Suzannah Burke
Degree: Master of Public Administration, Certificate in Nonprofit Management
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2024
Prior Degree
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
2023 Scholarship
June King McFee Student Scholarship
I Am Originally From Baton Rouge, LA
WHY I CAME TO THE UO AND HOW I CHOSE MY MAJOR
I chose to attend the University of Oregon for a number of reasons. To start, I was looking to relocate from the South and was drawn to the stunning location of the campus and its surrounding areas. I was also impressed with the PPPM program and how personable staff was when I began inquiring about applications. I like the small community feel of being part of the College of Design the best!
After graduating with a Bachelors in Fine Arts with a concentration in painting in drawing, I spent 4 years carefully considering the path I wanted to take in order to further my education. I had a desire to become more involved in my community, and originally intended to become a social worker. After much consideration, I felt that pursuing a Master’s in Public Administation would provide me the skills to become a public servant who was involved with making changes at the policy level. After finishing my first year of graduate school I am certain that I made the right choice.
UNIQUE QUALITIES I BRING TO MY STUDIES
Having an undergraduate degree in Fine Art makes me a nontraditional student. I think that the abundance of soft skills I have developed along with my creative approach to problem solving are an advantage to my studies. Aside from my academic background, I am originally from Louisiana, where I lived through Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters. These life events in particular have shaped my outlook on community resilience, particularly pertaining to art and culture.
MY INFLUENTIAL PROFESSORS
I found Professor Laura Leete particularly influential. She taught 2 classes my first term- Public Sector Economics and Quantitative Methods. I came into the program nervous about these classes having no prior experience with the material. Although tough, I left those classes feeling satisfied with the hard work I put in and the knowledge that I left with!
MY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
In my free time I like to frequent the University of Oregon Craft Center! I am still a practicing artist, and although I do most of my art making with oil paint at home, I enjoy making ceramic art using the craft center facilities.
I am also a volunteer at Sponsors inc. A local Nonprofit that helps recently incarcerated folks transition back into the community. This is important to me because above all, I am a people person. I often get very wrapped up in school assignments and form a “bubble” that is centered around academics and my immediate peers. Hands-on service is an important component that pulls me into my community, and reminds me why I want to become a public servant in the first place.
MY GREATEST LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT UO
My greatest learning experience has been the internship opportunity with the City of Veneta that I acquired through the PPPM internship program.
AFTER GRADUATION
I will be using my Masters in Public Administration to pursue a career in the nonprofit or public sector. My greatest hopes are becoming a nonprofit executive or a public manager. I don’t expect these things to happen right away, but I feel this degree will earn me the potential to work my way up and gain more professional experience along the way.
YOUR GIFT
This award is incredibly important to me as I achieve my academic goals. The money awarded to me through this scholarship has alleviated the pressure to pursue outside work that does not pertain to my particular interest in order to cover tuition cost. I have been selected as the City Management Intern with the City of Veneta. It is a year long internship that I will have until I graduate. I was balancing the decision of accepting the internship or declining and striving to acquire graduate employment to cover my tuition. Ultimately, with the scholarship money that was awarded to me, I was able to keep the internship without the pressure pf working for the university as a graduate employee at the same time.
I am incredibly grateful to receive this award and especially enthusiastic that this award recognized my passion for the arts and dedication to merging my non-traditional background with my current studies in Public Administration!