Hoping to learn more about the Mid-Career Master in Public Administration Program?
By Emma Heffern, Director of the Master in Public Administration Programs
As a Harvard Kennedy School student, you’ll have access to a wide variety of resources. One such resource is the Master in Public Administration Programs team, which works with Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA) and Master in Public Administration (MPA) students to ensure they have a positive experience.
In the Q&A below, Director of MPA Programs Emma Heffern discusses how her team supports students in the one-year MC/MPA Program and the two-year MPA Program.
What does the MPA Programs team do?
The MPA team is lucky that we get to be part of every stage of the student lifecycle—we meet with prospective applicants; participate on the admissions committee; and design and deliver programs, such as the MC/MPA Summer Program, MC/MPA Edward S. Mason Program Fall Launch, and MPA Orientation.
During the academic year, our team is the front line for students in the MPA and MC/MPA Programs. We work closely with them on navigating—and making the most out of—their time at HKS and Harvard, advising, course selection, networking and career searches, and much more! We also stay connected with many alumni as they go back into the world to deepen their impact.
What is your favorite part of working on the MPA team?
The best part of working as part of the team itself is the incredible sense of support and collaboration. We each bring diverse backgrounds and experiences to our work and roles at HKS and use those to come together to brainstorm and problem-solve. There’s a real sense of friendship and trust, and even on the busiest and most stressful days, laughter is a common feature of our team meetings.
Also, we get to work with the most amazing students. MPA and MC/MPA students bring deep and varied experiences to HKS. They use their time here to test hypotheses, explore academic interests, and learn new and innovative ways to make an impact on the public good. It is an honor for me to be a small part of their journey.
“MPA and MC/MPA students bring deep and varied experiences to HKS. They use their time here to test hypotheses, explore academic interests, and learn new and innovative ways to make an impact on the public good.”
Emma Heffern, Director of MPA Programs
How do students connect with you?
The MPA team is the front line for our students—we want them to come to us for anything and everything! We work with students on academic advising, career searches, and as accountability partners. We’re here to help them have most enriching time at HKS and Harvard.
What advice do you have for students considering HKS?
I have found HKS to be incredibly inspiring—it has kept me coming back for 15 years! There are no shortage of opportunities here if you come into it ready to explore with an open mind. Think about your goals, your gaps, and what you would bring to this community. Coming to graduate school is a big, important decision—if you’re looking for someone to help you think it through, you can always reach out to me.
What is your favorite HKS memory?
I think I’d say the “firsts” of every year: the first day of MPA Orientation and the MC/MPA Summer Program when everyone—new students and us—is filled with nervous excitement and anticipation.
Hoping to learn more about the Master in Public Administration Program?
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