Student Spotlights
Meet Our MPA Online Students
Our students come from diverse backgrounds and bring a wide range of goals and accomplishments to the MPA Online program. These spotlights showcase the many ways they are making a difference in their communities and advancing careers in public service. By sharing their stories, we celebrate the individuals who make our program strong and offer a window into the MPA Online experience.***
Ellen LoCurto-Martinez
“Having earned my PhD at UTK, I have heard numerous compliments about the Baker School and was especially impressed with the restructuring to focus on public policy and public administration.”
Abbie Shellist
“I’ve spent nearly my whole career in public service and I felt drawn to expand my knowledge in a formal academic setting. I was drawn to the Baker School’s philosophy of being ‘part of the solution.’ I feel like what I will learn from the MPA program will help me do the most good on the largest scale possible, which is my personal mantra.”
Kaitlyn Bare
“I chose the Baker School firstly because I always wanted to be a student at the University of Tennessee. Being from the VA/TN state line, I have always been an enormous Vols fan, which also runs in my family. Additionally, I appreciated the opportunity to learn online, as I find it provides a unique opportunity to be engaged with a smaller cohort and have more intentional conversations with professors/administrators.”
