Students explore government careers at statewide municipal management conference

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A group of Penn State students attended the Association for Pennsylvania Municipal Management Annual Conference in Pittsburgh from May 18-20, gaining firsthand exposure to career pathways in local government and opportunities to connect with municipal leaders from across Pennsylvania.

The opportunity was made possible thanks to the generosity of Penn State Outreach, which co-sponsored the trip. The Penn State contingent included seven students from the School of Public Policy, representing both the undergraduate Next Gen Leadership Academy and the Master of Public Policy programs.

The goal of the trip was to introduce students to the wide range of professional opportunities available in local government and to provide them with direct access to policy professionals working in communities across Pennsylvania.

“Students interested in public service often know about federal and state government careers, but local government opportunities are frequently less visible to them,” said Jeremy Hoffman, director of undergraduate studies for the School of Public Policy. “The APMM Annual Conference gave our students a chance to see the profession up close — to hear directly from municipal leaders, build relationships with practitioners, and better understand the range of leadership roles available in Pennsylvania communities. Following the success of our inaugural Local Government Expo last fall, we are continuing to build a pipeline of opportunities that help students connect their public policy education with meaningful careers in local government.”

Conference programming included sessions on leadership, organizational change, negotiation, mentoring, and the future of the municipal management profession. Highlights included Wednesday’s general session, “Paving the Way for the Next Generation,” which focused on preparing and supporting future leaders in local government, as well as a session on building the pipeline for women in local government.

During the latter session, the Women Leading Government Pennsylvania chapter was officially launched. The initiative is spearheaded by Amy Farkas, Patton Township. manager; Stephanie Mason, Doylestown Township manager; Amy Rockwell, Harrison Township manager; Amanda Serock, Concord Township manager; and Jess Whitley, assistant to the State College borough manager. Whitley will lead the Pennsylvania chapter going forward.

The agenda also featured sessions on leading change as a newcomer, influence in organizations, leading with structure and integrity, and mentoring in public service.

Ahead of the conference, Farkas and Whitley briefed the students during a pre-conference session, sharing practical advice on what to expect, how to approach networking, and how to make the most of the conference experience. In addition, municipal managers and assistant managers from across Pennsylvania served as conference mentors for the students in attendance.

Paige Myers, a recent graduate of Penn State’s Master of Public Policy program who attended the conference and was recently hired by Upper St. Clair Township as a planning and zoning assistant, said the experience was especially valuable as she begins her local government career.

“Attending the APMM Annual Conference gave me an incredible opportunity to connect with municipal managers and local government professionals from across Pennsylvania,” Myers said. “As I begin my new role with Upper St. Clair Township, the relationships I developed and the insights I gained at the conference will be invaluable. It was also encouraging to see how welcoming and supportive the local government community is to students and early-career professionals.”

“It was exciting to see Penn State students participating in this year’s APMM Annual Conference and engaging directly with municipal managers from across the commonwealth,” Farkas said. “We need to be intentional about encouraging the next generation of public service leaders, and partnerships like this one with the School of Public Policy help students see that local government offers meaningful, challenging and impactful career opportunities.”

Larry Terry, vice president for Penn State Outreach, noted the partnership reflects the University’s commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers through real-world engagement with communities across Pennsylvania.

“Penn State Outreach was pleased to co-sponsor this opportunity for students to learn directly from local government leaders, explore careers in public service and cultivate interest in the critical role of public service in communities,” Terry said. “Experiential learning like this is central to preparing students for impactful careers and advances our land-grant mission by connecting their education to real-world challenges facing Pennsylvania communities.”

The trip is part of a broader effort by the School of Public Policy to encourage students to consider careers in local government. This fall, the school will host its second Local Government Expo, bringing students together with local government professionals to learn about municipal careers, policy challenges and public service opportunities. The school also plans to establish a University Park chapter of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) this fall.

Students interested in joining the ICMA chapter and/or attending the Local Government Expo this fall can indicate their interest via the registration form.