2018-2019 Staff
Mayra Gomez is a first-year MPA candidate at the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics. She is pursuing a career in local government. In addition to being a Research Assistant, she was selecated for and is preparing for her role as one of two lead advisors in the MPA career mentorship program. Currently, she is providing research for “The Buoyancy of Hope: Analyzing Court Influence on Social Policy”. Her other interests and passions include city administration, finance, economic development, and community development. Outside of school, she can be found attempting to play the cello, hiking, and bringing people together for a game night or other activities. She also volunteers with the local youth detention center and helps detained youth improve their reading skills. Prior to attending BYU, she received her undergraduate degrees from Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX, obtaining a BBA in Accounting and a BBA in Finance. Upon graduation, she received an officer commission through the United States Air Force and was a Financial Manager at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, and Osan Air Base in South Korea. She is an Air Force veteran as of May 2016. |
Peter Moody is a second year MPA student and is focused on non-profit management. He is passionate about helping non-profits have an impact, evaluate it properly, as well as communicate their impact to the community and prospective donors. In addition to researching in the Public Service Lab, Peter currently serves as the Development Director of Grantwell.
Prior to grad school, Peter helped direct Camp Kesem at BYU, did an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry, and was trained as an Advanced EMT. Peter continues to volunteer with Camp Kesem and various social and outdoor organizations. In his free time, Peter hikes, camps, and canyoneers in the beautiful state of Utah. |
Rachel Woerner is an MPA student in the class of 2020, where she studies resource development and the federal government. She attended Brigham Young University for her undergraduate degree, where she earned a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Statistics. Rachel is currently working with Dr. Christensen on research projects studying public service motivation and the government’s role in social innovation. Her other research interests include encouraging organizations to adopt virtuous practices and social innovation from private-public partnerships. Rachel is passionate about empowering others through connections and relationships. She is a certified yoga instructor, a hiking enthusiast, an avid traveler, and a fluent American Sign Language user.
|
Kathleen Nugent is currently a second-year MPA student at BYU. She was recently admitted to the University of Georgia to pursue a Ph.D. In Public Affairs and Policy beginning in Fall 2019. Kathleen’s research interests include organizational theory and equity. Previously, Kathleen taught high school chemistry and worked as an Education Policy Fellow in Washington D.C. Kathleen is originally from New York but has enjoyed her time in Utah. She and her dog, Ace, can often be found hiking in the mountains.
|
Jared Olsen is an MPA candidate in the Romney Institute of Public Management at Brigham Young University. Jared earned a BA in American Studies with a Management minor from Brigham Young University. Jared currently works with Dr. Christensen on projects researching court involvement in public school desegregation, public service motivation, and social desirability bias. In the fall, Jared will pursue a PhD in the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University. His research interests include prosocial work behavior and leadership in the public sector. Jared enjoys attending Utah Jazz and BYU Football games, spending time with his wife and daughter, and listening to podcasts.
|
Eveline Miranda is a Ph.D. candidate at BYU University (EIME Program). She graduated from the MPA program in 2020. In her master’s, she had many classes in HR, organizational behavior, team management, and data analysis. As a research assistant, she has worked on different projects related to gender disparity, burnout, and public service motivation. She loves working on data analysis and statistical models. She is passionate about gender studies, minorities, leadership, and motivation. In her free time, she loves spending time with family members, working on her genealogy, and running.
|
You Yeong Oh is a graduate student for the BYU Masters in Public Administration program. Her emphasis is in finance, but enjoys learning and applying data science and economics. She wants to research ways to effectively help those that are underprivileged and poor. For relaxation, she loves hiking and spending time with her family. |
Charlotte Sudweeks began her first year as one of BYU’s MPA students in September of 2018. She hopes to help people on an international level one day, specifically focusing on public management and diplomacy. She grew up living overseas which sparked her passion for travel and understanding foreign cultures and languages. She also had the opportunity to complete several summer internships at the US Embassy in New Delhi, India and developed an interest in joining the Foreign Service. Charlotte hopes to further her skills in public management, while also learning how best to bridge the gaps between the United States and other nations by way of foreign diplomacy and international relations. Charlotte received her BA in political science at BYU-Hawaii in April of 2018.
|