Two for One Blog Post

Well….I completely forgot to post a blog post for October, so this one will count for both October and November. 

The past two months have been pretty quiet for the department as everyone has started planning their final projects and exams (and Christmas vacation as well).  I did finish my work for Dr. Misis’ research on Kentucky law enforcement’s use of social media.  Next semester we should be working on the actual paper in the spring.  This Friday is the department Christmas party which should be a good time.  We are doing a “dirty Santa” so I gotta be sure to get a good gift for whoever winds up getting it. 

I have registered for classes for the spring (a.k.a. my final semester!!!) and will be taking Policy Analysis and Capstone.  I have been working with Dr. Olberding pretty closely on ideas for my Capstone project and have decided upon doing a survey of local city managers that is an update of a project done by a student a few years ago.  It will also look at citizen engagement in local government.  I think I’ll be able to make it timely and relevant with the recent Presidential election. 

At the Aronoff I have only done “The Phantom of the Opera” in the past two months.  “The Phantom of the Opera” was the first musical/show I ever saw at the Aronoff (when I was about 10) so it was really cool to be able to experience it now as an adult and volunteer.  The music was just as good as I remember.  In December I will be working the Cincinnati Ballet’s annual performances of “The Nutcracker.”  I worked it last year and really enjoyed their production.  The Ballet was just recently in Washington D.C. at the Kennedy Center performing “The Nutcracker” so I am expecting this year’s shows to be better than ever. 

That’s all for these two months. 

Thanks for reading!

When September Ends

Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather (finally)!

September has been quite the busy month.  Last weekend NKU hosted the 76^th Annual Meeting of the Ohio Association of Economists and Political Scientists.  I was fortunate enough to present the research Dr. Misis and I have done so far on Kentucky law enforcement’s use of social media.  It went fairly well I think.  I also got to see research presentations by some fellow NKU Department faculty and was impressed by what they’d done.  The next step for Dr. Misis and me is to write a paper to submit for a journal which would be very exciting.

I have been chosen as the next President of PASS (the Public Administration Student Society).  We are trying to expand the organization this year and get it a little more active than it has been recently.  The first event we will be attending as a group is the Michael Sam talk being put on by NKU’s Office of LGBTQ Programs and Services on Thursday October 6^th in the Student Union Ballroom.  After the talk we are hoping to get people to go to the Skyline Tavern to further discuss his talk.  Those who have class that night are more than welcome to come after.  PASS is also hoping to do one more event this fall and do a lot more in the spring.  Check out our Facebook page and stay up to date at: www.facebook.com/NKUPASS. 

I will be returning to the Aronoff this season and have already worked one event.  The Cincinnati Ballet performed “Director’s Cut” which was a series of vignettes choreographed by the company.  It was simply breathtaking and I am definitely looking forward to more of their shows this year.  The first big Broadway Across America show is the national tour of “The Sound of Music.”  Fans of the movie will no doubt be coming in droves to see it performed live.  I’m sure it will be a crowd favorite. I will be working it twice so I’ll probably be hymning “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” for a while. 

I have no idea what October has in store, but it puts me one step closer to graduation and the real world.  Like I say in every post, thanks for continuing to read this blog.  See ya next month!

Back to Reality Again

Welcome back everyone! 

I can’t believe this will be my third year doing all this again, but also sadly my last.  I will finally be graduating in May so cherish these last few posts of mine.

The MPA program has changed a little bit since May.  Dr. Mattson has officially retired and Dr. Lambert has taken a position at a university in Louisville.  They will certainly be missed and will no doubt be successful in their new endeavors.  On a brighter note, Dr. Olberding has finished her book on social enterprise and special events, of which I am a co-author of the final chapter, and should be released late this year.  It’s very exciting for her and the department.  Dr. Misis, and undergraduate student, and I are currently working on the presentation of our research on social media practices of Kentucky law enforcement agencies for a conference next month being held here at NKU.  After the conference we will be writing the paper to submit for publication. 

I’m sure all of you want to know about my summer.  My study abroad trip to Austria was quite simply, amazing!  I learned a lot about leadership, the Holocaust, Europe, and myself.  I was able to visit Munich, Vienna, Venice, Rome, and Zurich during my five weeks.  I checked a lot of stuff off my bucket list.  I was able to see the Colosseum, ride a boat in Venice, drink a beer at the Hofbrauhaus in Munich, watch an Opera in Vienna, visit a concentration camp, and so much more.  The classes were a little bit more difficult than I had hoped, but it made me a better student.  Both of my classes were very insightful.  I definitely recommend KIIS-Austria, Bregenz for any future students if it is offered for the MPA program again.  It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.  (Pictures are attached to induce jealousy). 

On top of that I was able to take a week-long vacation to Cabo, Mexico with some friends.  It was nice to unwind after 5 weeks of riding trains, studying, and sleeping on a couch.  I luckily didn’t get too burnt either.  I then spent five days in New York City with my mother and brother.  I was exhausted already, but I mustered up the energy to see the Big Apple.  We took bus tours of the island of Manhattan, walked through Central Park, and saw a Broadway show (“An American in Paris” is amazing btw).  After my two month long travels I sadly had to return to reality of work and school. 

I’ll write a new post in September with an update on my classes, the MPA program, and any other odds and ends I can think of.  As always, thanks for stopping by!

The NKU peeps

Colosseum selfie

Inside St. Paul's Cathedral

Being a bubble boy in Munich

Another April

Welcome to the final blog post of the school year! 

My last blog post a good number of page views from Europe.  I assume this is from me mentioning my upcoming Austria study abroad trip, so I’ll name drop a few more European cities/countries to get a wider audience.  Maybe they’ll be interested in the MPA program, and I’ll be responsible for them joining.

So, I had orientation at WKU a couple weekends ago for the Bregenz-Austria trip.  I learned I’ll have to take really, really, really short showers which is impossible for me so that’ll be new.  Apparently water is crazy expensive over there.  The group will be taking trips to Munich, Germany and Vienna so I’m super pumped for both of those.  Bregenz is also on Lake Constance and I guess we can just hop into it wherever and swim around.  There’s also very little crime there so I’ll feel much safer walking around than I have in other cities.  It’s going to be a great time and I’ll be sure to write a blog post about it, pictures and all, when I get back to make everyone jealous.  

Work and school here in the MPA program have gone really well recently.  Dr. Olberding is finishing up the first draft of her book, so hopefully that’ll be available for everyone in the near-ish future.  Dr. Lambert has had a couple provisionally accepted for academic journals (one of them I’m a co-author).   Dr. Misis will be presenting some research at a conference at NKU in the fall (which I also co-authored).   This week I have two presentations for class and next week are finals, both of which are online/take-home thankfully.  After next week’s finals I have about two weeks of R&R before heading out on my great European adventure!!!

The Aronoff in April had “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Book of Mormon.”  Both were great, but completely different.  “Beauty and the Beast” had lots of kids in attendance, and a couple little girls had on their best Belle dress.  “The Book of Mormon” had a more adult crowd.  Hilarious show, but hardly for anyone below high school age.  Up next is the classic “Cabaret,” and it’s the final show of this Broadway season so no more big musicals until September.  The Cincinnati Opera will be at the Aronoff this summer due to renovations at Music Hall so hopefully I’ll get to work an opera show or two (it’ll be my first time seeing a legit opera performance). 

I think that’s about all for this month.  Like I said, I’ll write something up over the summer about my summer trip. 

Thanks again for reading!

Marching On

Happy March everyone!  I’m not even gonna mention March Madness this year.  I actually remembered to write this at the end of the month this time.  It’s hard to believe there’s only a couple weeks left of school.  Soon enough it’ll be summer time and I can enjoy a little bit of time off school.  Speaking of summer…

The Austria study abroad trip is slowly coming together.  It’s finally hitting me that I’ll be leaving in less than 2 months.  In April I have to go down to WKU for an orientation session so my family’s going to make a little vacation of it and go to Nashville for a night.  I’ve received some scholarships so far from NKU, but I’m also waiting to hear on a few more.  Everyone keep your fingers crossed for me.

March was pretty quiet for the MPA program.  Dr. Lambert did host a guest speaker, Richard Wolff, who discussed income inequality and the problems it causes for our democracy (those who are “feeling the Bern” would have really liked his lecture).  It was a great event, and I think a lot of people learned something about how crazy our modern capitalist society can be.  In April we will have the Spring Awards Banquet where Jeniece Jones, our MPA Distinguished Alumna, will be speaking. 

Registration for the fall semester just happened, and I signed up for a GIS course (which I’ve heard is a great class to take because you learn some unique skills) on Monday and Wednesday during the afternoon and Dr. Misis’ Homeland Security online class.  Yes, this means no night classes for me!!! 

At the Aronoff, I recently ushered “Newsies.”  It was a really fun show with the best choreography I’ve seen yet.  It also had a really catchy soundtrack.  Next up is “Book of Mormon” and “Beauty and the Beast” in April, both of which I’m super pumped to see.   

That’s all for now folks.  I’ll be back at the end of April for a recap of the semester and school year overall.  As always, thanks again for reading! 

Forgotten Post February

Well everyone this post is coming on March 1^st because I completely blanked last week about my February post :/.  So March will technically have two posts (unless I forget, which is very likely). 

First, I was accepted to study abroad in Austria this summer!!!!!  I will be spending five weeks in the beautiful city of Bregenz.  I will be taking a course on global leadership and a course on the psychology of good and evil with a focus on the Holocaust (should be some heavy stuff).  Right now I’ve been applying for scholarships because this program certainly isn’t cheap.  I will also be going to Cabo for a week like three days after I return so it’s going to be a very expensive, but fun summer.  May cannot get here soon enough.

Here at NKU I’ve been working on a few projects for the professors.  For Dr. Misis I’m finishing up his study on social media use by KY law enforcement agencies.  I’ve had to make a lot of phone calls.  That was the worst, because like everyone else my age, I hate talking on the phone.  Luckily the conversations were very short.  For Dr. Olberding I’m working on a literature review for her book.  My lit review focuses on special events and their impacts on diversity.  I’ve found some really good articles and studies so far, now I just have to write them up.  For Dr. Lambert I’m working on sprawl data in Excel. 

The MPA program recently hosted a dinner with ASPA that turned out great.  The guest speaker, Eric Avner, gave a brilliant presentation on People’s Liberty.  It’s a great, revolutionary organization that gives grants to people.  The grantees have done some extremely creative and thought-provoking work and I look forward to seeing what People’s Liberty does in the future.  You can check them out on Facebook and on their website: www.peoplesliberty.org. 

Coming up at the Aronoff I’ll be ushering “Newsies” (twice!) which should be a super fun show.  I just signed up yesterday to usher “Book of Mormon”!!!!!  That will probably turn out to be my favorite show ever and I will definitely write how awesome it is.  The schedule for next season also came out recently and there are quite a few shows that I look forward to working.  Check out the Aronoff’s website for more information on that. 

Next week is spring break already which means we’re already halfway through the semester!  I’ll be sure to post at the end of March to update on anything else exciting happening in the program.  Thanks again!

New Year, New Offices

Happy New Year and New Semester everyone!

The department has successfully moved into our new offices in Landrum.  All the important people are down on the 1^st floor.  I’m up on the 2^nd floor with my own office, sort of.  Two other professors have to come through my office to get to theirs, so I kind of work in their lobby area.  Either way my office is very spacious, but right next to the elevators and hangout area so there’s been some adjusting to all the foot traffic. 

This semester I’m taking PAD 602 Organizational Theory and Behavior and PAD 621 Resource Acquisition.  I highly recommend taking 602 right after “Foundations” because a lot of the theories and practices learned in that class will be very important in Org Theory.  I’m really looking forward to 621 because we’re aiding two local nonprofits with grant applications.  We are doing a service learning project with a new nonprofit called Scrap Nati. 

Over the break I was able to work a few times at the Aronoff.  I experienced my first ballet with the Cincinnati Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.”  It was a great show and had a lot more humor than I expected.  I definitely recommend more people check out the ballet.  I also ushered for “Kinky Boots.”  It might have been the most fun show I’ve worked yet.  It was hilarious with a lot of fun, memorable songs.  Upcoming I have the ballet’s version of “Cinderella” and a new musical “If/Then.” 

I’ve had a few projects for the three weeks we’ve been back.  I’m still working on a database for Dr. Misis about Kentucky law enforcement agencies and the social media platforms they employ.  I just finished up some Excel work for Dr. Lambert and Dr. Mattson.  They’re working on writing the paper so hopefully they’ll be some news on that in the near future.  I also helped organize the MPA Spring Newsletter, so keep an eye out for that in the next few weeks.

As always, thanks for stopping by!  By my next post I’ll have news about being accepted officially to the Austria program and what all it will entail! J