Fumie Nakamura, Japan
MPA in International Management, 2006
I chose the MPA program because I wanted to learn something more practical after spending one year studying gender and development theories at a university in the UK..  I also liked the small classes, strong career support, and very friendly faculty members.  Thanks to the Development Project Management Institute (DPMI) and the Program Evaluation seminar, I was able to develop a gender-responsive DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration) monitoring and evaluation framework during my internship at UNIFEM Headquarters in New York. The MPA Capstone was a great way to utilize all the skills I gained from MPA-related courses to analyze UNIFEM and provide a set of practical recommendations.

The MPA degree also has a lot of flexibility, allowing students to take non-MPA courses. In my case, I took a directed study with Dr. Laurance to specialize in gender and security issues.  Based on these academic and professional experiences, now I am interning at UNDP Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (Geneva) to assist DDR programmes, particularly in the areas of gender and monitoring & evaluation.  The MPA degree at the Monterey Institute is small enough to get to know everyone and we all become good friends!  I recommend the MPA  for those who are interested in organizational and/or program management. 

Emily Cox, USA
MPA in International Management, 2007
I was attracted to the Monterey Institute primarily because it is an internationally-focused professional school.  Being a professional school, one can graduate with confidence that they have received the required knowledge and skills needed to enter their desired field of work.

I switched from the MAIPS to the MPA because I felt the course requirements for the MPA would be extremely valuable in any field of work.  Whether it is management, international development, research, etc. the MPA well-prepares students for any of these fields.  My area of expertise addresses the trafficking of person, and I will intern with UNESCAP (in Bangkok) this summer with the Gender and Development unit researching on human trafficking issues in Southeast Asia. 

Currently, through a Monterey Institute work-study program, I work for a local non-profit as the Assistant Executive Director. These opportunities have been available to me because I am a dedicated Monterey Institute student.  Prior to starting my MPA, I needed more knowledge, training, and most importantly, experience. I have been able to fill these voids and set higher goals for myself upon graduation.  

Cynthia Meurling, USA
MPA in International Management, 2006
I entered the Monterey Institute as a MAIPS student, but was soon drawn to the practical coursework and professor reputations of the MPA degree. Though the courses required in the MPA may sound inflexible and dry, their coursework pushed me out into community organizations far more than most other courses, rendering them more fulfilling.

Prof. Beryl Levinger is the jewel of the MPA program. Her classes demand an outrageous time and energy commitment…but as tough as she is, hers are the most satisfyingly rich courses I have taken.

The Monterey Institute has opened doors that a graduate student in a larger institution can frequently only dream of encountering. With a student body large enough to fill each class with an abundance of fascinating experiences, the Monterey Institute is small enough that students fraternize with professors and engage themselves in community projects that the Institute’s positive reputation enable. Beyond the Monterey Institute community, I interned last summer in Hanoi, Vietnam with the United Nations Population Fund, and have worked on a post-Katrina community rebuilding project in a Gulf Coast town. Though both opportunities were outside the scope of my MPA coursework, they were without a doubt facilitated by my affiliation with the Monterey Institute.

Leanna Heiman, USA
MPA in International Management, 2006
I chose the Monterey Institute because, after living and working for three years in China, I knew I wanted to continue my Chinese language studies at an advanced level. At the Monterey Institute I have had the opportunity to participate in several public speaking engagements where I presented in Chinese. At the same time, I have also had the chance to work with interpreters. Few graduate schools provide this sort of experience to non-native Chinese speakers.

In choosing my degree of study here at the Institute, I began with thinking about my ideal job after graduation, working as a program officer with an organization such as Save the Children. I asked myself, "What qualifications and experiences are required?" I found that the MPA degree best prepares students with the skills needed to enter into the international development field with both NGO and government agencies.

Aimee Maron, USA
MPA in International Management, 2006
The Monterey Institute attracted me because of its focus on timely international policy and development practices, its small, diverse community, its emphasis on language integration, and its pristine location.  Through my coursework and interest in public administration and international development, I have gained practical experience in the field, developed skills in monitoring and evaluation, data analysis, facilitation and project design (among others).  

My time at the Institute has not been characterized solely by classroom learning, rather what stands out the most are the applied learning opportunities.  The experience of working as an evaluation intern/consultant in Mexico with Aid to Artisans, an international NGO, was certainly a highlight! The other experience that has greatly enhanced my professional development was the challenge of designing a project for Advanced Nonprofit Management, which turned into a full-fledged student-run initiative to engage the Monterey Institute community in dialogue as a component of an on-going strategic planning initiative.