Lots of links, lots to share!

Last weekend I had my first of four Saturday classes for Nonprofit Program Evaluation and it went well. This Saturday we will be doing a site visit to The Betts House, Ohio's oldest brick house. Our major project for the class is creating an evaluation tool for their current exhibit, The Shake. I'm really looking forward to our one-on-one time with the Executive Director and a chance to explore the museum. Learn more about the Betts House here http://www.thebettshouse.org/.

In Research Methods we have continued to brainstorm with our groups. We've managed to narrow our topics and formulate research questions. My group has had a slight change of direction, but I think we're on track.  Our proposals are due next Tuesday. In Administrative Law, I wrote my first case brief. It took me longer than I expected. It was difficult to condense a whole case onto one page. I have a feeling it will get easier though what with all the practice I'll have after doing them weekly. 

MPA news: Check out the 2012 online edition of the MPA annual newsletter, The PA Nexus http://psc-cj.nku.edu/docs/MPAnewsletters/Newsletter_2012.pdf. Also, the Student Spotlights page should be up and running soon, so I'll let you know when that's available!

PASS news: We are happy to announce our guest speaker Roxanne Qualls will be presenting on March 22, 5-6pm. Roxanne is the former mayor and current vice mayor of Cincinnati and serves on city council. Also, she used to teach at NKU in the MPA program, how cool! More information will follow on the details of that event. Learn more about Roxanne here http://www.roxannequalls.com/home/about_roxanne.html. One more date to mark in your calendar, March 31, is the spring Service on Saturday PASS will be participating in. To stay up to date on PASS events check out the PASS page on the MPA website http://psc-cj.nku.edu/programs/public/masters/mpastudents.php or check out the MPA Facebook page for updates, you can find us under 'Northern Kentucky University MPA Program.'

ASPA news: Two weeks ago I attended my first ASPA-board meeting. Tonight is the ASPA-NKU annual dinner.The guest speaker will be Joshua Smith, who is currently the city manager of Hamilton, Ohio, and formerly the administrator of Howard (WI), Cedarburg (WI) and Monticello (IA). Learn more about Joshua here http://www.hamilton-city.org/index.aspx?page=502. I'll be heading over there shortly, and hope to see many of you there!

New year, new classes

Hello, readers!

I am officially one-third of the way through completing my Master's! Last semester went well and I'm excited for my classes this semester, just two nights a week! I'm taking Administrative Law and Research Methods. I think both classes will be challenging but interesting, which is great. I'm also taking Nonprofit Program Evaluation over the course of four Saturdays in January and February. After Program Evaluation I will be finished with my Nonprofit Management Concentration and just have Public Administration core classes left. I'm moving right along!

Winter break was great, but I was a little antsy to get back to a routine by the last week or so. I hope everyone else had a nice break, too!

In MPA department news: the annual newsletter, The PA Nexus, has officially gone to print and will be available soon! Also, the department has decided to feature a 'Students Spotlight' page on the website which I'm really excited about. Keep an eye out for two new students each semester. I'll be sure to keep you updated. Additionally, if you're interested in being featured or recommending someone, please email me @ vogelgesav1@nku.edu.
 
Outside of classes, I have a few other things going on this semester that will keep me busy. I'll be assisting Dr. Olberding and Dr. McIntyre Miller with some research on community development. Hopefully, I will get into the literature review next week. The first PASS event of the semester will be a social event at a Cincinnati Cyclones game on Thursday, February 16, 7:30 v. Elmira. I can't wait! Not only am I eager to get PASS going for the semester, but I LOVE hockey games! We've also decided to participate in NKU's Spring 'Service on Saturday' in March and have plans for a guest speaker in the works. More to come on all the PASS activities!

I hope everyone's semesters are off to a good start and I'll write again soon! Happy New Year!