Fairs, fairs, everywhere, fairs!

Part of our duties while being in Los Angeles is to assist with some of the recruiting events as needed. Travis and I have been quite successful in talking to interested students about the School of Public Affairs at the various campuses and we've been able to see a lot of Southern California schools!

First was La Jolla in the beginning of October to attend the Graduate School fair at UCSD. We set up our booth with all of our handouts and SWAG and anxiously awaited the students arrival. We talked to a handful of interested students and were able to spend time talking to the rep from W.P. Carey.

Travis and our booth! 

At La Jolla Cove after the event

The next events took place at the end of the month. First was UCLA. It wasn't as successful as UCSD, most students that came to the fair didn't seem to be interested in Public Affairs...we were in a row of various Public Affair and Social Work programs and our aisle was mostly a ghost town. Next we ventured to UC Riverside. What a crazy day! We talked to so many interested students about the School and what the career options are with an MPA or an MPP. We even talked to a professor who was interested in the PhD program. One student came up before the fair even began because she had already been looking into our program and had some more questions about it. 

A week later, I met with Nicole Boryczka at USC for another fair. We talked to a handful of students who were interested in the new hybrid program. ASU SPA offers the MPA degree in a 16-month hybrid format if students attend full time and stick to a structured schedule. All but two classes can be completed online and two classes, one in the first semester and one in the final semester, are weekend intensives. This option really appeals to people who are interested in the program but aren't wanting to relocate to the valley because of family or a job. 

All in all, it's been a great experience not only seeing these other schools but also being a part of ASU in this capacity. It's an entirely different side of things and a great opportunity to lean new skill sets. Tabling at an event and recruiting experience is something else to add to the resume!

The desert versus the western coastline

I'm an Arizona baby, through and through. I love the desert rain, summer sunsets, and the saguaro  cactus in the background of my surroundings. I grew up hiking the trails of the Superstition mountains and Sabino Canyon. So when I found myself back in Phoenix for class, and stranded due to car troubles for 10 days, I made sure I took a trip out into the desert for a little soul TLC.

As much as I love my desert home, I have always been quite partial to Southern California and the beaches when I needed an escape. It's a 5 hour drive or an hour long flight to find yourself kissing the pacific ocean from my home. Family vacations were often spent in Newport, Balboa, or Huntington beaches and I've escaped to Venice and Santa Monica countless times with friends. So now that I find myself living a mere 12 miles from the coast, and worked less than a mile from the PCH, I'm blessed to make much quicker excursions.

Tuesday was such a clear day that I could see the waves of the Pacific from the fourth floor conference room as we sat in a phone conference. I decided that I needed to be down in the sand after work so I made a detour west, instead of heading home inland in KTown. 

Wednesday was another coastal adventure a little bit further south. Travis and I ventured down to University of California San Diego for their Graduate school fair as representatives of the School of Public Affairs. After a four hour fair and some interesting interactions with some students, we packed up to leave. It was forecasted to be a rainy day, something strange for those living in SoCal. As Travis put the boxes into the car the rain had started. Regardless, we headed to the cove for some salt air. 

Whether I am by the waters edge or next to a 300 year old saguaro, I am so happily at peace that it makes it hard to declare a favorite. I am so excited that I have the ability to be in one place one day and the other the next. True blessings to be thankful for!