The Hootline

Kolbe Benham is pursuing a Master of Public Administration with a goal to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Drawn to public service and leadership, he chose this field because of a desire to learn the skills that would help him make meaningful decisions that transform communities.

KSU stood out to Kolbe as the ideal place for graduate study because of its strong support for graduate students. He was especially attracted to the university’s graduate assistantship opportunities, which offer valuable hands-on experience while students continue their education. “In addition,” he said, “the university’s career fairs and network opportunities give us the chance to connect with employers and talk about future career paths.”

A standout experience for Kolbe was in a Governmental Relations course with Dr. Forney, where students worked in teams representing different levels of government to develop solutions for affordable housing. The project provided valuable insight into the complexities of public decision-making and demonstrated the importance of collaboration, negotiation, and compromise in addressing community challenges.

For prospective graduate students, Kolbe’s advice is to build relationships with professors and peers, and step outside of comfort zones. As Kolbe notes, “those relationships can be just as valuable as what you learn in the classroom.”

As a Graduate Professional Assistant in the Graduate College, Ru Narula helps connect students with the right campus resources while also offering a valuable student perspective on new ideas and initiatives. “I get the flexibility to pitch my own ideas with the viewpoint of a student. Getting to see how my thoughts are implemented is probably my favorite thing about my assistantship,” they said.

With one year remaining in the dual Master of Social Work (MSW) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, Ru is learning how to combine a passion for helping others with the skills needed to create community resources for children. 

The professionally focused MSW program, along with a hands-on internship experience, has strengthened Ru’s confidence in working with clients and reinforced the many ways social workers support individuals and communities. Beyond the classroom, Ru added that the close-knit cohort has been equally meaningful. “I’ve made some very close friends in the program who I know will support me long after we leave KSU,” they said.

After graduation, Ru aspires to become a published researcher and eventually launch a nonprofit dedicated to educating communities about the importance of “third spaces,” the safe, welcoming places for children outside of home and school. 

Ru’s advice to future graduate students considering KSU is to not overthink it. “Picking a graduate school is hard, and it’s super important to consider the pros and cons of all your options,” they said. But Ru also wants to encourage them to trust their gut instincts because sometimes that’s the best guide to finding the right program.