Student Profiles
| Master's Students: | Nick Benne | Dan Boden | |
| Brendan Brink-Halloran | Maral Dilanian | Ryan Fisher | |
| Field Glover | Thomas Holian | Kate Lanham | Kamilia Lawson |
| Stacy Leamer | Amanda Palmore | Jamie Rodgers | Kristina Scholz |
| Monique Vanloo | Lacy Ward, Jr. | Alex Woods | |
| EDP Ph.D. Students: | Veronica Arroyave | Will Butler | |
| Rachel Christensen | Catherine Greenberg | Heather Switzer | |
| PAPA Ph.D. Students: | Kim Baker | Boris Bruk | |
| John Bumgarner | Muxian Fang | Kathy Webb Farley | Roxanna Girip |
| Courtney Jensen | B. Joon Kim | Ryan Lanham | Glenn Orr |
| Philip Parker | Amanda M. Olejarski | Michelle Pautz | Jessie F. Reckart |
| Jessica Wirgau | |||
Master's Students
Nick Benne (MPA) has experience in working for a grant funded program under the VA Dept. of Criminal Justice Services at the Virginia Attorney Generals Office. He worked with victims of crime during the appellate process and in cases of identity theft. He also has experience working on numerous political campaigns and in the VA General Assembly. He is interested in NPO's and NGO's at the International level due to his undergraduate work in International Relations and as a intern at the Institute for Palestinian studies in Washington DC.
Dan Boden (MPA) was born in Mission Viejo, CA, but is most recently from Fairfax, VA. Dan holds degrees from Brigham Young University (BA) and Virginia Tech (MPA). He has served as a volunteer in various capacities for several nonprofit organizations. His professional experience in the nonprofit sector includes his time as Operations Manager with a Washington, DC based nonprofit organization as well as his current position with the University Development Office at Virginia Tech. Dan's interests include the effects of tax law on philanthropy and federal faith based initiatives and their effects on faith based organizations.
Brendan Brink-Halloran (MURP) comes from Grand Rapids, MI and is at Tech through the Peace Corps Master's International Program. His current focus is organization and mobilization techniques for grassroots NGOs. Brendan has past experience with the County Department of Community Development in Grand Rapids. Now, he is looking forward to a Fall 2006 Peace Corps assignment in Latin America.
Maral Dilanian (MPA) is from Northern Virginia and chose VT for future opportunities to work with education reform at the federal level. He is particularly interested in how non-profit groups can fill in gaps in the education system left by the government. Maral has worked as a volunteer on various education programs in the US and internationally in India and the Philippines. He has also worked with IPG affiliated professor Angela Eikenberry on the responses of non-profit groups to disaster situations.
Ryan Fisher (MPA) is from Vienna, VA and enrolled in public administration at Tech because of its high national rating and experienced professors in town administration and management. He is particularly interested in administrative ethics and has experience in non-profits through the National Vaccine Information Center. Ryan is hard at work for IPG as a research assistant on the Leadership Through the Arts project in southside Virginia.
Field Glover (MPA) was born in Cambridge, MA, but was most recently from Laramie, WY. He was attracted to the program at Tech because he felt the MPA program would prepare him to excel in the non-profit world. Field has a long background in non-profit management, including time as Director of Gifts at Virginia Tech, Director of Development at the University of Wyoming and Field Director for the American Diabetes Association.
Thomas Holian (MPIA) is from Alexandria, VA and entered Tech as part of the Peace Corps Master's International Program. He is particularly interested in conflict resolution within and amongst non-profits. Thomas previously worked as a public affairs officer with a major defense contractor, but is now hoping for a Fall 2006 Peace Corps assignment in Eastern Europe.
Kate Lanham (MURP) hails from Chicago, IL and was a health care facilities planning consultant before coming to Virginia Tech. She was attracted to the program because of the opportunities to study both planning and "leadership through the arts" programs. Her focus of study is in community development, especially in regards to public-private revitalization projects. Kate is working with IPG on the Leadership Through the Arts project and the Community Arts Network archive, a town-university initiative.
Kamilia Lawson (MPA) is originally from Frenchburg, KY, but came to Tech because she wanted to pursue a career in public service. She believes in directly addressing the problems/issues of citizens in order to improve lives. Kamilia's current interests are in non-profit management, especially in the spheres of housing, education and health care. She has work experience in real estate, as well as a stint at the Canadian Parliament.
Stacy Leamer (MPA) is from Spotsylvania, VA and came to Tech to study policy work in detail. In particular, she is interested in athletic compliance in regards to public administration. Stacy got involved in policy research in her undergraduate work and hopes to bring this knowledge to the program.
Amanda Palmore (MPA) comes from Buckingham, VA and chose a degree at Tech because of its size and the close relationship between professors and students. She is currently focused on health care legislation and has experience working with a small family practice. In addition, Amanda has also interned with her local Congressman.
Jamie Rodgers (MPIA) comes from Martinsburg, WV and arrived at Virginia Tech to study workplace policy. Her particular interests are labor relations, living wage and international labor formation and participation. Jamie has previous experience as an urban planner in Berkeley County, WV and is now bridging relationships between MPIA and MURP students.
Kristina Scholz (MPIA) grew up around the world as the daughter of a businessman turned Foreign Service Officer. She came to Virginia Tech to study international affairs as part of the Peace Corps Master's International Program. Kristina is now learning more about community development practices in an international context. She has worked before with civic education, but it will become a full-time occupation when she leaves in Fall 2006 on a Peace Corps assignment to South East Asia.
Monique Vanloo (C&I) is from Toronto, Canada and is currently pursuing a degree in Curriculum & Instruction in the Education Department, with a certificate in Non-Governmental Organization & Management. Her main interests include education, policy studies and non-governmental management, especially with regards to urban renewal among African-American communities in the Roanoke Valley. Following her studies, Monique hopes to bring her knowledge of education and grass roots community development to a job in non-profits in Africa.
Lacy Ward, Jr. (MPA) is executive director of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Central Virginia. Born in Philadelphia, he graduated from high school in Farmville, Virginia. Ward has a varied background which includes governmental service (military, legislative and executive), university administration, professional sales, and political and civic involvement. Ward views the non-profit community as the communicative link between citizen and government.
Alex Woods (MURP) is from Monterrey, CA and entered Virginia Tech as part of the Peace Corps Master's International Program. He completed one year of studies before serving two years in the Peace Corps, assigned to small municipal government in Macedonia. Since returning to Blacksburg, Alex has focused on international development, especially local economic trends in Eastern Europe. He hopes to return to the Balkans after his degree.
EDP Ph.D. Students:
Veronica Arroyave (EDP PhD)
came to Virginia Tech as a result of her interest in international development and non-profit organizations. Currently, Veronica's main research focus is in Corporate Social Responsibility and its role in humanitarian action. She holds a Bachelors in Business Administration and a Masters in Public Health. She has several years experience working with global health and humanitarian organizations, including a major project with USAID.
Veronica is working on several IPG projects with Co-Director Max Stephenson, including acting as a representative in non-profit consortiums and co-writing an article with Dr. Stephenson on large gifts.
Will Butler (EDP PhD) comes from Wentworth , NC and sought a degree at Tech due to his interest in environmental land use and collaborative planning processes. He is now exploring the growing trend of non-profit organizations, particularly watershed groups, to engage in collaborative environmental management processes with government agencies, businesses and other citizen associations. Will has served as a planning consultant with watershed organizations and taught courses on environmental policy. He is now working with IPG director Max Stephenson on the Fire Learning Network research project.
Rachel Christensen (EDP PhD) comes from Athens, WV and decided on Virginia Tech because of its excellent faculty and opportunity to study non-profit accountability and governance. Rachel has previously worked in higher education and community service and hopes to bring that experience to her studies at Tech. She is working on several IPG projects, including the Non-profit Narratives speaker series, the non-profit listserv and mentoring research.
Catherine Greenberg (EDP PhD) grew up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia before heading to Blacksburg. She decided on the Environmental Design and Planning program at Tech because of her interest in public problems, especially in educational attainment, growth and development in rural areas. Prior to her current program, Catherine worked as a journalist, as well as in higher education.
Heather Switzer (EDP PhD) is from Salem, VA and came to Tech to study international development issues. In particular, she is focused on gender dynamics and cultural change in eastern Africa. Prior to study at Virginia Tech, Heather served in Peace Corps/Ethiopia, a university instructor and Assistant Director of the Service Learning Center. She will begin work with IPG in August of 2006.
PAPA Ph.D. Students:
Kim Baker (PAPA PhD) is most recently from Pensacola, FL and chose Virginia Tech because she felt it would be a good place to pursue her interests in cultural policy, especially in regard to the arts. She is currently studying how to better implement sound community participation policies among non-profit organizations. Kim has previously worked as a Director in arts programs in Florida and Oklahoma. She is involved in several IPG projects, including ongoing non-profit board training projects, as well as working with IPG Senior Fellow Minnis Ridenour on the Art Museum of Western Virginia performing arts facility project.
Boris Bruk (PAPA PhD) was born in Saratov, Russia. In 2001-2002 he was a participant in the Russian-US Young Leadership Fellows for Public Service (YLF) Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. He was enrolled in non-degree graduate level studies at the University of Wyoming, Department of Political Science. His professional experience includes five-year work with the Saratov Regional Government, internship with the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce (CO), American Red Cross and the City of Laramie (WY). In 2006 he received master’s degree in international studies from the University of Wyoming and joined CPAP PhD program. His major interests include administrative reform, good governance (citizen engagement/public participation in particular), organizational identity and corporate image.
John Bumgarner (PAPA PhD) currently resides in Blacksburg, Virginia. He was attracted to the Center for Public Administration and Policy due to its “generalist” approach in both its Masters and PhD programs. Currently, Bumgarner is employed by the Institute for Policy & Governance and maintains an interest in horizontal forms of governance, particularly in the field of social welfare policy.
Muxian Fang (PAPA PhD) hails from China and was attracted to Virginia Tech because the program fit with his interests and future career goals. His major focus at the moment is in economic development policy. Muxian's background includes work for the Montgomery County Planning Department and current work at the Virginia Tech Budget Office.
Kathy Webb Farley (PAPA PhD) most recently worked as manger of prospect research in the Smithsonian Institution Office of Development while earning an MPIA fom Virginia Tech's National Capital Region school. She chose Tech because she is interested in furthering her studies in the roles non-profits play in democratic governance of the society and the effect philanthropists can have on an organization. Her experience in fundraising in a private high school, state university, and federal organization, provides a rich background of experience in educational institutions.
Roxanna Girip (PAPA PhD) is originally from Romania and came to Tech to gain a new academic perspective on organization, policy, ethics and management. The sweeping changes in Eastern Europe have led her to pursue public policy and its relative implications around the world. Today, she is most interested in change management, public-private partnerships and NGO capacity building. She has a great deal of experience in government and non-profit groups in her home of Romania, as well as in Russia and the Ukraine.
Courtney Jensen (PAPA PhD) is a first year PhD student. She was born in Tacoma, Washington and chose the CPAP program at Virginia Tech because of its normative focus. During her Masters program, she worked as a research assistant for an entrepreneurship professor and became interested in learning whether the ideas and principles of business entrepreneurship transfer to social entrepreneurship. She is also interested in issues of participation and democracy regarding nonprofits.
B. Joon Kim (PAPA PhD) is originally from Seoul, South Korea, but most recently arrived from Hayward, CA, where he received his MPA from California State University, East Bay. He was recommended to Virginia Tech because of the program's excellent academic reputation. Joon's major focus in on the relationship between information communication technology infrastructure for citizen interaction and collaboration on local governance.
Ryan Lanham (PAPA PhD) is from Cincinnati, OH by way of Chicago, IL and worked various financial jobs before becoming CEO of an internet venture capital firm. Ryan gave that up to study organizational theory and institutional economics. He was particularly interested in Tech as a better means to find out how the state fits into the social systems of the 21 st century. Ryan has worked on projects with IPG Senior Fellow Minnis Ridenour.
Glenn Orr (PAPA PhD) is a Virginia Beach, VA native and saw a degree at Tech as a means to increase his awareness, effectiveness and opportunities in several aspects of civil society. Glenn has a long experience history in the Navy and later as a church administrator and university instructor. He is a licensed minister and active pastor. His studies at Tech have been focused on social justice and democratic economics. Glenn has worked closely with IPG director Max Stephenson during his time here.
Philip Parker (PAPA PhD) comes from Arlington, TX and received degrees at Rice University and Texas Tech before heading to Virginia Tech. He was attracted here after reading books by Charles Goodsell and John Rohr, both professors at the Center for Public Administration and Policy at VT . Philip is currently focused on how nongovernmental entities engage in regulatory policy, especially in regards to the utilities industry. In addition to a journalism background, Philip also worked as a policy analyst in the Texas legislature. His work on governance and constituency issues fits in well with IPG initiatives.
Amanda M. Olejarski (PAPA PhD) is from southern New Jersey and received both her BA and MPA from Rutgers University, Camden. She was impressed with the doctoral program at Virginia Tech because of its normative, generalist traditions in the study of public administration. Although she has some experience with the nonprofit sector, she looks forward to working with the faculty at CPAP to enhance her knowledge on the subject. Her particular interest includes the role of non-profit organizations in community and economic development.
Michelle Pautz (PAPA PhD) is most recently from Richmond, VA and was attracted to Tech because of her interests in government and environmental policy. She is now exploring organizational theory and regulations in regard to the environment. Michelle has previously worked with the North Carolina Department of Environment & Natural Resources as well as the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
Jessie F. Reckart (PAPA PhD) was born and raised in Morgantown, WV. Reckart has worked at the international, county, and city levels of government. Most recently, she was involved in visioning processes for West Virginia communities funded by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. Currently, she is pursuing a Ph.D. at Virginia Tech’s Center for Public Administration and Policy. Ms. Reckart is particularly interested in questions of non-profit accountability.
Jessica Wirgau (PAPA PhD) has a background in art history and museum administration and currently works for the Town of Blacksburg as its Museum Coordinator. She is actively involved with several non-profit organizations locally and serves on the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of the New River Valley. She came to Virginia Tech to pursue research in arts and cultural policy and non-profit governance. She is particularly interested in the formation of effective partnerships between local governments and non-profit organizations.