UK's Martin School Continues Tradition of Success

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 17, 2014) — While summer generally is a somewhat slower time on a college campus, including at the University of Kentucky, it does not mean that significant things are not happening. Take, for instance, UK's renowned Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, which received word on July 11 of this year that its master's degree program in public administration (MPA) had been reaccredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) for another seven years.

The Martin School also completed its periodic external review. Members of the review team, comprised of representatives from nationally recognized peer schools, said in their report, "The Martin School is a local and national success story."

Indeed, the school's programs regularly show up prominently in various national rankings, such as Martin's public finance and budgeting program being ranked second in the country by U.S. News and World Report, 'America's Best Graduate Schools,' last year and its doctoral program being ranked fourth in the nation by the National Research Council.

In addition to the MPA, with both a traditional and an accelerated program, the Martin School offers a master's degree in public policy (MPP), a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration, and several joint degree programs which combine the MPA with programs at the UK colleges of Pharmacy, Law and Engineering, as well as the University Scholars program.

"Our alumni lead government organizations large and small, " said Merl Hackbart, longtime faculty member and interim director of the Martin School. "They also manage nonprofits as well as leading business organizations. And our faculty are recognized nationally as foremost researchers dedicated to investigating and solving public policy issues and identifying new ways of enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of public and nonprofit organizations."

Judging by a recent sampling of alums, it is evident that the Martin School scores high on the satisfaction scale.

John Hicks is a 1984 MPA graduate of the school who is now in his 31st year of working in state government, 24 of those in the Commonwealth of Kentucky Budget Office. He currently serves as Deputy State Budget Director.

"The Martin School was the perfect academic preparation for my career in public sector budgeting and finance," Hicks said. "I quickly recognized that the higher-order thinking skills emphasized in the school were a precursor to dealing with the challenges of real-world problems."

Hicks happily adds that he met his wife, Susan Hultman Hicks, while they both were studying at the Martin School.

Associate Executive Director of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence Brigitte Blom Ramsey earned her MPP degree from the Martin School in 2007. Her impressive career also includes service to United Way, Kentucky Youth Advocates, and six years on the Kentucky Board of Education, including being vice chair. 

"The faculty at the Martin School all have a wealth of experience as researchers and/or practitioners," Ramsey said. "This level of practical expertise not only serves students well, it also effectively provides them with career opportunity exposure, which is critical to successful placement upon graduation."

2014 Martin School MPP graduate Marina Byrd served as graduate fellow at the Council of State Governments, headquartered in Lexington. After her fellowship, she caught the attention of people in Washington, D.C. as she achieved Presidential Management Fellows finalist status. Byrd recently accepted a position as a legislative policy analyst at the Florida Legislature's Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability.

"The faculty definitely are what I like best about the Martin School," Byrd said. "They all spend a lot of time outside of class helping students with questions and providing guidance with research. Thanks to putting in the hard work in my master's program, I am confident that the education I received has given me the tools necessary to take on the challenges that will come up in my career."

Jamie Giles is another May 2014 grad of the Martin School. Her capstone project paper has won two national awards and is a semifinalist for a third award. Giles is putting her MPA to good use as legislative aide to Harry Clarke, 10th District Council member of the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG).

"The Martin School is extremely well respected in local and state government," Giles said. "Leaders know that students who come out of the school are extremely well versed in economics and legislative analysis."

Giles also has international experience, having earned a Fulbright English Teaching Fellowship to Thailand in 2011 after receiving her bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Louisville.

Each of these Martin School alumni, together with hundreds of others spread out across the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world feel fortunate to have invested time and effort in this outstanding graduate program at the University of Kentucky.

"The Martin School and its graduates embody that sense of purpose to something larger than the sum of its parts," said Ramsey. "I'm proud to have the school as a foundation for my life's work and to be in the midst of so many Martin School graduates working in Kentucky."

MEDIA CONTACT: Carl Nathe, 859-257-3200; carl.nathe@uky.edu.