MSPA Alumni Profiles
Sample MSPA Alumni Profiles
Featured Profile: Darrell W. LeMar, MSPA (2009)
Current Employment:
Deputy Associate Director, Division of Housing Stabilization
MA Department of Housing and Community Development
My 30+ year career in the private non-profit and public sectors provided me with amazing opportunities to work on issues such as child maltreatment, developmental disabilities, mental health, public health, juvenile justice, family support in addition to community, workforce, and economic development. I was also fortunate to have been involved in the development of two national demonstration projects in Boston and also helped to build a national coalition for youth. Even with all these amazing professional opportunities, I always felt like I needed to find a way to bridge the divide between my practical experiences and academic studies.
After finishing my undergraduate degree in Spanish language as an adult student at UMass/Boston, I realized that what my career was lacking was a deeper understanding of why systems changed, how to affect that change, and how to manage change in an evolving political and economic environment. What I learned at the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies helped me hone my skills and increase my knowledge about how to become an effective leader and change agent in both the public and private sectors.
Since graduating in 2009, I have taken on the role to manage the delivery of state-funded services to homeless families and individuals. As the Deputy Associate for the Division of Housing Stabilization, I coach and manage 75 dedicated staff across the state who administers all aspects of the state’s Emergency Assistance program to provide prevention, diversion, shelter and re-housing services for over 32,000 families and 18,000 individuals annually. This new governmental division was created in 2009 when homeless services in Massachusetts transferred from the Department of Transitional Assistance to the Department of Housing and Community Development.
I am a proud and grateful alumnus of the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies.
Other MSPA Alums
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Adam Baacke, MSPA (2003)
Deputy Director, Division of Planning and Development,Lowell, MA
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Jim Canavan, MSPA
Veteran's Affairs and Housing Consultant
Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc., Boston, MA
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Garen L. Corbett, MSPA (2000)
Principal Policy Analyst, California Health Benefits Review Program
University of California President's Office
Oakland, CA
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Alexis Heos, MSPA (2007)
Bank Examiner
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Banks, Boston, MA
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Lara M.W. McIntyre, MSPA (2001)
Chair, Project P.L.A.Y. (Playground for Londonderry's Active Youth),Londonderry , NH
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Rick Musiol, Jr., MSPA (2000)
Chief of Staff, Office of the Senate President
Massachusetts Senate,Boston, MA
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Steven R. Sullivan, MSPA (1994)
Director of Organizing and Government Affairs
Teamsters Local 25,Charlestown, MA
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Marsha Weinerman, MSPA (1989)
Executive Director
Cambridge Election Commission, Cambridge, MA
