Elvira M. Skuzinski
Why Public Administration?
There are a number of competencies that form the foundation of NIU's MPA program, but the three shown below are particularly reflective of my own values and passions. My oral and written communication skills have been greatly strengthened by the many exercises and presentations that are the bedrock of this program's curriculum. The ability to adapt quickly to change should include an underlying mindset that considers the four key issues of public administration: effectiveness, efficiency, equity and economy. Additionally, any approach to effecting change needs to include the diverse stakeholders who can best speak to whether services and policies being evaluated are considering these issues in depth. At a time when public trust in governance is lacking, I find it very rewarding to seek a role that will allow me to emphasize accountability and transparency in all actions and to foster a culture of inclusivity that encourages everyone to collaborate and share resources, to participate in decision making, and to uncover what is truly leading to one need being prioritized over another.
The specialization I chose in this program is Local Government Management, and one of its key competencies speaks to my dedication to effecting real changes within a structure that supports this crucial activity (see the blue oval). Community sustainability guides my every effort, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal depicted here is another guiding principle that I chose after careful deliberation (gold oval). A community is composed of diverse individuals with a variety of moral codes and concepts of what is good or bad, thus a global approach that prioritizes human dignity and a common goal of sustainable, equitable peace and justice for all is critical.
Click on the following links to see my work, both individually and within team settings, from my time in the MPA program at Northern Illinois University:
EVALUATION PLAN FOR COUNTY-WIDE POLICE SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM: Executive Summary || Project Report || Slide Presentation
SURVEY DATA ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT FOR SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT: Report || Statistical Analysis || Slides
TECH-BASED STRATEGIES FOR CITIES: IT Utilization Plan || IT Training Program Performance Management Plan || Virtual City Hall Report & Presentation
OTHER PROJECTS: Legal Memorandum Re: IL Tort Immunity Act Exception || Proposed Budgets for Municipal Day Care Program: Phase I & Phase II Presentations
Advancing public interest and participation
My journey towards promoting community sustainability in a managerial role is informed by the values outlined above and by the ASPA Code of Ethics. After considering the ethics codes of many organizations, I adopted the code of the American Society for Public Administration to guide my decision making and behavior in my future career as a local government manager. The eight principles of the ASPA Code apply to all who work in public service across all sectors and prioritize supporting the public interest and encouraging citizen participation. These two guiding values connect my past roles in public service to my future career in local government. Learn more about ASPA's Code by clicking the icon.