Alumni

Placements

Malik Washington

City Council Liason for the City of Detroit Mayor's Office

Malik Washington currently serves as City Council Liaison for the City of Detroit Mayor’s Office. Prior to his current role, he worked for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to support a variety of tasks related to statewide transit policy, travel trend analysis, and project development.

Malik earned a Master of Public Policy degree from MSU in 2020. He also has a bachelor’s degree in public policy at MSU.

“Malik approaches public policy from a true commitment to service. He has a gift for listening and being able to synthesize input and evidence from a wide range of sources into a plan or policy that reflects community and stakeholder needs. He connects people to government and government to people, which is a critical piece of policymaking that’s often overlooked,” said MPP Program Director Erika Rosebrook.

What aspects of your Political Science and MPP education prepared you best for your work in the mayor's office?

MW: "The Political Science and MPP program placed a strong emphasis on critical thinking, networking, and effective communication. The required internships, capstone projects, and networking opportunities deepened my political understanding and honed my communication and relationship-building skills, crucial for my role in the mayor's office."

What motivated you for a career in public service?

MW: "Coming from a family of educators and ministers, the values of empowering and uplifting others were instilled in me early on. My first exposure to public service was through volunteering with my family's church, which opened my eyes to the needs of my community and sparked my interest in finding solutions. Growing up in Detroit, I've seen the city make significant progress, yet I realize there's still much to be accomplished. For me, it's important to give back to the city that raised me and to be a voice in the room, especially now, as Detroit continues to evolve and develop."

What are your fondest memories of your time as an MSU political science student?

MW:  "My fondest memories stem from my time in InnovateGov. InnovateGov is an internship program organized by the Political Science department that places students in various Detroit-based organizations to gain public service experience. Through the program, we were able to engage with local leaders and executives, take part in community service initiatives, and work on some of Detroit's most pressing issues. I gained lifelong friendships and relationships through InnovateGov and will forever be grateful for my experience in the program."

What experiences would you say are important for current students to take advantage of if they want a job in government?

MW: "I would encourage students to take their internships and networking seriously. It’s not who you know, but who knows you that matters. Networking and internships aren’t just about building your resume and making contacts; it's about building relationships that can provide guidance and open doors throughout your career."

What is something that you know now that you wish you knew back in your MSU days?

MW: "Reflecting back, it's not so much about what I wish I knew, but more about what I wish I had embraced – the grace to grow. Many of us are very passionate and ambitious, and that can sometimes result in us being our own harshest critic. I want students to know that it's perfectly normal not to have your entire career path figured out before graduation. Life is a journey of continuous discovery, and it's completely fine to adjust your path as you gather new insights and experiences. Every effort you put in contributes to your growth. Hard work will always yield a return."

What do you think are the biggest challenges today for someone who wants to work in your field? And what are the biggest benefits?

MW: "The ever-changing political and social landscape requires a high level of adaptability and open-mindedness. People’s needs constantly change,  which can make the work very challenging. Yet, being able to make a meaningful impact that can last for generations makes the challenges that come with it truly worthwhile."

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Mikaylah Heffernan

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Legislative Liason

MSU PLS  graduate Mikaylah Heffernan is the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s legislative liaison. Heffernan previously worked as a House Democratic Policy Advisor for the Michigan House of Representatives, focusing on agriculture and natural resources.  

She holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and a master's degree in Public Policy, both from Michigan State University.

“Mikaylah is not only an accomplished analyst and administrator, she’s a natural connector, and she regularly supports and mentors other PLS and MPP students,” said Program Coordinator Erika Rosebrook.” Though it’s been several years since she was on campus, I still hear about her often from current students - they always have a story about how she’s helped them get settled or navigate a difficult situation or offered good advice. She’s committed to an inclusive, kind, and transparent public sector, and she continually demonstrates that through her words and actions.” 

MSU PLS caught up with Heffernan shortly after she began her new position this spring and asked her to reflect back on her career so far and her time at MSU:

Q: What motivated you for a career in public service?

 

A career in public service just always made sense. My parents raised me to care about others in everything I do.  They, especially my father, taught me respect for our natural world and supported my love for all things outdoors. My career choices have let me serve my community and my environment while paying homage to my roots since day one.  

 

Q: What aspects of your Political Science and MPP education prepared you best for your work as a legislative liaison?

 

The research skills that I learned during my PLS days and then improved during my MPP days. If you know how to find quality, unbiased data, you're already two steps ahead of everyone else. You can learn what you need to know to succeed so long as you know where to look or who to ask.  

  Q: What are your fondest memories of your time as an MSU political science student? 

 

Bonding with other students that were also fascinated by politics and policy. It’s a powerful experience when you find your people for the first time. I went from being a lone political nerd to being surrounded by other political nerds!  

 

Q: What experiences would you say are important for current students to take advantage of if they want a job in government? 

 

Any experience that gets you time in the "real world." Internships are fantastic, but you can learn so much from simply taking a day to go down to the Capitol and watching committees or legislative sessions. If you have the opportunity, try to shadow someone for a day or two, even if you're not sure that you'll want to go into that field. Build your soft skills and teach yourself how to talk with and learn from people that aren’t like you.  

 

Q: What is something that you know now that you wish you knew back in your MSU days?

. Being unapologetically yourself and sticking to your values won’t endear you to everyone—and that’s okay.  You’ll be able to find a solution some other way.

 

Q: What do you think are the biggest challenges nowadays for someone who wants to work in your field? And what are the biggest benefits? 

 

The biggest challenge is honestly just being able to combat misinformation and distrust in the government. Most people who work in public service are here to serve the public. We have good data and good research but making sure that information gets out to the community, can be a struggle.
 

That said, the biggest challenge goes hand in hand with the biggest benefit. Being able to get the right information out to the community and make a difference is incredibly rewarding. You get to see the impact you have on your family, friends, and neighbors in real time.  

 

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Cameron Mock

Chief Of Staff & Senior Fiscal Advisor to the Deputy Governor

It was during the Masters of Public Policy program that Cameron Mock developed a real passion for finance. This translated into a job as a Fiscal Analyst at the Senate Fiscal Agency, and it was there that he became involved in education finance. He credits the expertise and concern for the public good among the staff at the Fiscal Agency with giving him a strong foundation for his future career.

After moving to Chicago, Mock became Budget Manager at Illinois Governor’s Office of Management & Budget.

He explains, “In this role, I managed the Governor’s education budgets and conducted tax and fiscal analyses for him and members of his senior staff. As I grew more familiar with the intricacies of the education funding system in Illinois, I set my sights on the financial challenges that face Chicago Public Schools.”

In his previous position as Budget Manager for Chicago Public Schools, and then as a Director, Mock oversees the forecasting and budgeting of over $6 billion in revenues, money that Chicago’s students and schools depend on. He sees it has his duty to care for the District’s finances to ensure that students receive a sound education that will help them learn and put them on the path to future success.

Mock’s advice to policy students is to always persevere in the face of setbacks or self-doubt. As he’s illustrated, being ready to take advantage of opportunities and learning from each experience can lead to new and rewarding work.

Mock recalls, “Furthermore, I knew I wanted to do something where I could make the greatest difference on the most lives. It finally occurred to me that nearly everyone is invested in educational outcomes— whether someone has a child, pays taxes, or simply wants to live in a country or region with robust economic growth, it all generally comes back to how we invest resources in our education system.”

Prior to entering the MPP program, Mock completed an undergraduate degree in Political Science at Michigan State University. During this time, he interned with a state representative and later worked on the same individual’s successful campaign for the Michigan Senate.