To Ghana and Back

Director’s Corner 2 To Ghana and Back

Annual Awards 2 In May, several faculty and most members of the international development management class Student Spotlights 3 traveled to Ghana for two weeks. The purpose of the trip was to give students an understanding of Thank You Donors 4 the reality of doing international development work “on the ground.” A total of eighteen Class of 2006 4 persons participated.

The class met intensively in Alumnus of the Year 7 Provo for two weeks before the trip, covering the classroom materials regarding international Giani Receives development management. Service Award 7 Students studied topics including private, for-profit investments; types of NGOs; and the impact Faculty Spotlight 8 of currency exchange rates on Kaydee Shakespeare talks with school children in a village near Accra, Ghana. developing economies. Student groups prepared and presented Babies Galore 8 analyses of various developing or groups; advocacy versus relief; Some of the people directing the countries, and each student hands on care to individuals NGOs were expatriates from prepared and presented an versus working with organizations, the United States, but most were MPA Moms 9 individual report concerning one etc. The following is the list of Ghanaians or Africans from a NGO in Ghana. The reports gave organizations visited: nearby country. Ghanaians were background on organizations the extremely friendly and helpful, Administrator of class would visit. LDS Charities and because English is the official the Year 12 USAID language of Ghana, the group did After a very long airplane journey Reach the Children not have to cope with translation (about twenty-seven hours!), the Teshie Orphanage difficulties. Alumni News group arrived in Accra, the capital. SOS Children’s Village 14-15 The next morning they visited LDS West Africa Aids Most of the trip was spent in Charities and met with the local Foundation - WAAF Accra or in visits to nearby areas. director of the operation. Daily IFESH (education) However, the group did spend Meet the Advisory activities included trips to one or Catholic Relief Services several days, including their only Board 15 two organizations in the morning Amnesty International Sunday in Ghana, in Cape Coast, and another one in the afternoon. Ghana Society for the which is about a four-hour drive The group selected a wide variety Physically Disabled from Ghana. While there they had of organizations to understand the the opportunity to have a family LDS Employment Services differences among them: locally home evening with two local LDS UNESCO based versus internationally based; small versus large; funded Techno Serve (agriculture) See Ghana Eli and Emma (micro through government contracts Continued on Page 6 Summer 2006 versus donations from individuals enterprise) Director’s Corner Preparing New Leaders and Managers Written by Gary Cornia, Director

During my distinction a BYU MPA graduate needed encounter courses designed to prepare them t went y-five was the ability to be a manager. for management in their chosen specialty. years on the faculty of The motivation to be a leader in preparing We have just completed revisions of the the Romney students to become managers in public and MPA and EMPA curriculums. The changes I n s t i t u t e non-profit organizations continues to be the adopted were designed to even better prepare of Public primary focus of the RIPM. In comparing our graduates to be leaders and managers Management, our required classes to virtually any other and to continue our distinctive niche in one of the MPA program, one will find a distinctive public management education. Every faculty most constant focus on managing complex public and non- member in the RIPM is committed to elements of profit organizations. For example, we are one preparing our students to be competitive for change has of only a few programs that devotes an entire every position throughout their professional been the course to governmental accounting. This career. We don’t go through change just for curriculum. is in addition to a course in public and non- the sake of change. We undergo changes to profit budgeting. The same can be said for increase the value that we add to the skill sets Over the years, this has resulted in a number our focus on human resources management of our graduates. of important changes in what and how we and management analysis. We are committed teach. Perhaps the most fundamental change to preparing our students to consistently But we are not done with curriculum changes. in the curriculum was instigated in the early be ready for management and leadership Over the next several semesters, the RIPM ’80s when the faculty, under the direction positions. will be part of a Marriott School initiative to of Lennis Knighton, redesigned the MPA formalize learning outcomes in each class we courses to reflect a strong management focus The same model is used in our various teach and in the entire RIPM program. The in the required courses. This redesign was areas of emphasis. Regardless of students’ faculty welcome this opportunity to sharpen partially motivated by the inclusion of the decisions to focus on city management, the focus of our classes and the skills of our RIPM in the newly formed Graduate School human resource management, managerial graduates. It is a challenge from the Marriott of Management at BYU and partially because analysis, or non-profit management, they will School Dean’s Office that we believe will the faculty believed that a very important make us a better program. v Annual Awards

Faculty of the Year Awards Karl N. Snow was an early leader of the MPA First- and second-year students voted program at BYU and a former director of separately for the professor they wanted the institute as well. He also was a founder to honor as the faculty of the year. First- of the National Association of Schools of year students presented their award to Public Affairs and Administration. Bill Baker, who teaches communications courses. Second-year students honored Carl Lennis M. Knighton Award Hernandez, a dean at BYU’s law school, who Lynnett Gardner received the Lennis M. teaches state and local government law. Knighton award for the EMPA graduating student with the highest GPA. This award is also based on program GPA through the Lennis Knighton and Lynnett Gardner, Karl N. Snow Award semester beforegraduation. Gardner is from recipient of the Lennis M. Knighton Award. Rebecca Bracken received the Karl N. Orem, Utah, and currently works as an Snow award for highest GPA in the MPA English teacher at Lone Peak High School. graduating class. The award is calculated Stewart L. Grow Award on program GPA through the semester Lennis M. Knighton was the third director of Cheya Wilson received the 2006 Stewart L. before graduation. Bracken is from Layton, the institute and oversaw the development of Grow award. The recipient is named by the Utah. She emphasized in finance and is now the executive program. institute faculty as the second-year student working for Sandy City as a management who exemplifies the characteristics of Stewart analyst. See Awards Continued on Page 13 Student Spotlights

past eight years has been spent feeding a where the only internship prospect was with Barbara Leavitt gathering of more than seven-hundred people. Purina Dog Chow, he quickly changed his “My husband and I always felt we should mind. He wanted something that would make EMPA 2008 instill in our children their responsibility him happy and excited about his future. to reach out to others,” she says She has also B a r b a r a had the opportunity to improve her teaching Following this discovery, he changed his Leavitt, a first- skills through the church as an institute and major and earned a bachelor’s degree in year EMPA seminary instructor in California. “I found elementary education, and in psychology. s t u d e n t , working with young people to be challenging Parsons spent time teaching elementary moved her but also extremely rewarding. We have school in Las Vegas and Logan, and returned family from amazing youth in the church, interested in to Utah to begin working on a master of public their home making significant positive impacts to this administration and seek his educational in Downey, world.” leadership endorsement to become a principal. C a l i f or n i a , to Provo Building on a rich life experience, her first During his time at Utah State, Parsons shortly after year in the EMPA program has provided worked part time at the local Boys & Girls her husband positive educational challenges. Leavitt is also Club, an after school and summer program passed away excited that she and her oldest daughter will for youth. Upon returning to Utah, his with cancer. Leavitt had experienced first be graduating from BYU in their respective former boss recruited him to work as the hand the gifts of service and care others programs in the same year. organization’s program director. After a provided during her husband’s difficult battle year in this position he was selected as the with cancer and the superb treatment received executive director for the Boys & Girls Clubs at City of Hope in Duarte California. One of Utah County. He has been in this position reason for choosing the EMPA program was for more than two years. that Leavitt wanted to gain the knowledge Weston Parsons and ability to assist others during extremely Parsons is passionate about serving youth, difficult times, just as she had been. Barbara EMPA 2007 especially those who need extra assistance and determined the program would provide the services. He loves the opportunity to work foundation and skills to pursue a management W e s t o n with the youth daily, create programming career in an organization where employees P a r s o n s that meets their current and future needs, play a critical role in helping others on a day- sought out and develop an organization using his to-day basis the EMPA entrepreneurial instincts. program at The communication and presentation skills BYU due to Parsons is the father of two children (Gracie, Leavitt developed during her undergraduate his father’s, 3 ½, and Logan, 22 months), and married to studies as a marketing student proved i n f l u e n c e his lovely wife, Jane. They reside in Santaquin, useful during the last twenty-one years with (Bob Parsons, Utah. v her husband managing a family business, f o r m e r raising four daughters, and responding to director of her community when she saw areas needing the Romney assistance. Leavitt played a pivotal role in Institute). Parsons attended Utah State her children’s schools by forming educational University, where he began pursuing a clubs, managing a campaign to raise funds for business degree in hopes of eventually earning the schools, and working with other parents an MBA. However, after attending to gain and improve their parenting skills. a career fair for Her family developed and maintained for internships sixteen years a baseball league for disabled children in their area. Her family’s Visit Past traditional Thanksgiving dinner for the Outreach Newsletters at

marriottschool.byu.edu/mpa/newsletters.cfm

Thank You 2005 Donors William Hansen Walter Lewis Estate Gaylen & Diane Lawyer Mitt Romney

Kent Colton Roy Jespersen Craig Robinson Gary Cornia KevinJones Kim Smith Jay Covington Deanna Kerr Robert Tonkinson John Darrington Kimball Hill Homes Fund Robert Toone Michelle Dorrough Tamara Lewis Bancorp US Albert Haines Ronald Malouf Olene Walker Paul Jackson Robin Riggs Kimball Young

Robert Adams Vincent Breglio Mark Dalley David Hart Sonny Altman Jeffrey Butler Roger Dibb David Harward Chyleen Arbon David Clark Ken Driggs Patricia Johanson Max Baker Kevin Clayton Rex Facer David Koford Michael Bennett Kathleen Close Warren Fisher Reed Larsen Delora Bertelsen Scott Cloward WellPoint Foundation Derik Leavitt Mason Bishop Sherman Cloward Merrill Gappmayer Bradley LeBaron Margaret Blackham Steve Cloward Sidney Gilbert Yi Li Rebecca Bracken Chris Coons Robert Goss Colleen McCann Corine Bradshaw Catherine Cooper Gary Gustafson Randy McKnight Christopher Brady Kent Cooper Brad Hales Derek Miller Neil Brady Yukari Crummett Tanya Harmon Loretta Monareng

Congratulations Class of 2006

Scott Ambrose Ann Eves Julie Humberstone Jenifer McGill Paula Piccioni Matthew Swenson Rebecca Amon Hutch Fale Elaine Jarvie Matthew Michaelis Amelia Pinegar Ashley Theodore Joseph Asbell Jane Ferguson Joel Jenks Brian Miele Elizabeth Pratt Joel Thompson Ryan Bateman Katrina Frederick Maria Jenson Emily Miller Lauren Rains Liliana Vercillotti Jay Baughman Jared Gardner NolaMae Johansson Loretta Monareng April Riley Maria Vera Michael Bennett Lynnett Gardner Marshall Johnson Scott Moore Jeffrey Robb Marie Whitaker Richard Bond Ronald Gardner Matthew Johnson Colby Morris Kimberly Rodela Cathy Wies Rebecca Bracken Aida Gomez Abe Kader Mary Karlee Mullen Samuel Sanft Cheya Wilson Peter Bradshaw Timothy Gould Michelle Kearns John Obinyan Jeffrey Sellers Julie Williams Curtis Burk Leonardo Gramajo Reed Larsen Lisa Paletta Troy Simpson Richard Winsor Spencer Burton Scott Greenhalgh Bryan Layton Brent Pearson Tyler Smith Lance Wollebaek Jared Christensen Brad Hales Rachel Magleby Seth Pease Solomon Sogunro Melanie Wood Catherine Cooper Denise Haney Stephanie Makihele Maria Pedroza Erin Sanofsky Andrea Workman Suzanne Draper Darrin Harding Melanie McCubbins Adam Pfost Eugena Sorensen Ryan Eckardt Jay Hawkins Rubin McDougal Kelly Pfost Susan Stephenson Bryan Montgomery Richard Perkins Kristie Seawright Jed Thompson Don Norton Seth Perrins Scott Sellers Jeffrey Thompson Joseph Ogden Ellis Pettigrew Richard Smith Bill Thomson Vicki Okerlund Adam Pfost Stewart Smith Dennis Wengert Boyd Parsons Kelly Pfost Michael Stapley Chad Westover Connie Parsons Georgeann Pope Gregory Stewart Gloria Wheeler Keith Parsons Ronald Purcell Kathleen Stimpson Don Wood Richard Parsons Sam Racadio Debra Stock Melanie Wood Robert Parsons Charles Richards Ernest Sutton Weston Parsons Kent Sager Steve Thacker

Donald Adolphson Angela Craig Meldon Larson Joshua Salisbury JJ Allen Scott Darrington Barbara Leavitt Scott Sangberg Mark Allred Reece DeMille Edwin Lee Becca Shim Steven Allred Matthew Dixon June Leifson Bruce Slater Conrad Anhder Ronald Dunn Anne Liechty Leslie Smith John Averett Ty Elliott David Longhurst Melody Stauffer Wally Baird Russell Evans Donald Lovelace Jamie Steck Sam Baxter Michael Fazio Rachel Magleby Mark Steinagel Stephen Benson Mark Fellows Linda Makin Marilyn Stevens Patricia Bersie Jane Ferguson Jeffrey Manley Stanley Strebel Judith Brackett Erica Fordiani Megan McAllister Kent Streuling Pat Brann Katrina Frederick Melanie McCubbins Kenneth Taylor Ralph Britsch George Frederickson Brooke McIlvain James Thomas Preston Brown Cynthia Glad Richard Meyers Karl Tueller Sarah Buck Michael Glenn Christopher Miasnik Scott Van Kampen Amy Butler Terry Green Matthew Michaelis Doral Vance Bret Butler Vai Hafoka Brian Miele Liliana Vercellotti Donna Bywater Daniel Harrison Nyla Miller Lori Wadsworth Howard Chandler Daniel Hecht Reid Millerberg Calvin Wendelboe Lisa Christensen Erin Herzog Siobhan Ollivierre Cathy Wies Vern Christensen Laura Hindmarsh John Parks Cheya Wilson Kevin Cloward Elaine Jarvie Aid Perez Gomez Ryan Wimmer Jennifer Cobia NolaMae Johansson Paula Piccioni Randell Winspear David Connelly James Kemer LeRoy Pierce Andrea Worthen Darrell Cook Spencer Kyle Amelia Pinegar Millard Wyatt Charles Corder Gary Laird Lauren Rains Peggy Young

Congratulations Class of 2006

families. The group visited the Kakum National Park, (a rain forest) and also visited two of the old slave castles, Elmina and Cape Coast Castle, both of which have been declared World Heritage Sites.

Although most of their time was spent in visits to the various NGOs, the travelers took time one afternoon to attend a temple session. One of the workers that day was Sister Appiah, the mother of Isaac Appiah, an MPA graduate of a few years ago. The group also took time to visit a botanical garden and do some shopping. This trip allowed all who went an opportunity to understand nonprofit work in Africa in a way that could never be obtained by just studying about it in Provo. v

Kristi Seawright’s international development management class near the Accra, Ghana Temple.

Students dancing with the Bamboo Orchestra, a local music and dance group.

Kaydee Shakesphere with Aduja.

Rachel Magleby walks with a Ghanian woman while on a trip with SOS Village. Alumnus of the Year Jonathan H. Gardner

Jonathan H. Gardner was honored as the officer of the Southern Arizona VA Health recipient of the 2006 N. Dale Wright Care System. Additionally, Gardner Distinguished Alumnus award on 7 April has received numerous national awards 2006 at a banquet held at the Joseph Smith based on competition with other VA and Memorial Building in Salt Lake City. federal health care executives. Gardner has Students, faculty, and staff from the George contributed significantly to improvements W. Romney Institute of Public Management, in the VA health care system, a system that family members and friends of the Gardner currently is setting the industry standard family gathered to honor his service, career, for quality health care delivery. The VA leadership, and example. health care system has become an effective government organization that is meeting the The award is named after N. Dale Wright, a charge to provide quality health care to men Jonathan Gardner speaks at the award ceremony. former professor and department chair of the and women honorably discharged from our institute. It is given annually to an alumnus nations military—those who have answered many of whom, based on his leadership and who has demonstrated extraordinary service their country’s call to duty so Americans can management style, voluntarily agreed to step and leadership in the work environment and enjoy the rights and freedoms guaranteed by down from their management positions. The community, has been an active community the constitution. reorganization resulted in a more efficient volunteer, has maintained and exhibited and effective health care system and improved high standards of excellence, and has gained One of the persons to nominate Gardner was health care for veterans as documented by the respect and loyalty of colleagues, peers, Dan L. Johnston, area emergency manager nationally conducted patient surveys.” and family. Nominations for the award are of the Southern Arizona VA Health Care accepted from both faculty and alumni. System. As part of his nomination, Johnston Gardner received a BA degree in 1978 and a wrote, “Jonathan led and coordinated master of public administration in 1980. He Gardner has served in several very the implementation of an entirely new has also completed advanced studies at the responsible positions within the Veterans organizational structure, which resulted in the Yale School of Organization Management. v Health Administration for the Department reduction from thirty-three services to eleven of Veterans Affairs for more than twenty-six new service/care lines. He orchestrated the years. He is currently the chief executive reorganization by involving the service chiefs,

Giani Receives Service Award

On Friday, 2 June 2006, Francine Giani, Giani, who earned her EMPA in 1991, began executive director of Utah Department serving as director of the Utah Division of Commerce, was honored by the Utah of Consumer Protection in 1991. In Chapter of the American Society for Public addition to general regulation of deceptive Administration. Gloria Wheeler, the Romney business practices, the division registers Institute’s associate director, presented Giani and regulates specific industries including with the G. Homer Durham Distinguished telemarketing, charitable solicitations, Service Award, which honors appointed business opportunities, credit repair, debt officials who have served the public with management, health spas, and private career honor and integrity, as did Durham. Durham schools. The division negotiates settlements to had an illustrious career serving in numerous provide restitution to hundreds of consumers positions at the University of Utah, among each year. Giani regularly makes speeches, which were director of the Institute of produces public service announcements, and Government, vice president of the University issues press releases to educate the public and president of Arizona State University. about consumer protection issues. Francine Giani (left center) with faculty He also served as the national president of and staff of the Romney Institute. ASPA from 1959 to 1960. Giani is married to Rick Luczak. They are the proud parents of twin daughters, Madeline and Meredith. v Faculty Spotlight

The Romney a specialist in a department filled with as his “drug of choice.” His favorite piece of I n s t i t u t e specialists of different sorts. Each faculty music? “Thou Gracious God” arranged by of Public member’s training matches an important Mack Wilberg. M a n a g e m e n t need of the program. He says that although consists of a this diversity makes collaboration on research Brady is also a licensed master falconer. Yes, faculty with very difficult, it is also highly enriching. He he catches, trains, and flies birds of prey. highly diverse says that spending time over lunch trying to During the last ten years, Brady has flown b a c k g r o u n d s understand each other’s research is like being red-tailed hawks, prairie falcons, merlins, and training. a perpetual student. harris’ hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, and Neil Brady cooper’s hawks. “To watch a prairie falcon may be the best Away from the department, Brady enjoys dive from a thousand feet like a brick out of example of this. music. He just retired from the Tabernacle the clouds and swoop past a fleeing pigeon is With a PhD Choir, having been a second tenor for nine an experience most people never forget,” he in philosophy from The University of years. Although he says the choir was like says. “I guess I should have been a naturalist, Texas, he might seem like an unlikely fit in magic for him recently it has become very not an ethics teacher.” a management program. But Brady teaches busy and just “too much for an older guy.” the ethics classes, and he does so with genuine Over the years he made more than a thousand Brady’s academic life has come full circle: He commitment to the field. He came to BYU trips to the tabernacle or conference center, began as a student in the program he now in 1993, having spent eleven years at San and each time, no matter what mood he was teaches for. In 1980 Brady earned his MPA Diego State University, where he taught in, his spirits were elevated within minutes of from the Romney Institute, and then went business ethics and spent his down-time sitting in the loft. “There is nothing like the to San Diego State. Brady says, “Just look at boogie boarding at Mission Beach. (He says physical act of singing and pouring your heart all the younger faculty we now have who also the ocean boosted his powers of philosophical into it that can cleanse the soul of each day’s were once students in our program! Maybe I contemplation… yeah, right!) Brady is burdens,” he says. Brady describes the choir started a good thing….” v

Babies Galore

We want to hear from you! In the next issue of Outreach we would like to include an article on all of the twins, triplets, and other multiple-baby births that have been born to Romney Institute graduates. If you would like to include a picture and short article about your babies, please send them to [email protected].

MPA Moms

In the last issue of Outreach we asked graduates Education broadens the mind and enriches to use my degree, even though I might not our life experiences even if not always directly receive a paycheck. who are stay-at-home moms to tell us about their applicable to the situation at hand. experiences using an MPA degree from the home. I’m not sure when or if I’ll enter the workforce Do I plan to work later? With a husband again, but I know my degree will be an asset We sincerely appreciate the responses we received who is both a busy neurosurgeon and bishop to me. I also hope my degree will set an and hope to continue publishing stories about your and children who span the range of college example to my children about how important scouting to toilet training, I don’t have time education is to me. lives. Here are some of the responses: to think about it. But if I do go back to work in the future, I will at least have the MPA and I am so glad I decided to enter the MPA life experience as a basis to build upon. program eight years ago this year. It was definitely worth it—I have no regrets! Jennifer Lewis Carter MPA 1986 Hannah Michaelsen Elisabeth Swan After twenty years of reading the MPA MPA 2000 bulletin, I was quite delighted to come upon MPA 1983 the call for ideas from stay-at-home mom I received my MPA degree in 2000. I was alumni in the latest issue. I was a freshly able to work for almost three years before Graduating in 1983, I married the next married student when I began the program leaving the workforce to stay home with my week, worked for a short while, and then had in fall 1985 as one of ten women in my class of infant son. While I was working, a colleague four children in quick succession. When about forty students. I fondly remember the who had an MPA from a different university the children were younger there were times great lectures given by Bill Timmins, Kirk asked me why I had “wasted” my time and when I didn’t see the applicability of the Hart, Bob Parsons, and others. I also enjoyed money obtaining a degree I wasn’t planning degree to my daily life. At times reading my stint as a TA for Gary Cornia. Because on “using.” I told him that I didn’t think I updates on classmates has been discouraging my husband was to start medical school in had wasted anything. My degree allowed me because by comparison I didn’t appear to be Baltimore before I would have a chance to to work in a rewarding job for a few years and accomplishing anything professionally. finish my degree at BYU, I was able to finish gain some valuable experience. I also had my last semester at Johns Hopkins University something to fall back on no matter what life In retrospect, my graduate degree has been and transfer the credits back to complete the threw my way. worth it. The program certainly sharpened degree. I used my degree to support our new my planning and organization skills. This family while my husband completed his MD Managing a home is every bit as demanding See MPA Moms and PhD. I gave up outside employment after as managing a department or organization. Continued on Page 10 two children and the start of my husband’s With my son’s recent grueling seven-year residency program in diagnosis of autism, I feel Boston. my degree has been helpful as we navigate the county Twenty years and five children later, I cannot and school services that are remember more than a few bits and pieces of available as well as analyze information studied during that time yet I treatment options. I know still regard the experience as highly valuable. my MPA degree has helped How has it been useful? Through the group me better serve in the projects and study of organizational behavior, church, especially in my my MPA degree has helped me to be a more current calling as Young effective team player and leader in callings, Women’s president. It has church presidencies, PTA organizations, also helped me serve in the and other volunteer organizations of which community on the board of I’ve been a part. The public speaking course a local mothers’ club. I have and presentation opportunities the degree only been away from BYU provided have also proved valuable. for six years, but I know that as time goes on, there Having a master’s degree has also contributed will be other opportunities Hannah Michaelsen with her son Spencer. to my level of self-confidence and my desire for my children to value education.

family: the budget would be balanced; there would be great processes and backup plans Overall, my to handle every crisis; capital projects would always be funded; and rarely, only rarely, would we need to transfer money from reserves to education has cover unexpected costs. Weekly meetings would be held to review everything on the calendar and to discuss who was assigned to improved me as a person and what and who would follow through with whom to make sure everything worked out. There would be planning sessions, open a citizen, and I think the effect forums in which we would discuss ideas freely, and chore charts with no missing star stickers. There would be organized desks and files for can’t help but spill over into my easy access at any given moment. Everyone would understand their job description and would follow through on all assignments with home and make it a better place. a smile on their face.

However, I learned managing a family is ~Kristi Anderson actually more work than managing a city, and my dreams, were actually pipedreams. We’ve found were lucky if we can gather the MaryClare Maslyn boys around for family prayer in a “reverent” MPA Moms manner. My sons have not grasped the idea of Continued From Page 9 MPA 1989 what “other duties as assigned” might mean in their job description. They complete most has been beneficial to our family as I plan After getting my MPA degree I worked for of their job duties quite well, but when we schedules, meals, appointments, and activities Spanish Fork City, a wonderful full-time throw in something out of the ordinary they that go on in a busy family My degree has career for seventeen years. Now my husband, unionize and say they won’t do anything served me as I participated in community two sons, and I live in Pennsylvania, and I unless there is something in it for them. At- activities such as the PTSA and in church. I teach part-time for George Mason University will employment threats mean nothing to can manage a meeting more effectively than in their public and international affairs them! most, come in on time and under budget on program. Both opportunities have come to projects, and have never been afraid to cold me because of my MPA degree. I feel more inadequate to the task of being call to enlist volunteers for the health room or a mom and raising these boys than I ever classroom. Also, the assessment center skills Not knowing what the future holds, whether felt running a city or teaching. I can handle helped me see group dynamics and problems. we’ll be living in Pennsylvania next year or the task of running a city with less worry In the church I have mostly served as support what will happen tomorrow for that matter, it than raising my boys to be good men. Elder to leaders of auxiliary organizations and is reassuring to have the degree. My skills are Jeffery R. Holland’s remarks in what I am valued for my organizational skills and certainly transferable to other options and consider to be one of the best talks directed dependability. From Gary Cornia, I learned oppor t u n it ies. how to work a room and engage an audience, Right now the which definitely came in handy while teaching challenge is to seminary. keep a good balance for After graduating I continued to learn. I everyone in my gained valuable computer skills and learned family. to speak Spanish. I plan to go back to work in a couple of years, when our When I began youngest child graduates from high to implement school. Recently I took a class in Spanish Fork for women in transition, and it City what I was became apparent that while taught in the my MPA degree may be MPA program, dated, it can still be used first as an intern as a springboard to and later as the employment in the assistant city next phase of manager, I had my life. dreams about how I might transfer my skills Elisabeth Swan with her husband, David, and four children to managing a 10 Rachel, Sarah, Jared, and Karen. toward mothers, brings comfort. He said, As for how my MPA “Mothers…. Please know that it is worth it degree has helped me in then, now, and forever… if you will plead for the home, I think overall that guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit it has given me confidence. promised to the faithful; if you will go to the I am confident in my temple to both make and claim the promises ability to find answers of the most sacred covenants a woman or to questions, get to the man can make in this world; if you will show source of problems, and others, including your children, the same organize things in the caring, compassionate, forgiving heart you best way possible. want heaven to show you; if you try your best to be the best parent you can be, you will have done all that a human being can do and all that God expects you to do.…When you have Kristi Anderson come to the Lord in meekness and lowliness of heart and, as one mother said, ‘pounded on MPA 2000 the doors of heaven to ask for, to plead for, to demand guidance and wisdom and help for this wondrous task,’ that door is thrown open I am in charge of the to provide you the influence and the help of finances in our house all eternity. (General Conference, April 1997; and the things I learned Ensign, May 1997, page 35; www.lds.org.) in finance and budgeting classes have been helpful to me, especially as we have been figuring out Tamara Parker with her daughter, Evie, and husband, Loren. Tamara Parker our investments and mortgage. Incidentally, I MPA 2003 was dubbed risk-averse in Don Adolphson’s spot a bad or leading survey question right class and have thought of that as my husband away. I noticed the “We want to hear from you” and I have made decisions as to what types section in the newsletter and thought I would of things we will invest in. Of course I am Bill Baker’s communications class has reply. I am a woman using my MPA degree to always pushing to be on the safer side of probably been one of the most helpful classes administer in my own home, and I think it has things, and Dr. Adolphson’s discussions on for me. I often use the guidelines from his been very helpful. With the communication risk helped me be aware of this. class in my different random responsibilities, skills I learned in school, and then built upon such as writing a letter to an insurance with my job as a consultant, I have been able My Excel skills have been valuable for me. I company or writing our family history or to acquire a very part-time freelance writing use it often as I am making family budgets and teaching Relief Society. A number of times job. It provides a balance for me and some keeping track of our expenditures and assets. I have proofread my husband’s professional mental stimulus. I have also been able to help my husband in letters and resumés. his work because of what I learned. Most importantly, the way I perceive and Gloria Wheeler’s think about the world around me has been statistics classes affected by the things I learned in the have been helpful program. I often hear bits and pieces of because we are old lectures going through my mind as I go surrounded by through my day to day activities. I can hear statistics. There Doyle Buckwalter’s voice in my head asking are many studies “What are the implications?” conducted which tell us what is Overall, my education has improved best for our kids me as a person and a citizen, and I and they can be think the effect can’t help but spill conflicting. But over into my home and make it being taught how to a better place. look at the figures and how they were Thanks for giving me arrived at has the chance to write helped me be better this. v able to discern which information is more useful. I Kristi Anderson with her husband and four children. am also able to 11 Administrator of the Year David M. Walker

With past recipients such as Neal better. We’re living longer, we’re A. Maxwell, Charlie Johnson, better educated, and we’re more and Olene Walker, one might likely to own our homes. But as many have questioned the Romney of you already know, we also face Institute’s ability to select yet a growing gap between the haves another Administrator of the and have-nots, and we’re facing a Year nominee for 2006, who range of quality-of-life concerns. would come close to equaling the These include underachieving achievements or qualifications public schools, grid locked city of those who have been honored streets, energy and environmental in the past. But that is precisely challenges, increasingly expensive what was done in honoring David and inadequate health care coverage, Walker, comptroller general and and the stresses of caring for aging head of the U.S. Government parents and growing children at the Accountability Office (GAO), a same time. legislative branch agency founded in 1921. David M. Walker addressing the audience at the administrator of Walker concluded, saying, “My the year banquet. hope is that when you leave here Walker’s visit to BYU campus on today, you’ll spread the word among 2 March 2006 was enlightening your friends and family about the for all who attended any of the many addresses “Mr. Walker gave a number of informative and challenges we’re facing. We all need to insist he gave. He interacted with advisory board thought-provoking presentations at Brigham on the facts, speak the truth, lead by example, members, students, and faculty with interest Young University. His demeanor reflected and help create a more positive future by and enthusiasm, as he shared information a highly ethical person who is committed fulfilling our stewardship responsibilities about where the country is heading, as well to delivering professional opinions. He was to our country, children, and grandchildren. as his own ideas and vision for the future. a great example to the students and faculty We can, we must, and if people like you His primary message centered on the urgent of the Romney Institute,” commented and I join together, I am convinced we will need to balance the national budget and be Professor Gary Cornia, director of the succeed. As Teddy Roosevelt said, ‘Fighting fiscally responsible now. Romney Institute. for the right [cause] is the noblest sport the world affords.’ Let’s join the fight and make Walker became the seventh comptroller Speaking at the banquet held in his honor a difference!” general of the United States and began his that evening, Walker said, “In many fifteen-year term when he took his oath of respects, our quality of life has never been The Administrator of the Year award has office on 9 November 1998. As been given every year since 1972, comptroller general, Walker is to an outstanding man or woman the nation’s chief accountability “We all need to insist on the facts, who has achieved distinction after officer and head of the U.S. GAO. many years in management in the GAO’s mission is to help improve speak the truth, lead by example, public or nonprofit sector. Each the performance and ensure award recipient is a testament that the accountability of the federal and help create a more positive there are still great men and women government for the benefit of the in management in the public sector American people. future by fulfilling our achieving great things and leading lives of integrity. v Before his appointment as comptroller stewardship responsibilities general, Walker had extensive executive Mr. Walker’s culminating address entitled, “The level experience in both government and to our country, children, Challenges and Opportunities of Public Service” private industry. can be read in its entirety at and grandchildren.” www.gao.gov/cghome/byu.pdf.

12 EMPA Academic Excellence recipients from left to right: Denise Haney, Paula Piccioni, Jane Cheya Wilson, Stewart L. Grow recipient, with Ferguson, Maria Jenson, Andrea Workman, and Suzie Draper. Gary Cornia and Gloria Wheeler.

Awards Falls, Idaho. He emphasized in finance Aaron Michael Miller Continued From Page 2 and now works at Epic Systems as a project Adam F. Pfost manager in Wisconsin. Katrina E. Fredrick L. Grow, PhD, founder of our MPA program. Melanie Marie Neal McCubbins Wilson is from Lehi, Utah. She emphasized Jones had a distinguished career in public Kelly Pfost in human resource management and is now administration and was a prolific author of Ashley Paige Theodore working as a performance auditor for the papers dealing with public policy and public April C. Riley State of Arizona. administration issues. Brent L. Pearson

Grow was known as an accomplished and caring person, a friend of students, a loyal Academic Excellence Awards colleague, and an example for all to emulate. The academic excellence awards go to the EMPA He was devoted to public service and top 10 percent of the class. Recognition is Lynnett Gardner management excellence in government. based on program GPA through the next Denise R. Haney to last semester. Recipients are listed below Paula Kay Piccioni Garth N. Jones Writing Award according to their GPA. Maria Luz Jenson Adam Pfost received the Dr. Garth N. Jones Suzanne Rogers Draper Student Writing Award. Pfost was selected MPA Jane Nelson Ferguson based on his overall writing performance Rebecca Bracken Andrea Beck Workman throughout the program. Pfost is from Idaho Julie Humberstone

Rebecca Bracken, Karl N. Snow recipient, with MPA Academic Excellence award recipients from left to right: Ashley Theodore, Kelly Pfost, Gary Cornia and Gloria Wheeler. Julie Humberstone, Melanie McCubbins, Katrina Frederick, and Aaron Miller. 13 Alumni News

Becca Shim I have been surviving this year by the sheer leaders across the country on a task force force of will power and the celebration of to address the challenges of No Child Left MPA 2005 Jewish holidays. Indeed, the abundance of Behind. Holdaway is also serving as a member days off is by far the best (and most necessary) of the Kindergarten to 16 alliance within the Since graduating of the job perks. I have been using these days state to improve the dynamics between public last year, I moved to travel to places like Guatemala and the education and higher education. to New York Dominican Republic. Later this year, I am and have been planning a trip to South America and Mexico. Holdaway works on education issues because working as the Summer vacation is just around the corner of his passion to improve the quality of ESL coordinator and surviving this first year has brought with education available to the citizens of Utah. of a high school it a kind of hubris that is usually reserved for Professionally, he works as a special education in the Bronx. superheroes and sixteen year olds. Because teacher in Granite School District in Salt While I am a of this feeling of unwarranted invincibility, I Lake County. While attending the executive little disillusioned will be using my summer vacation to get my program he worked as the day treatment that I haven’t motorcycle license and ride my new wheels all coordinator for a local mental health agency. spotted a single over the Eastern United States. His experience within the EMPA program G l o b e t r o t t e r and professionally have been beneficial in my Harlem in assisting him to be more effective as a neig hborhood , legislator. Many of the issues he has dealt I have been enjoying the quirks of New Kory Holdaway with were case studies and issues that he was York and have been thoroughly challenged made aware of while attending class and also by my job. Running an entire department EMPA 1993 learning from fellow classmates. and working with the politics of the largest school system in the country has been trying Kory Holdaway Although Holdaway gains satisfaction from and frustrating. While I have felt largely graduated from the public service his main passion is his family. inadequate in this capacity, I take comfort EMPA program He and his wife have three children the oldest in the fact that, thanks to the quant skills in 1993. Since of which is married and expecting their 2nd garnered through my studies in the MPA graduating he has grandchild. He loves being a grandpa. His program, I have the most elaborate grading been involved in second son is currently serving a mission in system at the school. Some call it overkill. I different public the Florida area and his youngest son will be a call it complete. service activities. junior in high school. The time he enjoys the He is currently most is the time with his family engaged in a While it has been my job to teach my students a member of the variety of activities. He and his wife recently good ol’ American English, they have been Utah Legislature celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary teaching me a few linguistic gems and have r e p r e s e n t i n g while traveling through the Caribbean. They opened my eyes to the possibilities of Ghetto House District also enjoy spending time camping and house Speak. A typical end-of-class conversation 34 in Salt Lake County. He was elected boating on Lake Powell. sounds roughly as follows: to the legislature in 1998 and has served in many different capacities within the Student: “Yo, Miss. Why ya ain’t lettin’ legislative body. He is currently serving Dennis Wengert us out early? We be stayin’ here mad as the Higher Education Appropriation late.” co-chair and also serves on the Education, MHA 1986 Translation: Miss, why can’t we leave? We’ve Natural Resource, and Political Subdivision been at school too long. standing committees. He is also a member of Dennis Wengert the Administrative Rules Committee. This was recently Me: “Yo, why you wilin’?” committee oversees all rules that are made by appointed the Translation: You’re out of line. state agencies to be in compliance with state Nevada deputy statute. district director Student: “Miss, ev’ryday you be beastin’ for the U.S. over two minutes!” While serving in the legislature, Holdaway Small Business Translation: Miss, you’re always making a big has demonstrated a passion for education Administration. deal out of us staying the entire day. and has been one of the state leaders The district nationally that has worked with different oversees all Me: “For real, son, you O.D.-in’!” federal organizations to improve the federal SBA services Translation: Seriously, you’ve got to calm down legislation dealing with education. He has t h r o u g h o u t and just deal with it. chaired the education committee for the N e v a d a , National Conference of State Legislatures. including marketing, outreach and promotion While in that position he worked with other of SBA loan programs, counseling, training, 14 lender relations, and disaster assistance. “The manager in Ft. Lauderdale. While with returned to Orlando, Florida, to join another SBA is reinventing itself,” Wengert explains. Blue Cross, Wengert was asked to study the start-up company. “We’re getting away from being a transaction feasibility of a potential strategic partnership and processing type organization, to one with a workers’ compensation administrator. After enduring three direct hits from more focused on seeing that our programs are After making a favorable report and getting hurricanes in 2004, Wengert decided to accessible to the greatest number of people, the go ahead to implement the partnership, trade six months of hurricanes each year for especially women, minorities, and those Blue Cross decided to go in a different six months of snow in Utah. “We had to living in economically disadvantaged areas.” direction. The owner of the partner company replace the entire roof of a six-year-old home, Wengert comes to the SBA after a twenty- came to Wengert and said, “Come join us, and we didn’t want to face that possibility year career in the private sector. and we’ll do it on our own.” As vice president every summer. Plus, all my sisters and my and director, Wengert had the opportunity to parents had moved to Utah. I was the last Wengert accepted his first professional create and operate the first Florida certified holdout.” They bought a home in Highland, position during the last semester of his managed care plan for workers’ compensation Utah, in June 2005. “I decided then that I MHA curriculum in 1986 when he joined insurance using a PPO medical network. wanted to do something to contribute to the Benchmark Regional Hospital. “I was the public good. The SBA (in Nevada) was the first person the administrator hired. All we Following the sale of the company, Wengert perfect opportunity at the right time.” had at that point was a vacant lot in Woods joined Acordia, Inc. as executive director Cross. It was a great opportunity to create of human resources in their Indianapolis Wengert commutes bi-weekly between Las a marketing department and plan from corporate offices. “The company needed to Vegas and Highland for now. “Our youngest, scratch,” he says. After a successful opening restructure their employee health benefits to Amanda, will be a senior in high school this and initial operations, Wengert went to get their costs under control. It was a major fall. We didn’t want her changing schools McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah, which project that ended up shifting a majority of two times in two years. After she graduates, was building a free-standing behavioral health the 3,300 employees to HMOs, restructuring we’ll see what happens.” The time away from hospital one mile south of the main campus. several vendor contracts, and implementing a his family has rekindled a passion for writing. “I had to hustle, as we had only three weeks formulary for the prescription drug benefit. Wengert has recently completed a screenplay until the facility opened for business. It was a I learned a valuable lesson in balancing and is working on a series of three business great experience in what I would call a panic the issues of cost, corporate politics, and books. “My family is amused,” he says, “but start-up,” he says. compassion. You can’t please everyone, but I’m happy.”v you can be fair,” he says Before the company In 1991, Wengert joined Blue Cross Blue relocated to the Chicago area, Wengert Shield of Florida as a marketing project Meet the Advisory Board

“While income $3,000 to groups of borrowers for small start the inception of this program, more than may feed your up businesses. This program has over a 95 forty low income families have been able to stomach, only percent repayment rate. In the past four years, purchase homes. assets change MicroBusiness, USA has made more than your head.” 2,700 loans, more than any other designated Close serves on the advisory board for both This quote Small Business Administration provider in the Romney Institute and the Marriott from Michael the nation. 2) The Entrepreneurial Institute School, was a past president for both Florida Sheridan was provides a twelve-week course in business Women’s Political Caucus and the Cedars a guiding management, which helps borrowers prepare Medical Center Auxiliary, and has served principle in for increased loans of up to $35,000. More with several other organizations committed the founding than six-thousand entrepreneurs have gone to alleviating poverty and hunger. of Partners through this program. 3) The Matched for Self- Savings Fund encourages the accumulation Close lives in Las Vegas and Miami with her Employment, Inc. by Kathleen H. Close, a of assets by low income families by providing husband, Melvin D. Close, Jr., an attorney member of the Advisory Board. financial literacy and home ownership and a graduate of BYU School of Business training. For every one dollar saved each Administration in 1956. They have four Self-Employment, Inc. provides three key month toward the down payments for the children, ten grandchildren, and one great programs for borrowers: 1) MicroBusiness purchase of a home or starting a business, granddaughter. v USA, which makes small loans of $500 to the company contributes two dollars. Since