TXST Master of Public Administration Program

03/25/2024

The American Society for Public Administration announced that student Claudia Cormier will be part of the 2024 cohort of ASPA Founders Fellows. Claudia is one of 21 exceptional academics and practitioners in this year's cohort. This exemplary group will be recognized at the ASPA national conference in Minneapolis to be held from April 12-16 and receive focused mentorship and professional development opportunities over the course of the year. Many congratulations, Claudia!

02/19/2024

Current MPA student Amy Fanguy-White who works for the Department of Defense was awarded the Logistics Small Team award for her role as the Lead FIAR (Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness) compliance officer and analyst. The TXSTMPA program is very proud of Mrs. Fanguy-White who integrated accounts into a new logistics system which gave the Air Force 100% accountability on assets and FIAR readiness. This integration had an estimated savings of over $3.5M in the FYDP.

01/10/2024

We are delighted to share that TXST MPA alumna Melissa Bell's Applied Research Project titled "Toward Equal Access: A Model for Lay Advocacy Programs Serving People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing" has been published in JADARA (Journal of the American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association). Melissa's success with publishing her applied research project and her work on advocacy programs align with our mission of cultivating practical research-oriented leaders. A full text of her article can be accessed at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/jadara/vol56/iss1/3

11/13/2023

The Texas State MPA program honors all veterans, particularly the veteran students in our program. We thank you for your service!

10/30/2023

Our students attended an informative Q&A session with Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn. MPA student Naisargi Jaiswal learned how this experience could "improve the lives of people in diverse communities, both in small and substantial ways." She also noted that "The Peace Corps values, as epitomized by Director Spahn's account, reflect a profound commitment to social justice, community development, and global cooperation". Attendees at the event learned how volunteers act as ambassadors of goodwill, fostering collaboration, empathy, and respect. They exemplify qualities such as dedication, adaptability, and resilience as they confront and surmount challenges and can bring about positive change on both a personal and global scale.

10/10/2023

Join us for an inspiring evening of insights and opportunities!

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 17th, as the department and the Center for Research Public Policy and Training present a talk by Carol Spahn, the Director of the Peace Corps. In addition, we're thrilled to have a Texas State graduate currently serving in the Peace Corps sharing their experiences.

Discover what the Peace Corps is all about, why you should consider this life-changing service, and how to prepare for your own adventure. It will be from 5:00-6:00 p.m. in Derrick Hall 101 at Texas State University. Stay with us for a delightful reception afterward!

Don't miss this opportunity to explore a world of possibilities and make a difference. See you there!

You can click to register here: https://www.peacecorps.gov/events/24_vrs_specialevent_directorvisit_20231017/

10/04/2023

The Program is excited to announce that Dr. Helen Lowman assumes the directorship of The Center for Research, Public Policy, and Training (CRPPT), established by Texas State University in 2010. CRPPT was created to assist in academia, non-profit organizations, public administration, and policymaking. Dr. Lowman brings a wealth of experience from the federal and nonprofit sectors. Under Dr. Lowman's guidance, the center aims to foster collaboration, deepen understanding of policy issues, and generate solutions across government and nonprofit sectors. To learn more about her, follow this link!
https://www.polisci.txst.edu/affiliated-centers/crppt.html

10/02/2023

Step Up for State (1,899 minutes of giving) Campaign begins on October 4th through October 5th. If you can, please support the Master of Public Administration Program Discretionary Fund.

Your contribution to the MPA Program - Discretionary Fund will fund scholarships, experiential activities, and co-curricular programming for MPA students. Please follow this link to give!

Thank you for your generosity. Your gift furthers Texas State in its mission to serve the educational needs of the diverse population of Texas and the world beyond.

09/15/2023

alumna Andrea Villalobos is the Assistant Director of Planning for the City of San Marcos' Planning & Development Services Department. She is a native of San Marcos and graduated from our program with a focus on city and urban planning. Her Applied Research Project, “A Model Approach to Effective Municipal Housing Affordability Programs” identified the practical ideal components for municipal affordable housing programs and policies to better tackle housing affordability challenges. Currently, in her work with the City of San Marcos, she serves as the Project Manager for Vision SMTX. This comprehensive plan envisions the next 20 years of Downtown San Marcos and all its key components of housing, the environment, economic development, transportation, and land. She believes that planning is not just something seen but something felt and emphasizes that city planning involves the delicate balance between old and new and private and public infrastructure. Villalobos takes a multidisciplinary approach to city planning that involves engineers, property owners, and political leaders.

09/14/2023

alum Sergio Vasquez is an International Trade and Border Planning Coordinator with the Texas Department of Transportation. In his current role, Sergio manages multimillion-dollar contracts that facilitate the implementation of cross-border international trade, represents the department on trade border transportation matters in binational, state, regional, and private sector groups, and manages the Border State Infrastructure Fund Program with three TxDOT border districts to identify, program and obligate funds for border projects.

Sergio earned his Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Texas State University where he interned for the Associate Chief Counsel of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center within the Department of Homeland Security. Sergio has experience working for the Texas Attorney General the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality and TCEQ Border Affairs where he was contracted as a Senior Project Manager. Sergio has engaged in binational technical commissions managing binational environmental initiatives along the Texas-Mexico border.

09/13/2023

Alejandra I. Peña is the Texas Office of Court Administration’s Director of Data and Research Division. In her current role, Ms. Peña oversees the Judicial Information program which is responsible for collecting and maintaining information from courts at all levels, analyzing court data, and producing or assisting with the production of reports regarding the state’s courts. Prior to OCA Ms. Peña worked in the Texas child welfare sector with a focus on the judiciary for over 10 years. She began her career in child welfare with the Court Appointed Special Advocates organization as a case supervisor and was promoted to oversee the organization’s data efforts serving as their Director of Data and Evaluation in her final role. Ms. Peña holds a bachelor's degree in Forensic Science from St. Edward’s University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Texas State University.

09/12/2023

Larry Gonzales is a distinguished alum of Texas State University who has made a memorable mark in both education and public service. As the former Assistant Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations at the Texas State University System, Larry's commitment to higher education is unwavering. His legislative journey is equally impressive, serving on various key committees during multiple legislative sessions, including the notable Appropriations Committee. Larry's leadership reached its pinnacle when he chaired the Sunset Advisory Commission, demonstrating his dedication to enhancing government efficiency and accountability. He exemplifies the spirit of our university and its values of excellence and public service.