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MPA Alumni Spotlight: Cassandra Pettigrew

Alumni

Andrew Bolomey with his family.

Jun 18, 2025

Mission Complete: Andrew Bolomey Becomes His Family’s First College Graduate

After a decade-long detour through federal service and military life, Andrew Bolomey returned to NC State to finish what he started, becoming the first in his family to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Afternoon sunlight streams through the fall foliage at Wolf Plaza.

Jun 10, 2025

Public Administration Ph.D. Alumni in North Carolina

The Department of Public Administration has graduated its 100th Ph.D. student in May 2025. Many of our alumni have gone on to make strong contributions to our state.

head shot of Bill Chandler

Jun 10, 2025

William C. Chandler, the First Ph.D. Graduate in Public Administration

William C. (Bill) Chandler, (Ph.D., 2001) was the first student to graduate with a Ph.D. in public administration from NC State and has been a sworn law enforcement officer in North Carolina for more than 47 years.  A retired director of the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division (ALE) in the Department of Public Safety,…
photos of Local Government day speakers

Apr 10, 2025

MPA Students Take Part in Local Government Day

On Friday, March 28, NC State University’s Department of Public Administration held “Local Government Day” at the North Carolina Rural Center in Raleigh. Students in the MPA program learned about local government vocations and asked questions to current leaders as they considered roles that might suit their career aspirations.   MPA director Mandi Stewart and Traci…

Mar 17, 2025

MPA Alumni Spotlight: J.R.Griffin II

John Rodney “J.R.” Griffin II is the emergency services branch manager for the Division of Emergency Management under the NC Department of Public Safety. The Emergency Services Branch is home to all of the State level response programs, including Regional Response Hazmat Teams, Urban Search & Rescue Teams, Structural Technical Specialist Teams, Helo-Aquatic Search &…

Mar 17, 2025

MPA Alumni Spotlight: Shannon Beasley Taitt

Shannon Beasley Taitt serves as the director of planning, analysis and coordination for a federal agency that leads public health efforts to advance behavioral health nation-wide.  She enjoys working across substance use and mental health disorder programs and supporting the operational, programmatic and budgetary needs of internal and external stakeholders. “What I find the most…

Mar 17, 2025

Update on the PA Alumni Society – Message from President Alexis Addison

The PA Alumni Society exists to convene and serve as an on-going professional association for graduates of the Ph.D. and MPA programs. To achieve our mission to advance and support public sector leaders, we seek to maintain and strengthen the relationship between the program, current students and alumni. In April 2024, we hosted our Annual…

Aug 15, 2024

Political Science Alumni Support Summer Interns

Four students explore diverse career paths through alumni-funded internships.

Lope Max Diaz II @ Reynolds

Apr 22, 2024

New Scholarship Endowment Honors Memory of Political Science Alumnus

A new scholarship endowment created by the family of Lope “Max” Diaz II honors the memory of the political science alumnus.

Apr 15, 2024

MPA Alumni Spotlight: Cassandra Pettigrew

Get to know alumna Cassandra Pettigrew, the director of financial aid for Duke Divinity School.