Posted on November 30, 2023 by Shaca Sweet
Mikaela Craig is a graduate of the Master of Public Administration program at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She chose UTSA because she was looking to go into public service after developing a passion for public service during her undergraduate studies at the University of North Texas.
“I thought the MPA program at UTSA would be the perfect opportunity to make connections with professors and a great opportunity to learn more about public service,” she said.
During her second year in the MPA program, Craig began searching for potential career options, in preparation of her graduation. She came upon the Presidential Management Fellows program and signed up for an online information seminar. She knew it would be a great entry into public service and she connected to the program's mission.
“The PMF Program’s motto is ‘a call to lead, a call to serve,’” she said. “That really resonated with me.”
Currently, Craig works as a public affairs specialist for the United States Geological Survey and oversees the public affairs strategy for the USGS’s Water Mission Area. In this role she is responsible for handling media inquiries, press releases, feature stories, and developing social media content about USGS water science.
Craig credits the capstone class in the MPA program in particular for preparing her for her career. "It challenged me to pick a topic I was not really familiar with and become knowledgeable about it,” she said.
Craig encourages students from any academic discipline to consider a degree in public administration, even if they might not have direct experience in government. “I made great connections with professors and had many internship opportunities after taking a leap of faith by applying to the MPA program,” she said.
— Shaca Sweet
