation.”

This profile was first published in the Fall 2007 issue of Impact newsletter.