Three recent GPS Master of Public Policy alumni share how the degree opens doors at top government and public agencies across the Golden State
At UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS), faculty and students find ways to make the world a better place, drawing on interdisciplinary research to inform policy solutions to contemporary issues. To that end, a public policy degree from GPS helps those students who hope to serve the public in local municipal and county governments or at state agencies.
In introductory courses, candidates in the Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree program learn the theoretical backgrounds of policy issues, giving them the tools to participate in hands-on research projects and capstones that provide tangible outcomes.
Hear the stories of recent graduates to see how an MPP degree has supported their career trajectory.
Gaining career confidence
Courtney Ransom, a 2020 graduate of the MPP program, credits what she learned at GPS for equipping her to understand and communicate about technical topics, essential for her job in energy policy.
She pointed both to foundational classes common to all students, as well as specialized courses, like the capstone on energy policy taught by Professor David Victor, a renowned expert on climate change policy.
“GPS gave me enough quantitative training to feel like I can hang,” she said. “The Quantitative Methods sequence and other related classes have made it easier for me to cover complex topics surrounding energy markets and forecasting.”
After graduating from GPS, Ransom began her career as a legislative analyst for the California Energy Commission, where she works with the commission’s experts to understand and provide feedback on bills that the legislature proposes related to energy.
Sebastian Sarria, another 2020 graduate of the program, shared that the degree helped him round out his expertise by introducing him to a more analytical, data-driven mindset.
“Adding this to my existing experience in organizing and climate change advocacy, I was able to better myself and stand out as an applicant in the job market,” he said. “Since graduation, I’ve been promoted, experienced salary growth and been more versatile in the types of projects I’m able to take on.”
He recently joined Peninsula Clean Energy, an electricity provider of San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos, after working several years as a senior regulatory analyst at the California Public Utilities Commission.
Finding a path
While you may have an idea of what field you want to pursue, the MPP curriculum offers you opportunities to refine their interests and explore new ones.
Through her course of study at GPS, Niki Kalmus, also a 2020 graduate of the MPP program, also gained the competencies that she needed for her current role in local government.
“I knew I wanted to be a public servant, but I didn’t know exactly how to go about that or what I wanted to do specifically,” she said.
Then she took a class on California policy, where she learned for the first time about a career in government auditing, which involves ensuring public agencies are spending the state’s money properly and transparently.
After this piqued her interest, Kalmus said that the networks she developed at GPS were instrumental in guiding her to an auditing position with the City of San Diego, starting with an internship.
“After I got that job, I leveraged my connections to move to another department and eventually to my current role as a senior performance auditor,” she said.
And, like Ransom, Kalmus pointed to the MPP program’s emphasis on quantitative skills as something that set her apart during the hiring process. It also set her up for success in the job itself: She was promoted to senior performance auditor within three years.
Sarria noted that GPS has a fantastic career services team that helps you find the right internship and the tools you need for the job market.
“Talk to them if you have questions on life after graduation or about where you’ll end up,” he advises.
Alumni connections
In addition to the hard skills MPP students develop during their time at GPS, studying at the school opens the door to new connections with alumni who are working in state government.
“A number of alums who now work for the state also shared advice about the hiring process, which was helpful,” said Ransom. “I’ve never met a GPS alum who isn’t happy to have a conversation.”
The alumni network includes GPS graduates from around the world, but there are many MPP graduates working closer to home.
“The community of GPS graduates working for the state of California is growing,” Ransom added. “It’s been a pleasant surprise to see more alumni come to Sacramento in just the past two years.”
“The community of GPS graduates working for the state of California is growing. It’s been a pleasant surprise to see more alumni come to Sacramento in just the past two years.”
Courtney Ransom, MPP ’20
Policy analysis exists at all levels of government, so there is opportunity to connect with alumni working at the local level, too, whether that’s with an employee of the City of San Diego, San Diego County or non-government organizations that collaborate with local officials.
This was especially valuable for Kalmus, who grew up in New York State and earned her undergraduate degree in Connecticut.
“Though the GPS network is international, I knew by studying and interning in San Diego I could create a home here,” Kalmus said. “And I did!”
Are you interested in gaining policy expertise to help shape your state or local community? Learn more about the Master of Public Policy program at GPS.
