MPA Students with Associate Justice
Carol Ann Conboy
Day in Government
UNH Graduate Students Get Up Close and Personal with NH State Officials
The UNH Master of Public Administration (MPA) graduate program in Manchester provided students the opportunity to observe both administrative and policy making hearings at the NH State House as part of the curriculum of the administrative law course.
“The objective for the ‘Day in Government’ is to allow the public administration students to observe the processes that they learn about in class, to interact with officials from all three branches of state government, and to encourage them to consider a career in public service,” said UNH MPA Professor Norman J. Patenaude, MPA, CALJ, JD.
As part of the ‘Day in Government,’ students were provided a guided tour of the State House by Virginia Drew, Director of the NH Visitors Bureau; learned about the state’s public budgeting process from Joe Bouchard, Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services; and discussed administrative law with Associate Justice Carol Ann Conboy of the NH Supreme Court. Students also observed administrative licensing hearings conducted at the NH Department of Motor Vehicles.
“I had been having difficulty fully understanding the role of administrative law in the judicial system,” said Elizabeth Lannon-Goodwin, a first semester graduate student. “The trip provided hands-on experience that helped me to make the connection between what I was reading in my course materials and what actually happens in the legislative process.”
“The best part of the day was meeting Justice Conboy. I could feel her passion for law and for our governing system. She took the time to answer our questions and gave thoughtful and articulate responses,” said Lannon-Goodwin.
As part of the tour students visited the Hall of Flags, formerly known as Doric Hall, which is home to 107 battle flags for New Hampshire representing the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War.
“I didn’t realize how much military history New Hampshire had until I visited the Hall of Flags. Flags dating back to the Revolutionary War are on display, allowing us to see evidence of our history,” said Lannon-Goodwin.
Since 1963, the UNH MPA Program has trained and educated public service and non-profit professionals in New Hampshire and the New England region, and is the only MPA program in New Hampshire. Manchester courses are offered in the early evenings, one evening per week, for 8 week or 16 week sessions. The application deadline for the Spring term is November 1.
Pictured from left to right are: Stacey Herbold, Christina Dotchin, Associate Justice Carol Ann Conboy, Elizabeth Lannon-Goodwin, Erin Heaney, Matthew Spencer
