Alumni & student testimonials
Master's programs
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Amanda Mack, MPA (on-campus) ’22, GCert Evaluation ‘22 "Thank you for being my reference and for being such a lovely supervisor! I won't lie, I am very glad that the thesis process is over but it was such an important step for me. I guess I didn't tell you - but the reason that the ILO offered me this position is because they were one of the organizations that I interviewed for my thesis. I sent the interviewee a copy of my thesis after it was published, and they offered for me to come and help them improve their gender equality integration in their evaluations! So that is what I am doing now. I would never have had this great opportunity otherwise, so I am very happy it all worked out so well." |
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Véronique Mercier, MPA '05 Véronique Mercier came to the MPA department as an honours student in Psychology in 2003 and received her Master of Public Administration in 2005. She won her first job as a permanent employee with the BC Public Service before her graduation! In 2013, Véronique was nominated in the Emerging Leader category of the BC Public Service Premier’s Award. While she was emerging as a leader in government, Véronique was also emerging as a fitness leader in the Victoria fitness community. During her 17 years in government, Véronique continued to grow her leadership skills and used these skills in all areas of her life. In her last years in government, Véronique was the HR Director and Director of the Francophone Affairs Program at the Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat (IGRS). The lockdown in 2020 brought with it a golden opportunity for Véronique to pursue her passion for fitness. She started teaching her fitness classes online and grow her online fitness community. In 2021, she left her position in government to become a full-time entrepreneur and leader in the fitness industry. Veronique reports that her MPA prepared her well not only to be a successful leader in government but also to lead successfully in the private sector. Her MPA and experience in government taught her the importance of stakeholders, client relations, embracing change, capturing opportunities, and the utmost importance of communication. As a small business owner, Véronique oversees everything, including marketing, promotion, client relations, business and strategic planning, programming, and budgeting. Véronique is a stellar fitness instructor, but without the skills and confidence she built through her post-graduate education and career in government, she would not be where she is today. At 47 years old, Véronique is fueled with creative energy and the desire to keep growing her online fitness community internationally! |
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Rodrigo Feracini, MPA (online) '24 "The opportunity to discuss current policy issues with other public service leaders in the MPA online program is awesome! The commitment of my cohort to our discussions is a great source of motivation as we manage our busy schedules. The diversity of my cohort also allows me to see the same issue from different perspectives and encourages us to learn from each other." |
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Victoria Sakura Surry, MPA (online) '23 "I am able to apply the material in the MPA online program in an integrated way to tackle difficult environmental, social and economic issues that can't be solved with simple solutions. The innovation comes from taking each course and building on the material throughout the program. Interacting with the faculty is the best part for me. Being able to present a complex problem and get back suggestions on how to deal with it is a benefit to the program." |
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Trisha L. Renken-Sebastian, MACD '24 "The MACD program is introducing me to the skills and competencies I need to be successful as a community developer. It is also helping me make connections in Canada in this field, which is very important as a recent permanent resident whose previous career and goals were not in community development." |
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Melanie Gentles, MPA (online) '23 "I am learning a tremendous amount in the MPA online program about local government and how to be an effective leader in it. Even though it is strictly an online program, the professors set up the classes to encourage communication and engagement among students. It is a great way to help us feel a sense of inclusion and community." |
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Vincent Piette, MPA (on-campus) '23 "The co-op component of the MPA on-campus program helped me get my foot in the door to the federal public service. My co-op position translated directly into an indeterminate (permanent) position well before I was graduated. Having the Statistics and Economics classes are helping me directly fulfill classification requirements in the EC-classification jobs in the federal public service. These positions have degree requirements which require both of these disciplines, and are higher paying positions. The theoretical and practical writing classes proved very useful. Learning about logic models and writing briefing notes are all assets in the public service and pay dividends. Effective and concise writing are must-haves, and being able to understand leadership-level audiences is key." |
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Shona L. Nelson, MPA (online) '23 "The online MPA program has afforded me the lifelong goal of completing a graduate degree while working in the field of First Nations Public Administration. I am further improving my skills in different facets of administration that helps me become a more effective manager of a busy and progressive First Nation. My favourite aspect of the program is the diverse course load, but all are interconnected with concept of sustainability, social and ecological justice." |
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Ryleigh Lightbourn, MPA on-campus student "In my first co-op, I am thrilled to be working with the Indigenous Guardians Pilot in Canada Wildlife Service where I have the opportunity to learn from and to support Indigenous-led stewardship initiatives from coast-to-coast-to-coast." |
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Sarah Greer, MPA '22 "As an undergrad I explored the experiences of female elected officials in local governments. After this project I knew I wanted real-life work experience and additional government-related courses. The MPA program offered a combination of both. Through co-ops I’ve worked for two rural local governments on Vancouver Island - the Village of Tahsis and the Village of Alert Bay. During both placements I independently conducted bylaw projects but also had the opportunity to learn other areas of local government such as running a by-election and grant writing. I feel prepared and confident for a career in local government." |
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Sam K., MPA '23 "The highlight of the program for me has been the combination of accessible and actively contributing faculty and an enthusiastic and skilled cohort of fellow students. The work that I've completed with the policy development division of Policy Directorate of Environment and Climate Change Canada has been also been a fascinating experience, and I truly feel that I have had a chance to see how policy is being designed and formed." |
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Erza Mjekiqi, MPA (on-campus) student "The highlight of my MPA programme so far has been my Government and Governance class with Dr. Lindquist. I considered the class to be quintessential to my understanding of the public sector and has aptly prepared me for my co-op position with an independent office of the legislature. My thesis examines the correlation between adverse childhood experiences and involvement in family law matters. Through my course of work at the BC Ombudsperson Office, I have become exposed to many MCFD matters and have heard the real lived experiences of the parties involved. This work is important to me as through both my professional and educational experiences, I have been privy to the impact of our adversarial system on children and their families and believe developing research on this topic will be the initial step towards law and policy reform." |
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Allison, MPA (on-campus) student "The practical approaches to policy development in the public sector, and the opportunity to apply these skills during integrated co-op work terms drew me to the MPA program. I have worked for the Policy Innovation Hub in Brisbane, Australia. This was a remote position, so I was able to apply skills learned during my course term regarding virtual teamwork and communication, in addition to researching policy options in global jurisdictions. I am planning to write my thesis on leading civic engagement and citizen participation in society. Strong democracies need engaged citizens with influential and diverse leadership." |
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Juraj Kobzik, MPA '22 "I am currently writing my thesis on collaborative opportunities between First Nation governments and municipal counterparts. I chose this topic from firsthand experience having lived in a region where these two communities were geographically neighbours but couldn't be further apart jurisdictionally. As a result, a number of service and infrastructure issues repeatedly presented themselves. I'm hoping that my thesis can somewhat literally help "bridge the gap." The support I've felt from staff, the co-op program and the MPA administration has been wonderful. Having attended a number of events and presentations hosted by the School of Public Administration designed to facilitate networking and learning, I feel that my future career opportunities with the Public Service have never been stronger." |
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Erica Veitch, MPA '23 "The practical, hands-on program as well as the location in a confluence of government hubs drew me to UVic. I've loved the cohort and meeting everyone over digital tea and coffee. There was also the very nerdy moment where I got to pull out my economics notes in the second week of my co-op while I was working on policy analysis, and I knew that my courses had some real-world applicability." |
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David Foster, MPA (on-campus) student "I enjoyed working at the BC Ministry of Health as a temporary employee in policy and legislation, and hope to make a career in the BC public service. The co-op component was a major reason to choose UVic. I have really enjoyed both my co-op opportunities. My first co-op was at the BC Ombudsperson which gave me experience in legal research and analysis and investigations. My next co-op was at the Representative for Children and Youth where I was able to further develop my investigative skills as well as contributing to a public report." |
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James Campbell, MPA (online) ’24 "Many of my friends, when I told them of the degree I was working towards through UVic, had a similar reaction. “Oh, cool! What is that?” I try to simplify the field by saying that public administration entails the translation of politics into the reality that Canadians see every day. As such, the marriage between my studies with the SPA and my work in the Senate of Canada have been extraordinarily complimentary. … The work done by public administrators can simply never be overstated. Their intention, spirit, effort, energy and diligence can literally have life or death consequences. We have seen it in our work with First Nations people across the country. The way public administrators interpret laws passed in the political forum, and their approach in actioning them, has a higher degree of subjectivity than many people would care to believe or think is true. Again, we have seen this firsthand in our work. … Public administration, in practice, touches on every member of Canadian society in big and small ways. It is incumbent on us all to ensure that we always consider those who most need our help and support, and that we go about our work in a way that honours and upholds those individuals. In doing so, we will honour and uphold all citizens; as the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all ships." |
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Micah Leonida, MPA (on-campus) ’24 "My time at the University of Victoria as a graduate student at the UVic School of Public Administration (SPA) gifted me the skills and tools needed to make our communities a better place. The school’s professoriate and administrative staff approached their work with such passion and care. Thank you for always answering my questions and going above and beyond to ensure the success of all students." |
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Sidi Chen, MACD student "The MACD residency provided a space for not only a cohort learning opportunity but also a community space for the students with diverse personal and professional backgrounds and practices to connect, exchange, and support. The relationship cultivated over the residency has been the best experience and most valuable resource for me in the MACD program." |
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Steven Collyer, MPA (online) '23 "The MPA online program allows me to apply what I learn directly in my work. The broad range of courses in different aspects of public administration are setting me up for future opportunities in my career as a well-rounded public service professional. I enjoy learning alongside other professionals in different fields. It broadens my understanding of the public service as a whole by learning about their roles, as well as sharing my own experience." |
Professional certificate programs
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Dylan Myers, PSC in Public Policy and Governance ’23 "In the last few years, my core focus has been strategy and policy. These aspects became more important in my roles, so I wanted to improve my skill set through the University of Victoria. I highly suggest the Public Administration programs to anyone wanting to enhance their government and policy knowledge. I look forward to applying my experience from the program and continuing to work with our fantastic team at the City of Vancouver!" |
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Heidi Scott, PSC in Public Sector Management ‘19 "I completed the professional specialization certificate in public sector management. It was a great complement to my BSC as it gave me some practical knowledge I could apply in government. I was able to obtain a management position in the ministry of finance with this certificate. I enjoyed online discussion and flexibility of the program. I completed it while working in government and with a young family." |