On April 2nd, in partnership with the Urban Management Assistants of Central Texas, the Public Administration Program hosted its first Engaging Local Government Leaders event. Bringing together city managers from Kyle, Austin Police’s Assistant Chief, San Marcos’ Parks and Recreation manager, and a host of other local leaders, the ELGL Inspire event connected students with current state and city employees. Students networked with speakers over lunch and had the opportunity to learn about strategies for finding public service jobs, as well as the key skills and abilities employers look for. A panel led by Dr. Nandhini Rangarajan, director of the Master of Public Administration program, Mr. Scott Sellers, city manager for the city of Kyle, and Mr. James Earp, assistant city manager for Kyle, answered questions attendees had and spoke on the importance of making a difference in local communities. Public administration graduate student Brandon Elliott was happy “to see all the different avenues [he] could take in local government,” and “felt validated in [his] choice to pursue a career in the public sector.”
