Life as Edward Jensen

Internship & Career Fair ~ “Sun Devils Recruiting Sun Devils”

NEXT Wednesday, March 25

11am to 2pm

Mercado, Building C

502 E. Monroe St.

The Career Fair is an opportunity for all students to make professional contacts with ASU alumni. Freshmen thru Seniors are encouraged to attend and gather information on internships & career positions from over 30 organizations. Prospective graduates, alumni & internship seekers are encouraged to dress professionally & bring resumes. For an updated list of employers attending, log into Sun Devil CareerLink at www.asu.edu/career.

[source: The Morrison Institute for Public Policy]: Applications are now being accepted from Arizona high school seniors for the prestigious Young Steward for Public Policy scholarship program. Morrison Institute wants to hear from high school seniors with creative ideas about and solutions to Arizona’s greatest challenges.

The Young Steward program invites Arizona high school seniors to share their public policy ideas and promote “stewardship”-public leadership committed to doing what is best for Arizona regardless of political philosophy or personal gain. Young Steward awards are based on an essay about a public issue of critical importance. Applicants are invited to address a community issue or problem they are passionate about and offer solutions on that issue to Arizona leaders. Essays must include specific recommendations for policymakers on how the issue should be addressed.

AWARDS:
First Place: $1,500 scholarship to ASU • Second Place: $1,000 scholarship to ASU • Honorable Mention may be designated for other outstanding essays.

TO APPLY:
Submit an essay about a public issue of critical importance to Arizona (two-pages maximum; typed, double-spaced, 12-point type) accompanied by a Young Steward Application Form. The essay should analyze a specific public issue and include specific recommendation(s) to policymakers on how that issue should be addressed. One essay per applicant. All contact information must be included; incomplete applications may be disqualified. Download application here.

DEADLINE: Applications must be postmarked by March 31, 2009.

SPECIAL CRITERIA:
Awards will not be based on financial need or the academic achievement of the applicant. However, awards will only be given to students who attend ASU. Should an award winner decide not to attend ASU, the award would be forfeited.

SELECTION PROCESS:
Essays will be reviewed and awards determined by representatives from ASU, The Arizona Republic, Tucson Citizen, and Arizona’s public policy leadership. Essays will be judged on the clarity of analysis and quality of policy recommendation(s). Award-winning essays will be published by The Arizona Republic and Tucson Citizen in addition to the scholarship award. The selection committee or Morrison Institute reserves the right not to make an award if no essays are acceptable.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND:
Elaine and Richard Morrison established this unique program to commemorate Morrison Institute’s 20+ years of policy research. Morrison Institute’s Board of Advisors is committed to the development of this special program.

As part of a series highlighting some of ASU’s top faculty by KAET/Arizona PBS, professor and director of the School of Public Affairs, Dr. Robert Denhardt, was selected to share his stories and experiences.

Way to go, Bob!

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

Today marks the start of the fifth week of class here at ASU. I think that this is a good time to talk a bit about classes.

I went to a small high school about a mile north of the Downtown Phoenix campus. To provide some numbers, my graduating class had thirty-five students. Of the 35, half of us traveled from class to class together and the other half did likewise. Essentially, I have been in small class settings before so I am relatively used to them.

Of the classes that meet in a location at a specific time (i.e. not online or independent study courses), two have 35-40 students (each) in them. In these two classes, I think that I am the only student from the College of Public Programs. The rest are from the other colleges on the Downtown Phoenix campus. The other two meet on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Those are significantly smaller, with five and eight people in those classes, respectively.

Something about these small classes and the format thereof is that everyone has to be on the ball. These are discussion-driven courses (here, they’re called seminars) so you have to do the assigned readings. But you know what? I’d prefer these small seminars over a large lecture any day. The largest class in which I’ve been had 196 students. True, it’s medium-sized by ASU’s standards but it was extremely large by my standards.

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

ASU’s College of Public Programs will have a Graduate School Information Fair (click for a flyer) from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 22 to 24 in the second floor lobby at University Center, 411 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix.

Each day will feature a focus on one of the college’s three schools:

• Sept. 22 – The School of Community Resources & Development, which offers a Master of Nonprofit Studies, Master of Science in Recreation & Tourism, and Ph.D. in Community Resources & Development
• Sept. 23 – The School of Social Work, offering a Master of Social Work and Ph.D. in Social Work
• Sept. 24 – The School of Public Affairs, which offers a Master of Public Policy, Master of Public Administration, and Ph.D. in Public Administration

Faculty and advisors will be available to discuss admission requirements, funding options and exciting career opportunities for graduates. Light refreshments will be served.

For information, call Dena Frei at (602) 496-0411 or e-mail Dena.Frei@asu.edu.

Please RSVP by September 18 at https://copp.asu.edu/sweb/do/students/gradinfo_fair.

See you there!

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

Non-Profit Volunteer & Internship Fair
Next Wednesday, September 17, 11 am – 1 pm

at the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus
Taylor Place Shade Garden (120 E. Taylor Street)

Organizations Attending:
AASK
ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Arizona Quest for Kids
Arizona’s Children Association
ASU Career Services at DPc
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona
Boys Hope Girls Hope
Bridging AZ Furniture Bank
Bureau of Land Management
Childhelp Children’s Center
Children’s Museum of Phoenix
Citizens Offering Police Support
City of Scottsdale
Community Dental Foundation
Free Arts of Arizona
Friends of the Phoenix Public Library
Future for KIDS
Girl Scouts-AZ Cactus Pine Council
Hacienda Healthcare
Helping Hands Housing Services
HomeBase Youth Services
Juvenile Diabetes research Foundation
Maricopa County Attorney’s Office-Victim Services
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Farm Workers Service Center Inc.
Native American Connections
Phoenix Museum of History
Phoenix Teaching Fellows
Planned Parenthood Arizona
Prevent Blindness America-Arizona Division
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Phoenix, Inc.
Scottsdale Public Art Program
Sonoran Institute
St. Joseph the Worker
St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance
Sun Valley Lodge
UMOM New Day Centers
Youth Evaluations and Treatment Centers (Project Next Step)
and more!

Log into Sun Devil CareerLink at www.dpc.asu.edu/career to view these organization’s volunteer and internship opportunities.

Contact Career Services with any questions at 602-496-1213 or dpccareerservices@asu.edu.

Presented by: Student Engagement, College of Public Programs and Career Services

Mark your calendars!

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

If you are a current high school student or you know of a high school student who would be interested in a weeklong summer program dedicated to urban issues, then check out the School of Public Affairs (SPA’s) “Urban Experience” program. All pertinent information is on the SPA’s website, so go check it out.

(NB: The registration deadline has passed, but students are encouraged to check it out and sign up.)

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

Dr. Robert Denhardt, the director of the School of Public Affairs and Regents’ Professor, has been named the first Lattie and Elva Coor Presidential Chair giving a $1mln endowment to develop scholarship and education in leadership and ethics across Arizona State University.

Congratulations, Dr. Denhardt!

ASU news story: http://copp.asu.edu/do/college-news/fp1

Also, check out President Crow’s podcast featuring Dr. Robert Denhardt discussing the high rankings of the School of Public Affairs in the US News and World Report.

Cheers –Edward Jensen

Hello everyone!

My fellow Student Ambassadors and I are preparing a comprehensive guide on finalizing your acceptance to Arizona State University and its College of Public Programs and becoming a student for the Fall 2008 semester. Our guide is availble on our website, http://copperstar.asu.edu/.

Check it out: http://copperstar.asu.edu/portal/fa08admits

Edward Jensen

The School of Public Affairs was featured in ASU Insight, ASU’s newspaper of record.

Urban planners draw upon School of Public Affairs
expertise
It may not seem like the Valley has much in common with cities in the Middle East or Australia. But large urban areas springing up in desert locales share many common issues – water supply, pollution problems and affordable housing – among them.

That’s where the School of Public Affairs in the College of Public Programs can make a difference, through partnerships and by recognizing those who serve the public good. The school was instrumental in recently nominating David Smith, Maricopa County manager, for a National Public Service award that he ultimately won. Smith spearheaded a major turnaround in Maricopa County from a place that was described as a “poster child for bad government” in Governing Magazine about 10 years ago into a county described by the same magazine as one of the two best-run county governments in the United States.

“The award is a premier award for a public service practitioner,” says Robert Denhardt, director of the School of Public Affairs. “It’s considered a lifetime achievement award. It really is wonderful recognition.”

Read more at ASU Insight!