Fort Worth Employees Advance Careers Through UTA's Public Administration Program
For Michelle Swindle, a senior IT manager for the city of Fort Worth, public service has always been a priority. Inspired by a family rooted in community-focused careers, she strengthened her commitment this May by earning a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA).
"I never envisioned myself getting a master’s degree," said Swindle, who holds a bachelor's in geography from the University of North Texas. However, when she learned that the city would cover part of the tuition and that classes were conveniently located near her workplace, the decision became clear. "It was really hard to say ‘no,’" she added.
Swindle participated in UTA's MPA program, which aims to strengthen public decision-making and service delivery in a globalized and diverse society. The program educates students to lead and manage organizations at all levels of government and nonprofit institutions ethically, democratically, and effectively.
The MPA program offers three formats: on-campus, online, and a city cohort model. The city cohort program, which Swindle joined, is tailored to the specific needs of local governments. It combines daytime classes at city government locations with online learning, focusing on city management and including an emphasis on economic development and urban management.
Classes met once a week on Friday afternoons at UTA’s Fort Worth Center, just blocks from the city's downtown offices. This schedule was designed to accommodate full-time professionals, allowing them to enhance their leadership skills and gain expertise in public administration without disrupting their work commitments.
David Coursey, chair of UTA’s public affairs and planning department, emphasized the program's practical benefits. "If you are in the budgeting department, you may have an undergraduate degree in accounting, but you probably have had no actual public budgeting or public finance training," he said. "You do not get that in a business school."
Coursey played a key role in designing the MPA program, which collaborates directly with employers like the city of Fort Worth to bring education closer to the workplace. Similar initiatives have been launched with the cities of Grand Prairie, Mansfield, and Arlington. Coursey envisions expanding the model to address gaps in other fields, such as nursing and social work.
As part of the program’s final capstone class, participants tackled real-world challenges within the city. Swindle’s group, for instance, conducted a program evaluation of the city’s office of emergency management. They benchmarked best practices by consulting with other agencies and federal organizations, ultimately identifying gaps and recommending improvements.
This kind of hands-on experience not only benefits the city but also prepares participants for leadership roles. Coursey noted that many local governments face a "graying" management layer, with senior leaders nearing retirement. Programs like this aim to develop the next generation of leaders from within.
Swindle experienced this firsthand, earning a promotion during her studies. She immediately applied lessons from her organizational theory class to her new role. Additionally, she said the program expanded her understanding of the inner workings of city departments and strengthened her network of professional connections across the organization.
"I now have colleagues in different departments I can reach out to when I need help in a specific area," Swindle said.
As the first Fort Worth cohort graduates, the program is already proving its value, equipping public sector employees with the skills and knowledge to lead in the complex world of local government. For Swindle, the degree represents not just personal growth but also a deeper commitment to the city she serves.