Meet Seth Stegall! This young alumnus is a two-time Cardinal. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations in 2021 and followed up with a Master of Public Administration in 2023. Chase is an active member of the Muncie community and supports students at Ivy Tech. Chirp Chirp to this Cardinal! 

 

What led you to your graduate program at BSU?

One of the biggest things that attracted me to BSU was the opportunity to work with people. I wanted to work in the public sector, and I saw Ball State had an MPA program. The faculty from my precious experiences at BSU were phenomenal, and it was just hard to imagine going anywhere else. I am a huge Muncie person.

What was your proudest memory as a BSU grad student? 

One of my proudest memories is completing an internship with the East Central Indiana Regional Planning District. I was doing a lot of economic development work and grant writing. Those experiences changed the trajectory of my life. I was able to do a lot of meaningful work in the Muncie community, and I made a lot of professional connections.

How have you been able to use your graduate degree from BSU? 

I still work in the public sector as a Nursing and Health Sciences Advisor at Ivy Tech. I’ve kind of worked the whole gamut of the public sector and used my degree to get ahead and stand out. Having an MPA has helped me stand out among my colleagues. I’ve used a lot of the lessons I learned during my time at BSU, working with the community and with budgets.

What advice or wisdom do you have to share with current BSU grad students? 

My biggest piece of advice is to look for your mentor(s). Mine have changed my perspective and guided me along my journey. My mentors are phenomenal. Develop close relationships with your professors and keep in touch with them. They have lots of knowledge and are really great people. Because MPAs tend to run older, don’t be afraid to be the youngest in the room. Use that to your advantage; your age gives you a valuable perspective.