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Alumni Spotlight Employee Spotlight MPA
Throughout his ninety years, Karl Snow has used his experiences to serve the community in many ways: working for the Utah state government, the BYU Marriott School of Business, and South African humanitarian projects.
BYU Marriott MPA alum Ed Thatcher grew up on a farm, and he learned that farming was long, hard work. Though many enjoy the lifestyle, Thatcher decided living on a farm wasn't for him.
The Utah State Capitol was unusually quiet in early 2021, even though the legislature’s annual session was in full swing. “There just wasn’t the bustle we usually have,” says Megan Selin Allen, a 2010 MPA alum. “The capitol was closed to the public for the first couple of weeks, and even after it opened, just our interns could be in the gallery. Only representatives, staff, and approved others could be on the floor. We had COVID-19 testing going on every day, and for the first time, some legislators participated via Zoom.”
Jennifer Tinkham, a JD/MPA alumna of the BYU Marriott School of Business, understands the power of a simple smile to change the world.
Working for the Romney Institute as department secretary, director of student services, and eventually associate director has done more for Catherine Cooper than merely confirm the reality of spiritual promptings she's received throughout her life.
Since graduating from the MPA program at BYU Marriott, Jackie Suggitt has worked to create a more sustainable future for the planet.
As the current chief administrative officer of the city of Provo, BYU Marriott MPA alum Wayne Parker strives to continually look to the future of the city he leads.
As an associate professor for the Romney Institute at BYU Marriott, Nelson is working with an MPA student and members of the state government to create a web application to make tracking tax money easier for the state and local governments.
Like trees, each person is unique and has different needs. BYU Marriott EMPA alum Ralph Clegg solves problems both in his garden and community by understanding that diversity.

While the COVID-19 pandemic introduced new challenges for many, few can say it made them to sleep in a sleeping bag on the floor of their office. However, for BYU Marriott EMPA alum Russell Harrington, such a situation was both a reality and a necessity.

As the executive director of the Arizona Board of Regents, John Arnold uses the skills and strategies he learned in the MPA program to facilitate change in Arizona's higher education system.

Discovering your career niche can be difficult, but for Hannah Richards Michaelsen, her role found her. After her family began receiving much-needed support from a nonprofit organization, Michaelsen joined the organiza- tion and began to provide that same service to others.
When BYU Marriott MPA professor Rob Christensen hit a crossroad in his career, he took the path that led to a semester-long sabbatical in Europe. As he reflects on his time abroad, Christensen is grateful for the unique experiences he had.

Lori Wadsworth, the director of BYU Marriott's MPA program, missed only one night of classes during her time as a student in the BYU Marriott Executive MPA (EMPA) program the night of her son's birth.

Almost twenty years after retiring, Doyle W. Buckwalter's legacy at BYU Marriott continues to resonate and positively influence the MPA program, and all of BYU's campus.
BYU Marriott EMPA alumna Janine Wood Green loves to learn. With her love for learning and a passion for education, Green moved to China to become a professor of English at Nanjing Tech University.

When Kara Norman Chatterton was young, her BYU alumni parents took her and her five siblings on a pilgrimage to Provo from Idaho every other year or so.
Joining the healthcare field after shooting free throws in front of thousands is quite the change of pace. However, serving others through healthcare transformation is former BYU men's Basketball player and 2016 EMPA grad Anson Winder's newfound passion.
Being a police chief is a challenging position to hold, but BYU Marriott helped prepare Darren Paul, Chad Soffe, and Chris Autry to serve the communities they love.
In 1965, Ken Driggs was in his second year of graduate school. When he wasn't juggling his school responsibilities, Driggs hid his identity as he pulled on the cougar suit and transformed into Cosmo.
BYU Marriott MPA professor Jeff Thompson didn't realize the two weeks he and his family spent performing in the Nauvoo Pageant would shape his next research project.
As the deputy director for the Utah Department of Corrections, BYU Marriott MPA alum Chyleen Richey helps run a city of people who are forgotten by society.
MPA alumnus Scott Sellers is inspiring national change through his efforts to connect university students to local government.
Not many people stick to the dreams they had when they were five, but Kena Mathews has the opportunity on a daily basis to see her childhood calling to make a difference in the world become reality.