Colorado Department of Local AffairsThe Master of Public Policy and Administration has partnered with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs to offer the Best and Brightest Management Fellowship to MPPA students. The Best and Brightest Fellowship Program partners with counties, municipalities and universities across the state to meet the needs of communities, engage future leaders, and connect students to community work that sparks their curiosity and leads them to work in public service. The program connects local governments, students and educators through two-year paid fellowships.

Learn more about the Best and Brightest Management Fellowship and the Master of Public Policy and Administration at mppa.colostate.edu.


 

Emily Myler

Emily MylerBest and Brightest Management Fellow – Town of Avon

emily.myler19@alumni.colostate.edu
B.A. Communication Studies (Civic Engagement focus), CSU – 2019
M.P.P.A, CSU – 2022

Why did you choose CSU’s MPPA program for your graduate degree?

I chose the MPPA program because I felt it would be a versatile degree that opens many doors after graduation. With a highly specified civic engagement bachelor’s degree, I wanted to ensure that my master’s degree could be more versatile. An MPPA could be applied to many different job opportunities that relate to my passion for helping people solve problems.

Why did apply to the Best and Brightest Management Fellowship?

Several of my undergraduate professors and Prof. Susan Opp with the MPPA program shared information with me about the Best and Brightest Fellowship. I learned more about the fellowship’s great financial perks, including tuition reimbursement and paid professional experience. The program and its perks sounded like an incredible opportunity for experience (with good pay!), so I applied.

What have you liked most about working for the Town of Avon?

I grew up near Aspen, so going back to a ski town like Avon felt like a homecoming for me. My team has displayed an incredible passion for public service and has been welcoming and supportive. Not all the work I do is glamorous, but I feel good about it when I get home at night – that is what keeps me driving up there every week.

How do you think your MPPA coursework is preparing you for a future in public administration?

My coursework this semester has been applicable to most of my projects with the Town of Avon, so I feel confident that will be the case through my fellowship and later in my career. Courses like finance and statistics have been helpful in gaining technical knowledge that I rely on regularly. Additionally, my courses in communication and critical thinking have helped me hone invaluable skills that are useful in any workplace. The MPPA coursework is preparing me both in my personal and professional life.