When Alina Hudak was wrapping up her undergraduate degree in political science, she wasn't sure what she wanted to do next. Although many of her classmates were studying business, she wanted to break away from the status quo and enrolled instead in UM's Master's in Public Administration (MPA). Fast forward 31 years, and she has climbed the ranks in Miami-Dade County government to become the first Hispanic woman appointed as Assistant County Manager, and the first woman to serve as County Manager overseeing a government of more than 27,000 employees in over 50 departments.
Currently the Deputy Mayor for Miami-Dade County, Hudak credits the MPA program for her success: "Once I began the program, Dr. Jonathan West offered me an internship, which then led to my first job. Working with Dr. West made all the difference. The program changed my life forever."
In her current role with the county, Hudak has hired many graduates from UM's MPA program.
Check out the interview below to hear her opinion on what makes UM graduates such high-quality applicants:
