GSPIA celebrates 50 years of excellence

Transcription

1 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5 OCTOBER 29, 2008 IN THIS ISSUE 50th anniversary celebration GSPIA celebrates 50 years of excellence Unites alumni, students, faculty and staff Alumni discuss careers GSPIANs Recognized Faculty Focus Student Spotlight Federal agencies visit Pitt Donald Stone Jr. (left) and Nancy Stone (right) with Dean Keeler. UPCOMING EVENTS October 30 7:30 p.m. -- William Danvers, Former Senior Director for Legislative Affairs at the National Security Council and Former Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, speaks on On one of GSPIA's most momentous occassions, it was only appropriate for the school's founding personalities to return. In many ways, they did. Donald Stone Jr., son of GSPIA's first dean, remarked that the return of both he and his sister channeled the legacy of Donald Stone back to GSPIA. Stone elaborated that GSPIA's progress represents the true embodiment of one of his father's favorite quotes, "Press on regardless." "Our dad would be so proud," commented Nancy Stone, the former dean's daughter, on GSPIA's growth. "He always had a lot of regard for what a practitioner brings to the classroom." GSPIA's 50th anniversary celebration began Friday, October 24 with students engaging alumni on career panels concerning future opportunities. The panels focused on careers related to GSPIA studies and included a wide variety of governmental, non-profit, and corporate

2 "National Security Policy: Challenges for the New Administration and Congress." 1500 Posvar Hall. Ridgway Speaker Series. November 7 2:15 p.m. -- Dr. Robert Pape, Professor of Political Science, speaks on "How the Next President Can Win the War on Terror." 3500 Cathedral of Learning. University Honors College. November 21 8:30 a.m. -- Dr. Susan Wachter, Professor of Real Estate and Finance, speaks on "Metropolitan Growth and Decline: The Current Financial Crisis and the Long View." William Pitt Union, Lower Lounge. Wherrett Lecture Series. RSVP by Nov. 10! CAREER EVENTS October 30 12:30-1:30 p.m. -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security Information Session. WPU Dining Room A. speakers. Alumni were hopeful that their words of wisdom would guide students in their future careers. "We need to replace the brain drain of boomers," Dorothea de Zafra Atwell stated during her presentation. "We are on the cusp of a new New Deal" that will require more people dedicated to public service. The day's celebration concluded with an anniversary dinner at the Twentieth Century Club. Attendees were entertained with GSPIA testimonials from Christine Altenburger (the first female faculty member at GSPIA), Nancy Stone and Donald Stone Jr. (the children of GSPIA's first dean), and Donald Goldstein. Jim Maher, University of Pittsburgh's Senior Vice Chancellor, reiterated GSPIA's importance to the University throughout its 50-year history. He noted that GSPIA was an "early advocate of internationalizing the university" and continues to exude its international importance in university studies. He is confident that GSPIA will continue to play a pivotal role for the University of Pittsburgh in the future. Students were also presented with the opportunity to interact with alumni regarding career opportunities during Friday and Saturday's events. Alumni panels provide career insight Students gathered advice from alumni at 15 different career panels during GSPIA's 50th celebration. Students learned about some of the challenges of being a local government manager from Kevin Flannery, Sewickley borough manager and MPA graduate. He stressed the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and, when necessary, letting people down easy. "One council member told me: 'What I like about you is you have a really nice way of telling people no,'" Flannery said. Rob DiSpirito, city manager of Dunedin, Fla., and MPA '86, said he enjoyed the wide range of tasks he oversees and that he can improve the quality of life for the people he serves. "You get satisfaction in what you learn, and you get satisfaction in what you can contribute," DiSpirito said.

3 1:45-5:00 p.m. -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security Interviews. Pitt Career Services Interview Suite. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Air Force Personnel Center Interviews. Pitt Career Services Interview Suite. 4:00-6:00 p.m. -- DEA Information Session. November 5 12:00-1:00 p.m. -- Are You Connected? Alumni Mentors Posvar. November 6 5:00-6:00 p.m. -- National Nuclear Security Administration Information Session. 104 Mervis Hall. November 7 8:30 a.m.-5:00 pm. -- National Nuclear Security Administration Interviews. 109 Mervis Hall. Visit GSPIA Connections for more information and registration. NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED GSPIA unveiled its new website in conjuction with its 50th anniversary celebration. Visit the website today! Eric Hartman, Executive Director of Amizade Global Service-Learning, talks about nonprofit management. An Lewis, who has completed all her doctoral work except her dissertation, encouraged students to make sure they take classes that are interesting. But more important than that, she said, is making sure students leave GSPIA with a set of concrete skills they can apply to their career goals. At a panel on careers in intelligence, Tracy Smith, MPIA '92, described his background, including work in Iraq and the former Soviet Union. After working for the CIA and other government agencies, he now owns three companies that handle international issues. Smith encouraged students to get a broad education sampling GSPIA's courses. As long as students have research and computer skills and can think on their feet, they should be fine, he said. "Be interesting, and be interested in everything else," Smith said. Bill Pierce, an MPIA graduate who has been working in Washington for 23 years, told students at a panel on Careers in the Federal Government, that the ability to communicate is the most important skill for getting a job. The other necessary skill is the ability to network, he said. Anthony Ruggiero, an MPIA graduate who works for the Department of State, said it is important to actively seek the job you want. He said some jobs that have not been advertised can be adjusted to fit a candidate's abilities. The most important skill he learned from GSPIA may be writing a one-page memo, he said. It's the "bane of students' existence, but it's necessary," he said.

4 GSPIA MILESTONES 1981: GSPIA's Institute of Training and Organizational Development merges American and African management concepts in a management seminar. The event hosted four African officials and was conducted entirely in French. 1985: Four GSPIAns are chosen as Pennsylvania Management Interns, the most of any NASPAA school. 1987: Dr. Kevin Kearns, a GSPIA alum, returns as Assistant Dean for External Programs. 1992: GSPIA's Wherrett lecture series begins. QUICK LINKS GSPIA Home Giving to GSPIA GSPIA's 50th Pitt Home SIGN UP Awards given to distinguished alumnus, faculty and staff GSPIA recognized a number of individuals who have contributed to the school's legacy during its 50th anniversary celebration. Ambassador Romeo Arguelles (MPIA '71) received this year's Distinguished Alumnus Award for his exemplary service in the Philippine Foreign Service. He has served as the Philippines' Ambassador to Peru, the Netherlands, Germany, and Japan. Arguelles began his graduate program when he was 36 years old to advance his career as a diplomat. While he confessed that the school work was intimidating, he realized that "at no other time was [his] intellect more active." He reflected on his appreciation for GSPIA's dedication to intellectual development and highlighted his experience as a prime component of his success. "This is the most important chapter of my life," Arguelles stated after receiving his award. Arguelles is the 27th alumni to receive this distinction. Grace Schetley, Dr. William Dunn, and Dr. Donald Goldstein were also recognized for their long-time service to GSPIA. Ms. Grace Schetley is the only GSPIA staff member to have served with every dean from Donald Stone onward. She was recognized for her dedicated service to the program over a span of 41 years. Dr. William Dunn is currently GSPIA's Associate Dean. He was recognized for his long-standing excellence in supporting students through their graduate programs. Dunn has advised 34 dissertations and was recognized for chairing more dissertation committees than any other faculty member since the inception of GSPIA. Dr. Donald Goldstein, interim director of the Ridgway Center, was recognized for his outstanding teaching. Goldstein has taught at GSPIA for the past 35 years and will retire this August. Goldstein has received nine Teacher of the Year awards during his tenure; the award will now be titled the "Donald M. Goldstein Teacher of the Year Award" as a tribute to his contributions.

5 Faculty Focus Dr. Janne Nolan Election Day is coming soon. But no matter who the next president is, he will have to face some formidable challenges. "Whoever is president is going to have to deal immediately with the economy, the economy and the economy," said Professor Janne Nolan. "The second-order priority unfortunately has to be the deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan and Iraq. And then, in short order, a whole slew of challenges stemming from the declining relationship with Russia." The next president also needs to deal with some crippling inefficiencies in Washington bureaucracy, especially if Barack Obama wins the election, Nolan said. Many key government agencies still operate with 20th-century mindsets and 20th-century communications infrastructure, while Obama's campaign has been remarkable for its widespread use of modern technology. "Different agencies all have antiquated software and can barely communicate with one another," Nolan said. "It's going to come as a shock to the 21st-century, network-centric, 24/7 instant communications operation that the Obama campaign is used to." The next president should immediately give a major speech on his foreign policy priorities, Nolan said. And his Cabinet should be appointed as soon as possible, once individuals have been vetted thoroughly so that no embarrassing surprises emerge during Senate confirmation hearings, said Nolan, who worked on the Clinton transition team. But the new president will need to pull the United States away from its goit-alone strategy, especially with regard to Russia and China, Nolan said. "This administration has not been a fan of diplomacy, and the new president will face a half a dozen or more immediate challenges from the first day," she said. Nolan was recently a guest blogger for The Connect U.S. Fund.

6 Student Spotlight Tim Devanney, MPIA/GPE '09 Tim Devanney spent the summer in Geneva, Switzerland interning for the UN Economic Commission. Unlike other interns, Devanney undertook a three month project researching methods to reduce trade barriers for small and medium European businesses. His work resulted in a 70-page document that will be introduced at a UN international conference within the next year. Devanney's experience augmented his knowledge from economic and global governance courses. Most importantly, he gained the valuable skill of writing a professional document for an international organization. Additional travel opportunities (Munich, Budapest, Dublin, Paris, Amsterdam) expanded his cultural knowledge of Europe. Devanney would like to return to a research institution or think tank after graduation. He is a second semester MPIA/GPE scheduled to graduate next August.

7 .GOV federal career day Links federal employers with students Students attended Pittsburgh's annual federal career day on October 29. The event featured employers from a number of government agencies, including the Department of State, Department of Defense, and Office of Personnel Management. BACK TO TOP