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Alumni Spotlight MPA
Two months after Katie Cherrington moved to Maui, the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century struck her family’s neighborhood. In the aftermath of Lahaina’s tragedy, Cherrington has observed a community banding together and has seen principles in action that are taught at BYU Marriott.
Justin Weiss, EMPA alumnus, has lived a life full of unexpected triumphs and hardships that have led to opportunities for personal development.
David Tanner brings the skills he gained through BYU Marriott's MPA program to the state of Georgia, where he consults state leaders, community organizers, and county and city elected officials.
Clark Pew has learned over the course of his life that persistence pays off. The EMPA alumnus now lives in India working for the Department of State.
In December 2022, BYU Marriott alum Scott Adams retired after 30 years of service as the CEO of Pullman Regional Hospital in Washington state.
Honoree Mick Berry, retired manager of Catawba County, emphasized the importance of changing the world through Christlike leadership at the banquet.
A self-proclaimed "daddy's girl," Ruth Ann Jefferies followed her father into a public service career and has been blazing trails ever since.
Chauma Jansen, BYU Marriott alumna and the executive director of American Indian Services, works to help provide education opportunities to those in her community.
2005 MPA alum Richard Amon continually strives to help students in their pursuit of higher education.
Shortly before Ana Malafu-Eliesa graduated from the EMPA program at BYU Marriott in 2007, an unexpected event changed her life and career path forever.
Life sometimes has a funny way of helping people find their paths, and in the case of MPA alumna Shari Grossarth, her road to the BYU Marriott School of Business began with ants.
When Frank Magaña was a student at BYU, he remembers walking by the sign “Enter to learn; go forth to serve” every day when he entered campus.
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.
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.
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.
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.