Brendan Parker, MPPA
Hi! I’m Brendan (he/him) and I’m a 2nd year student in the Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) program at Carleton’s SPPA.
I picked the MPPA program because I knew Carleton was the place to be for an appropriate mix of theoretical and practical experience with public policy. The program does an excellent job at framing current issues in the context of the wider policy landscape and has helped me appreciate the complexity of doing good, while inspiring me to keep working for a better future.
Put simply, Carleton feels like home. I moved to Ottawa in 2014 to complete my undergrad in Political Science at Carleton and have loved the school and the city ever since.
As I scrolled through the other grad programs on offer, I kept coming back to the SPPA every time because it ticked all of my boxes: the faculty care, there are development opportunities on and off-campus and the student community truly supports each other as we each pursue our individual passions.
First and foremost, the MPPA program has been an opportunity to challenge myself in an environment where I know I’ll be supported.
During my time at the School, I’ve been lucky to work as a research assistant with Prof. Graeme Auld on international environmental policy work, I’m a part of the SPPA Student Society executive and I’ve made some excellent friends with minds and experiences that help me see the world in new ways.
Through the co-op program, I was able to work with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry this past summer in Resource Development policy and would like to continue in that field after graduation.
The SPPA building, Richcraft Hall, has the BEST view of the fall colours anywhere in Ottawa and is filled with top tier study spaces exclusive to SPPA students.
I’ve known since I clicked submit on my application that I’d made the right decision in applying to the MPPA program. Additionally, if you need any support or have any questions, I’d be happy to chat things through whenever you’ve got the time. Drop me a line or hit up the @SPPA.Society on Instagram and let’s connect :)
