Student Awards
Beth Capstick, Class of 2012
Richard A. Hogarty Award for Academic Excellence
Georgianna Meléndez, Class of 2012
MSPA Public Service Award
Alex Heimann, Class of 2012
Matthew P. Sullivan Cohort Award
Lien To and Valerie Berger, Class of 2012
Best Capstone Awards
Andrew Bunyard, Class of 2013
Susan Leahy, Class of 2012
Carol Torto Memorial Scholarships
Daniel A. Moriarty, Class of 2012
Paul G. Keough Outstanding Student of Public Administration Award
Honored by the Boston chapter of the American Society for Public Administration
Read the news story on Daniel Moriarty
Beth Capstick
Richard A. Hogarty Award for Academic Excellence
The 2012 Richard A. Hogarty Award for Academic Excellence was given to Beth Capstick for her outstanding achievement in her coursework as evidenced by her 3.96 grade point average. Capstick came to the program with more than 30 years of public service that began with work in the Massachusetts State Legislature and most recently as the deputy state auditor for Massachusetts. As part of her work in the State Auditor’s office, she served on the Health Care Quality and Cost Council.
Combining her experience in public service with the skills and knowledge garnered in the MSPA program, she has accepted a new position as a consultant with Freedman Healthcare where she will be working with the State of Rhode Island as they implement their new Health Care Exchange. In addition to her work as a public servant, Beth is also an officer in several community service organizations focused on women and children.
Beth Capstick’s academic record and expertise in health care issues are further reflected in her capstone project, “Preventing Medical Errors in Massachusetts Hospitals: A Case study of the Quality and Patient Safety Division of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine.” Her research utilizes qualitative research techniques to identify the challenges in preventing medical errors as well as possible solutions for improving patient safety. This timely capstone project culminates in valuable policy and management recommendations for the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine as well as similar organizations across the country.
Georgianna Meléndez
MSPA Public Service Award
Each year our program grants the MSPA Public Service Award to the graduating student who best exemplifies the spirit of public service. Recipients of this award are nominated and selected by their peers. This award goes to a student who epitomizes community service and outreach efforts that go above and beyond working full-time and going to school full-time. The award recognizes one who demonstrates the skills necessary to be an effective manager in a public or nonprofit setting including leadership, consensus building, communication, understanding of public policy or nonprofit settings. It also honors a student whose outstanding commitment, enthusiasm, and promise for a career in public administration is evidenced by grades, written recommendations, work experience, professional and civic activities, professional affiliations, and other accomplishments such as publications or awards. Finally, it honors one who exemplifies the public service mission and who may carry it over into her/his own community and non-professional lives. Georgianna Melendez earned the 2012 award.
One of her peers describes Meléndez as “a leader full of the energy of ‘doing good’ for others. With her devotion and daring, she has the potential to be a great public service leader.” Georgianna Meléndez is currently the executive director of the McCormack Graduate School Commonwealth Compact where she works to establish Massachusetts as a world leader in diversity and inclusion. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion is further reflected in her capstone project, “Workplace Affinity Groups: A Comparison of private and public sector experiences.”
Alex Heimann
Matthew P. Sullivan Cohort Award
One of the primary strengths of the MSPA program is its cohort model which provides a unique system of support and often the basis for lifelong friendships and professional relationships that transcend the classroom. Though the model provides the foundation, the individuals within the cohort make it work. Each year the MSPA program awards the Matthew P. Sullivan Cohort Award to a graduating student who best personifies the values of loyalty, camaraderie, and mutual respect toward her/his classmates. These values, which are fundamental to effective public service, are at the heart of the cohort model, and thus, of the MSPA program itself. Nominated and selected by his peers, Alex Heimann earned the 2012 award.
One of his peers describes him as, “a thoughtful and generous cohort member. He has been attentive to the personal and professional struggles of his classmates, offers resources when mentioned in class, and makes himself available for help when he knows he has a strength. His good sense of humor, his common sense approach and his leadership acted as a gel for the entire class.” Heimann’s commitment to fostering relationships that encourage group participation is also exemplified in his experience as a community organizer and further reflected in his capstone project, “Examining Low-income Participation in Community-based Advocacy: A Case study of a Boston faith-based community organization.”
Lien To and Valerie Berger
Best Capstone Awards
The final requirement for completing the MSPA program is a capstone project where students examine a current public policy or management issue, conduct a scholarly literature review, collect and analyze original data, and present their findings in a written report and an oral presentation. The capstone project gives students an opportunity to synthesize the skills and knowledge they have gained in the graduate program with their professional experience and interests. The Best Capstone Award goes to a graduating student for exceptionally high-quality work on their capstone project. This year’s awards were given to Lien To and Valerie Berger.
Lien To’s capstone, “Critical Factors of Effective Flood Management: A Case study on the flooding in Vermont after Hurricane Irene,” uses interviews with Federal Emergency Management Agency officials to identify the most critical factors of an effective and sustainable flood management strategy. Among the factors identified are the importance of participation from all stakeholders and the community, the critical role of solid leadership, the power of our prevailing attitudes towards floods, the design of zoning strategy and enforcement of regulations, the crucial value of communication and coordination, and the impact of awareness and information dissemination. To used the case of Hurricane Irene in Vermont to draw broader implications for disaster management across countries and, in particular, in Vietnam.
Valerie Berger’s capstone titled, “What are the Feasibility and Usefulness of Needs Assessment Surveys in Local Government Policy-decision Making?” is a case study of the Somerville Commission for Women’s use of needs assessment surveys. Using survey data, interviews, and participant observation, Berger’s findings suggest that results from a needs assessment survey may not necessarily lead to policy change and the resources required to conduct a needs assessment can be too burdensome for a small organization. However, her findings also suggest that a needs assessment survey can serve as a tool for strengthening community engagement and an organization’s presence among residents and leaders. Berger’s findings have implications not only for the Somerville Commission on Women but also more broadly for public and private organizations.
Andrew Bunyard and Susan Leahy
Carol Torto Memorial Scholarships
Established by students of the MSPA program in memory of Carol Torto, wife of Ray Torto, director of UMass Boston’s McCormack Institute from 1991-1994 and professor in the MSPA program from 1984 – 1995, the Torto Scholarship is awarded to a member(s) of the first or second year cohort who has demonstrated leadership and character as a graduate student and a strong commitment to public service. In 2012, Andrew Bunyard and Susan Leahy earned the scholarships.
Both Bunyard, a first-year student, and Leahy, a graduating student, served as teaching assistants for their cohorts. This is a demanding position which requires a wide variety of responsibilities, including assistance with event coordination, administration of confidential faculty and course evaluations, and assisting faculty with the preparation of materials and equipment for several required weekend workshops. As teaching assistants, Bunyard and Leahy were the liaisons between faculty, staff, and students and most importantly, they provided the foundation for connections among members of their cohort. In addition to their full-time attendance in the MSPA program, Andrew Bunyard previously worked for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Massachusetts and is currently a field organizer for the Obama reelection campaign while Susan Leahy has extensive experience in public relations, currently serving as the senior director of public relations for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
