WCU MPA Program

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WCU MPA Program

Welcome to the Western Carolina University Masters of Public Affairs Program! Follow us for job postings, upcoming events, and more

This page is intended to build community among WCU MPA alumni, students, faculty, staff, friends, and prospective students. Welcome to the official page of the Western Carolina University Masters of Public Affairs Program! Follow us for job postings, upcoming events, and more! Visit our website for more information: http://www.wcu.edu/learn/departments-schools-colleges/cas/social-sciences/poliscipublicaffairs/mpa/

09/07/2026

Alumni Ashlyn McCoy shares her experience after graduating from WCU (twice!)
"After earning my Bachelor of Science in Political Science and my Master of Public Affairs—both from Western Carolina University—I’ve had the opportunity to serve in a variety of roles that have deepened my passion for public service and community impact.
My journey began with internships in local government, and over the years, I’ve served as an Executive Director in affordable housing, worked in nonprofit leadership, and taught as an adjunct professor. Each of these experiences has shaped my understanding of service, leadership, and the importance of supporting others.
The education and hands-on experiences I received at WCU played a pivotal role in shaping my career path. The mentorship from faculty, the opportunities to engage in real-world public service projects, and the strong foundation in policy and leadership equipped me with the skills and confidence to navigate and lead in the public and nonprofit sectors.
Today, I’m honored to serve as a Senior Advisor, fundraising for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway program at ALSAC–St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital—a place I dreamed of working for years. The St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway is one of the largest awareness and fundraising programs for St. Jude, offering supporters the chance to win a beautiful new home while helping save the lives of children battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
It’s a privilege to play a small part in this life-saving mission, and I know none of it would be possible without the education, experiences, and mentorship I received at WCU.
Go Cats!"
Looking for more opportunities to connect with alumni, fellow students and public affairs professionals? Join the ALGC Tailgate and networking opportunity on October 3rd!

09/01/2026

Throughout the year we love to spotlight our students. First up this year, we have Albert Crowe Jr. sharing how he hopes to use his MPA degree to impact Western North Carolina:
"I am the GM of food and beverage at Harrah’s Cherokee casino & resort. My main goal in my role is to contribute to tribal distribution which helps fund housing, higher education opportunities, healthcare for all enrolled members especially elders. Funds from the casino also go directly distributed to enrolled members of the EBCI to enrich their lives and help prevent all natives from falling victim of the many pitfalls than often stifle the success of the Cherokee people. I want to use what I learn from the MPA program to help the tribal government prosper and flourish moving forward."

08/23/2026

We had a great first week of classes with our MPA students and can't wait to see what the year brings!

08/18/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Grandage! We're so excited for this well-deserved promotion and look forward to many more successful years with him in the WCU PSPA department!

08/07/2026

Earlier this year Dr. Rimes published the article "Giving at Work: Exploring Connections Between Workplace Giving Campaigns and Patterns of Household Charitable Giving in the USA." Follow the link to read the article!
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/voluntas/article/abs/giving-at-work-exploring-connections-between-workplace-giving-campaigns-and-patterns-of-household-charitable-giving-in-the-usa/82F5440EE6A6D0FA6CFB83F3BFD9116E?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv4_a1demo0ef3wl42&fbclid=IwY2xjawSgwSZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA81MTQ3NzE1NjkyMjgwNjEAAR6GuRwya1JYx4jy2H1tlkTxCqjHz1_RsxUJQZez1iPa0AsCUEgMp2vXsNUlsA_aem_UT_hQjzoG0hnIojTuvdNRQ

07/27/2026

"I’m currently the Annexation Planner for the City of Charleston, South Carolina, where I work with property and business owners and local government officials to coordinate annexations into the city. Because South Carolina’s annexation laws are unique—especially compared to states like North Carolina—my role often involves close collaboration with City Councilmembers, the Mayor, and other local leaders to ensure annexations are handled thoughtfully and legally. In addition to improving City limit consistency, I organize department social events and serve on the City’s Employee Experience Panel—because I believe that when we support our coworkers, it translates into better service for our community. I love public meetings and workshops and consider myself very outreach-minded. I studied Political Science at Western Carolina University and earned my Master of Public Affairs there in 2021. During school, I interned with local governments in Henderson County and worked full-time as a leasing agent, which helped me develop communication skills I still use today. After moving to Charleston for a job in property management, I joined the City as a business license technician—a great introduction to local government operations. That experience, along with my background in both public and private sectors, helped prepare me for my current position. WCU gave me a strong foundation of knowledge that I’ve been able to build on every day in my work."

07/13/2026

Sekou Coleman serves as the project lead for the Legacy Neighborhoods Coalition (LNC), a resident-led coalition of neighborhood associations in Asheville focused on anti-displacement policy and neighborhood capacity building.

"Our work is rooted in practical partnership with City of Asheville leadership and staff, translating resident priorities into concrete policy options, implementation pathways, and plain-language tools residents can use to advocate effectively.

WCU MPA students have supported this work through applied research and deliverables designed for real-world use. Recent student work has focused on anti-displacement tools and comparators, including how displacement impact approaches can be structured and implemented in North Carolina’s legal context. Students have also participated in live working conversations with senior City staff, which gives them direct exposure to the realities of municipal decision-making while producing products that can inform timely strategy and implementation.

It has been an absolute pleasure to hold space for these brilliant students to engage meaningfully with timely and important work."

07/03/2026

Dr. Cooper recently guest posted on Sabato's "Crystal Ball" about North Carolina's 11th Congressional District. Give it a read here! https://sabatoscrystalball.substack.com/p/the-unlikely-district-that-may-signal?r=4drr8&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true

06/19/2026

"Since graduating from Western Carolina University in 2017 with dual bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Law, and Marketing, I’ve built a career rooted in public service and community engagement. I began working with Buncombe County Government, supporting agricultural initiatives through administrative coordination and communications. After five years, I transitioned to the City of Asheville, where I currently serve in the Communications and Public Engagement department. In this role, I’ve had the opportunity to develop the City’s social media standard operating procedure, support emergency communications during Hurricane Helene, and earn my FEMA Advanced Public Information Officer certification. During this time, I also completed my Master of Public Affairs at WCU, which strengthened my ability to lead communications and public engagement. My education laid the foundation for a career that combines strategic communication with a passion for serving others."

06/02/2026

Rachel Taylor is a 2020 graduate of our MPA Program and now one of our community partners who often works with MPA students for their capstone projects! Scroll through to learn more about Rachel's career and work with our MPA students.

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http://info.wcu.edu/mpa

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