Student Spotlight: Donna Oklok

Introduce Yourself

I am Donna Oklok. I grew up near Circleville, Ohio and studied at The Ohio State University, majoring in anthropology. I am currently working for the Accountancy Board of Ohio as their incoming Executive Director.

Tell us about your career

I worked in public libraries for ten years, a short stint with Battelle Memorial Institute, then took a job in environmental claims management before taking on the position of investigations supervisor for the Accountancy Board.

Why did you choose the Voinovich School and the Online Master of Public Administration (OMPA) program? What concentration did you select and why?

The OMPA program through the Voinovich School offered a comprehensive, leadership management curriculum that appealed to my current interests and future ambitions. I am in the public leadership and management concentration. Data analytics is crucial to evaluating outcomes in the public sector and I am always seeking more knowledge in the arena of program evaluation.

Tell us about your area of research or project work you have conducted in your program and what you learned.

I have been evaluating accounting career attraction programs and creating policy frameworks in response to “calls to action” promoted by various stakeholders in the public accounting world.

How have you applied your coursework in your career?

Although I have worked in the public sector for more than 25 years, my coursework has clarified for me how public policy fundamentals are created, applied, and evaluated.

What is the best leadership advice you have received?

Do not accept criticism; evaluate it and decide if it is valid. If so, make it a lesson. The rest can be discarded.

What has been your favorite class and why?

Data analytics! I went in a bit unsure of what “data analytics” fully entailed, but it was wonderful. Dr. Ruhil made it easy to understand and execute.

What do you like most about your program?

I have enjoyed getting to know other students from many diverse backgrounds. It is great to see what others are doing in the public administration field.

What are your future career goals?

In the near future, I hope to be part of the conversation on the future of the CPA profession. Long-term, I hope to be able to create public value in whatever role I occupy.

What piece of advice would you share with someone entering the OMPA program?

Just do it – it is never too late to pursue your next level of education. It is a rewarding and interesting experience.