CONTINUING ALBERTUS’ MERCURY AWARD-WINNING BLOG SERIES ON BLACK BRILLIANCE AND CELEBRATING BLACK EXCELLENCE 365.
I am a first-generation Liberian-American, born and raised in Connecticut. I consider myself a Connecticut nomad. My formative years were split between Ansonia and West Haven, as I consider both towns to be my home. I had an unconventional upbringing which I am very proud of. I was born into a Liberian family and household but raised by my African-American godparents. My upbringing in two completely different cultures allowed me to experience the duality of Black culture. From my two families, I learned early on the importance and impact of tradition, community, and my faith in God.
I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2016 from Southern Connecticut State University, and took some time to focus on my career before jumping into a Master’s program. While at Southern, I interned at the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association, a nonprofit trade association representing family-owned liquid-fuel retailers. I was offered a full-time position as the member services coordinator shortly after graduating. I am still with the company in my current position as Director of Legislative Affairs.
I work with policymakers and implementers in this position, advocating for favorable legislation for those we represent. I work with Connecticut’s Federal and state delegations and the administrators at several public agencies. I vigorously promote educating urban communities on the importance of participating in the political process and having a voice at the table. Outside of what I do here in Connecticut, I am particularly interested in geopolitics concerning energy insecurity in Africa, the most mineral-rich continent in the world.
My Journey at Albertus
There is no such thing as coincidence. When I started looking into Master’s programs, my first instinct was to go for my MBA, but as I was browsing, I learned that Albertus had recently added the Master’s of Public Administration to their catalog. I put in an inquiry, and soon after, I met with Dr. Patricia Birungi, Ph.D., MPH, the Director of the MPA program. After our meeting, I knew this was the program for me. The program aligned well with where I was professionally, and I knew it would equip me with the necessary tools for a career in public service. The MPA program at Albertus exceeded my expectations. I want to extend a special thanks to Dr. Patricia Birungi, Dr. Karreem Mebane, and Dr. Howard Fero, for each pushing me to excel and outperform my own expectations.
During my time here at Albertus, the things that stuck with me were not just words that I read in a textbook but also the quotes that my professors have left with me. These quotes have followed me into my professional career. Here are a few of these quotes:
“Opinions are like elbows, everyone has a pair” – Dr. Mebane
Opinions are amazing, but my MPA program how to formulate my opinions into logical arguments; that is what separates your opinions from everyone else’s.
“The question is, Is it ethical?” – Dr. Birungi
There’s a thin line between ethics and morality. As a lobbyist, it is important to conduct your lobbying in a way that is ethical. It may be hard to separate your moral beliefs from what is the prevailing ethical ethos, but for someone who works in public administration, it is important to hold ethics at the uppermost level.