Evans School Visit to Olympia
On January 19, fifteen Evans School MPA students got up close with top Evans alumni working in the state capitol and got first-hand exposure to members of the Washington Legislature in action. Marty Brown, Governor Gregoire's Legislative Director, and Larisa Benson (MPA '02), Special Assistant to the Governor for GMAP, briefed students on Gregoire's legislative agenda and the Government Management Accountability and Performance (GMAP) initiative. In addition, nine alumni working as legislative staff and Representative Jim McIntire stopped by to talk with students. There were also individual meetings with other representatives and their legislative assistants. The students also attended hearings, including an overflowing House Commerce and Labor Committee Hearing on labor standards for large employers (such as Wal-Mart) and health care expenditures. Nancy Amidei, Senior Lecturer in the School of Social Work, did the opening briefing for students on the operations of the legislature during a short session. Learn more in her weekly legislative newsletter, Policy Watch, at:
http://depts.washington.edu/sswweb/policyw/.
Dean Archibald and Lynn Schrader, Assistant Dean for Development and External Relations attend the Higher Education Committee hearing, chaired by Representative Phyllis Kenney (who is on our Visiting Committee). They also met with Shane Hamlin, Legislative Liaison for Secretary of State Sam Reed, and current Evans School midcareer MPA student. Lynn talked with Hamlin about the Secretary of State's proposed amendments to the "Charitable Solicitations and Charitable Trusts Act" (SB 6662).
After the trip, several students said they were inspired by the visit to the capitol. They feel much more informed about the critical work done there and the benefits and challenges of public sector careers. One of Dean Archibald's goals is to facilitate for our students a regular and growing presence in Olympia each year, particularly during the long legislative session in 2007.
Return to March 2006 MPA Alumni News
