Top Networking Groups for MPA Degree Students

Want to stand out of the graduate crowd and also nourish your professional growth?
If you’re studying for a Master in Public Administration degree, there are dozens of public administration communities you can join to accelerate landing your dream job. Benefits in joining public administration networking groups include:

• Connecting with mentors who can give you insights into their careers and advice for post-graduate life
• Building relationships with other students who can help you find jobs in your area or refer you to their network
• Practice for conversing with others and being a team player, a quality that’s important to hone, since Deloitte called “the rise of teams” one of the top 10 human capital trends in its Global Human Capital Trends 2016 report¹
• Learning new skills through sharing resources and alerts to industry-related events in your area
• By finding new professional friends, you’ll be able to bounce off ideas with and return to for advice

The public administration field is comprised of high-quality networking groups that provide all of these advantages to graduate students. With the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting substantial job growth in public administration areas such as operations research analysts² and accountants³, and efficient ways to collaborate online, there are more people looking to connect with graduate students than ever before.

MPA Networking Groups and Communities

Consider joining one of these groups in public administration now to jump-start your future career, or get involved with a general networking group to reap professional and social benefits.

General MPA

• Alliance for Nonprofit Management: Members discuss issues relating to nonprofits so they can better enrich communities and enact positive social change
• American Society for Public Administration: Join a local chapter of the largest professional association for public administration, which provides related publications to members
• Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management: Research, education and analysis drive this organization dedicated to improving public policy and management
• Public Management Research Association: This nonprofit academic organization focuses on research conferences and promoting publications on public management research

Criminal Justice

• Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences: With 2,800 members, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences focuses on criminal justice, including policy analysis and research
• American Correctional Association: Operating with an intent to improve the criminal justice system, this organization founded in 1870 offers events and a newsletter
• American Jail Association: This national nonprofit organization supports all those involved in the country’s correctional facilities
• American Society of Criminology: Everything related to crime and delinquency is what this group’s members are interested in, including international studies and reports on the topics

Fire and Emergency Services

• Firefighter Nation Groups: This is an online social network community with groups related to a variety of firefighter-themed topics
• International Association of Women in Fire and Emergency Services: This interactive, non-profit network provides education, support, and advocacy for fire service women. Members range from the not-yet-hired to senior officers, and include men in all ranks seeking to make the fire service a professional place for men and women alike

Emergency Management

• Citizen Corps: Citizen Corps offers opportunities for individuals to help first responders in case of emergencies and get the training and education to volunteer
• National Emergency Management Association: This association is comprised of emergency management directors from all 50 states, plus 8 U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. Their foundation is built upon the improvement of preparation and recovery during instances of disaster or threat to the U.S.

Homeland Security

• United Nations Public Administration Network: Working on public administration policies on a global scale, this online-based network links national and regional institutions dedicated to public administration
• Department of Homeland Security Community Engagement: This resource connects people and communities for the purposes of addressing programs, activities, and issues related to homeland security.

Networking Groups for Graduate Students

• American Business Women’s Association: With the enduring presence of salary gender gaps and unique issues women face in business, this organization provides a support system for current and future business women
• BNI America: This network that is 190,000 members strong allows members to connect with other business professionals
• Mastermind Groups: These groups combine education, brainstorming, and peer support to help individuals accomplish goals
• Toastmasters International: Polish your public speaking and leadership skills with this group that guides members through exercises to sharpen their real-world business dealings
• United States Student Association: This higher education student group is focused on leadership development to create social change
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Representing businesses of all sizes, the local U.S. Chamber of Commerce chapters give members the opportunity to get closer to national policy makers through their organizations

Continue Your Education with Anna Maria College online

The resources listed above are a great way to connect with fellow students or professionals in public administration. They offer endless information and tools from other experts in their respective fields. Obtaining an advanced degree from Anna Maria College is the quickest way to climb the corporate ladder or land a position at your dream job.

Request more information about getting an MPA degree from Anna Maria College online or speak with one of our admission advisors today, 877-265-3201.

Sources

1. https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/HumanCapital/gx-dup-global-human-capital-trends-2016.pdf.
2. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/operations-research-analysts.htm.
3. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm.

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