UIC Department Head uses experience for online MPA launch

Meet Dr. Deborah A. Carroll, Professor and new Department Head of Public Policy, Management, and Analytics at the University of Illinois Chicago. Working with her team to launch the online Master of Public Administration program, Dr. Carroll reflects on her own experience and why she decided to pursue a career in the public sector and ultimately higher education.

Between earning her MPA degree and Ph.D. in Political Science, Dr. Carroll had an internship working in the budget office for the city of Milwaukee. This is where she developed the desire to take on a more holistic approach to solving local government problems, and to help individuals gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become effective leaders in government and public service.

Having worked as an adjunct professor at UIC 20 years ago, Dr. Carroll returned in 2021 to join the faculty in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA), as well as become the Director of the Government Finance Research Center. Prior to coming to UIC, Dr. Carroll served on the faculties of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, University of Georgia, and University of Central Florida.

Dr. Carroll highlights her experience, and why she is excited to move the department forward with the new online MPA program.

Tell us a little about yourself. What drew you to the public administration field? What keeps you excited about it?  

One summer while I was getting my MPA degree, I started an internship in the budget office for the city of Milwaukee working to analyze the policy questions and programmatic/structural changes that departments would propose in their annual budgets. That’s when I also became interested in property taxation and Brownfields, or environmentally contaminated properties, and the challenges with their redevelopment. I absolutely loved the work I was doing there.

However, I found that I became frustrated by what I like to call the “band-aid approach” to solving local government problems. Instead, I wanted to have the freedom and flexibility to take on a more holistic and deeper view of different public policies and management issues, so I went on to pursue my Ph.D.

As the new incoming department head for the MPA program, what are you most excited about taking on this role? 

During the last year of my Ph.D., Dr. Michael A. Pagano, a former Dean of CUPPA, hired me to teach adjunct for the MPA program. I taught at UIC for one academic year. From that point forward, I knew that if there was an opportunity that fit well timing-wise, I would love to return to UIC.

I returned in 2021 and I got to know the faculty and students within CUPPA really well. They’re such talented and hardworking people that always put their best foot forward. The opportunity to get to know the students more broadly in my new role, as well as the faculty, and move the department forward is really exciting for me.

Why do you think bringing the MPA program online will be so beneficial for students? 

I think we’ve all been through a very strange time with the covid pandemic, and it changed the way we work and approach our lives. There’s a need for people to do things on their time and their pace. The online MPA degree is the exact same degree that our in-person MPA students are receiving. This is a fully accredited, highly ranked program that’s taught by the same on-campus faculty. The only difference is that it’s in an online format.

What are some of the main factors that set the online MPA apart from other degrees, and why should students pursue it? 

Government job opportunities, especially within state and local government, are abundant. There’s a huge gap in terms of jobs that are available and individuals who have the skillset and the qualifications to go into those jobs. Illinois also has the most local governments of any other U.S. state. The online MPA degree will prepare students for these positions wherever they live. But, if they live within the state of Illinois, the abundance of opportunities means they won’t have to take their degree and go elsewhere.

We teach our students the technical skills needed to evaluate policy and become the leaders we need in the public sector. Our primary goal is to put good, qualified people into the workforce.

What skills and knowledge will students develop/learn in their MPA courses that will be useful in building their careers? 

Our online degree builds a great foundation for MPA students. Our faculty is dedicated to the real-world practical application of theoretical frameworks. Students will also see a lot of real-world examples in their classes and assignments. We teach a lot of analytical skills so students know how to collect, manipulate, and analyze data so that they can engage in evidence-based decision making.

I think the combination of technical knowledge and real-world application taught by world class faculty sets our MPA program apart at UIC.

What is the most important thing you have learned about having a successful career in MPA that you would like to pass on to people considering this field? 

I’ve learned that you have to be motivated to make an impact and difference within your community. Government can move slowly sometimes and can seem bureaucratic. However, becoming a public servant provides the opportunity to create positive change that can take you far in your career.