MPA graduate Rebecca Miller prompts public advocacy at OHIO

After graduating from the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service’s MPA program in 2013, Rebecca Miller has used her education to further her work in public policy, community organizing and advocacy.

Today, she is the executive director of community relations and engagement for the College of Health Sciences and Professions at Ohio University.

Miller grew up in Athens, and always found her way back, even coming back after living in other places. When she settled in Athens in the early 2000s, she held a full-time job at Athens Court Appointment Special Advocates (CASA/GAL) Program as executive director and raised her two children.

“I had done a lot of direct service, but when I was in the position at CASA, I really came to see that I had a strong interest in policy and advocacy,” Miller said.

At CASA, Miller worked to recruit and train volunteers who would help “represent the best interests of children involved in juvenile court because of abuse and neglect,” according to the organization’s website.

Support from OHIO faculty

She had always wanted to pursue her master's degree but had never found the right moment. Then a professor told her, “There will never be the perfect time, if you are motivated to go now you should do it,” Miller recalled.

After receiving this advice, Miller joined the MPA program in 2011 while continuing her work at CASA. She found that both work and classes often benefited from the perspectives and lessons learned during the other.

“It was challenging to juggle all of those things, but in some ways it was the perfect time, because there was so much work I was doing at CASA that I was able to apply to my classes and populations that I was working with,” Miller said.

Receiving constant support from faculty members was an integral part of Miller’s educational journey and was part of what kept her going, even while balancing all her commitments.

MPA opens the door to new career opportunities

After graduating from the program, Miller joined OHIO as an administrator. At the time, the College of Health Sciences and Professions had entered a partnership with the local Child Advocacy Center (CAC), which was struggling financially and programmatically. A position opened to help get the CAC back on track.

“I was eligible for that position because I was very close to being done with my master's degree. It was a master's required position, so I wouldn't have had the opportunity to even come to the University if I had not pursued the MPA,” Miller said.

Miller worked with the CAC as executive director for three years and watched as the center flourished, eventually receiving additional grant funding and hiring a full-time director. In 2016, she transitioned into a full-time community partnership role at OHIO and became executive director of community relations and engagement in August 2024. From the beginning, she has continuously implemented her studies into the workforce.

“To have that higher level of awareness around advocacy and policy that I received through my MPA has been very beneficial in the work that we do,” Miller said.

Attempting to always ensure a partnership is mutually beneficial is an effort that was emphasized by the MPA program, and Miller took that to heart. Being knowledgeable of how current events impact her partners is also an important aspect of her role.

“Being aware of what's happening in the world, our community, institutions, organizations, their policies and funding — that's really important in our partnership work,” Miller said. “My MPA has been exceptionally helpful in thinking about how partnerships should be reciprocally beneficial, but also in thinking critically about how the community and University can work together to address important health and social issues.”

For those looking to pursue the MPA program, Miller sees it as a very personal decision and one that requires an honest evaluation with yourself. She recommends those interested to reflect on a central question: “How will this be helpful to me?”

For Miller, her decision to join the program was a transformational journey, and one that still benefits her in the workplace to this day.