Brockport Today

Sidnee McDonald

Hometown: Rochester, New York

Undergraduate College and Major: SUNY Brockport, State University of New York. I double majored in African & African-American Studies and Political Science.

Current Occupation: I am the Democratic Engagement Graduate Assistant in the Office of Community Development at SUNY Brockport and I am a Graduate Urban Fellow in the City of Rochester Mayor’s Office.

How and why did you decide to apply for SUNY Brockport MPA program?

I decided to apply to the MPA program because both of my mentors encouraged me to do so. They believed the program would prepare me for a career in public service which is something I aspire to do. In addition, one of my mentors, Renee Pink, is a graduate of the MPA program and she spoke highly of the program.

What have you enjoyed most about the program so far?

What I have enjoyed most about the program so far, is learning about career opportunities that I was unaware of. Prior to starting the program, I did not know what a City/County Manager was. Since then I have attended two International City/County Management Assocation Conferences, one in New York and the other in Washington. I am also serving as the International City/County Management Assocation (ICMA) President for SUNY Brockport student chapter. Thanks to my involvement with ICMA and the courses I have taken, I know career in public service is what I aspire to do.

What does your job entail?

As the Democratic Engagement Graduate Assistant, I:

• Assist all members of the Brockport community in recognizing their democratic responsibility through Voter Registration.
• Create opportunities and programs that deepen awareness and understanding of social and political issues through Voter Education.
• Engage all members in the democratic process by encouraging and facilitating Political Action.
• Provide experiences that enhance the skills needed to be effective citizens, including communication, collaboration, critical analysis, and problem solving through Deliberative Dialogues.

As a Graduate Urban Fellow, I work on projects concerning community wealth building and alleviating poverty.

What are your future goals?

After graduating from the MPA program I would like to attend law school. Ultimately, I would like to own and operate a law firm in the city of Rochester while serving as an elected official.

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