Alumni
Tamela Luce
I became a grant-maker by accident.
I worked at Women's Way as the receptionist, in that role, I was handed a small grantmaking program; I knew nothing about grantmaking but ended up falling in love with it. I became Director of Grantmaking and for 14 years worked to improve services to women and girls in the Philadelphia area. In 2010, I enrolled in West Chester University’s MPA program- graduating in 2013 with a concentration in nonprofit management. I chose WCU because of its curriculum, affordability, and classes that fit into my life.
While finishing my degree, I became Senior Program Officer at HealthSpark Foundation. As Senior Program Officer, I had spent nearly eight years utilizing grantmaking, strategic investments, and collaboration to bring about positive change to Montgomery County’s emergency food system, including helping establish the MontCo Anti-Hunger Network. In August 2019, I became CEO of the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation; working to make the greater Phoenixville area one of the healthiest places in Pennsylvania, It is a fun yet challenging role, requiring me to use all of what I learned in the WCU MPA program.
Sometime accidents can be good.
Chester Holland
I first met VP Biden at a reception following the launch of the Biden Institute in March 2017. The following year I was able to attend another Biden Institute event in which I could speak with at the time VP Biden, the event intimate and limited to faculty, public policy/administration and economics grad students, and senior administrators. Since graduating from WCU, I have been working on completing the Ph.D., Urban Affairs and Public Policy degree program at the Biden School of Public Policy & Administration. I expect to be done in the summer of 2021 (the pandemic had a devastating effect on my research and program completion timeline).
For three years I worked as a Public Administration Fellow at the University of Delaware, I was a member of the support team for the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission (WEIC) which was formed by former Gov. Jack Markell. In 2019, I joined the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) in their Office of Data Governance. Just recently SDP formed the Equity Committee in which I was appointed to lead the Research, System Change and Policy subcommittee.
Anthony Pugh
I choose WCU as my graduate program because I wanted to push straight through. Public Administration was my focus (getting my master’s could do nothing but help) and I wanted to get a head start on entering the public sector. I knew that I wanted to encourage my chances of growth in the Law Enforcement Industry and attaining my master’s set me apart from those with bachelor’s degrees.
The best part of my WCU experience were my graduate years. I enjoyed the smaller classrooms, and individualized attention when needed. The PPA department really knew and understood the demands of being an adult either-trying to begin your career or progress in it. The graduate level professors ensured working did not hinder progression. I also practiced networking, with all people as I found that people seem to be predisposed to public service and helping others. I am glad to have realized that most people are willing to help guide you in the right direction when searching for a career, job, or any tips to help find your niche. There are good paying jobs in public service (not as much as the private sector, of course) so do your research, and speak with individuals in the industry you seek to practice what you have learned. I know this my degree has already paid off!
This picture with FPOTUS was a moment I wanted to share with everyone who helped me and molded me throughout my WCU career. With education you give a piece of yourself to each person you teach, you interact with, So, this is what I give to you! Go Rams!!
Dr. Tim Denning
Dr. Tim Denning is a seasoned Growth Executive who has led organizations in achieving their strategic goals, as well as an accomplished academic. He has been through due diligence, mergers, acquisitions, spin offs, as well as a foreclosure as an executive. His experiences, even the difficult ones, have yielded great lessons learned that he carries with him.
Active in service to his community within the Arlington and greater DC area, Tim is a Graduate of Leadership Arlington’s Signature Program. He was named in 2016 as a DMV 40 Under 40 by the Leadership Center for Excellence. He also serves as Chair of the Arlington County Community Development Advisory Committee (CDCAC) and is a Commissioner of Economic Development (EDC) for Arlington County. Tim is engaged in a variety of service-oriented endeavors. His service to the nation includes his Commission as a US Naval Reserve Supply Officer, currently attached to the J9 within the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) directly supporting the readiness mission for the nation’s combat logistics support agency.
Tim completed his Doctoral studies in Public Administration at West Chester University in PA, with a focus on technology and services acquisition within the US DoD and is a member of the Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society. He has an MA cert in Contracts and Procurement Management from the University of Virginia. He earned an MBA in Finance and MA in Political Science from Lehigh University, as well as a BA in Psychology from Johns Hopkins University.