In his commencement address at the Class of 2021 graduation ceremony, John Whitehead, Bush School ’21, spoke about his long career in public service and how he came to the Bush School of Government and Public Service. Whitehead had just obtained an Executive Master of Public Service and Administration (EMPSA) from the Bush School of Government and Public Service, an online MPSA program for full-time working professionals.
“When I first looked at the Bush School after a colleague told me about it, I felt excited to continue my education and gain further insight into the public service sector in which I was involved every day,” said Whitehead, who currently lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
Coming from a family with a long history of employment in the emergency services sector, Whitehead felt it only natural that he dedicate his life to public service. Since volunteering in the local fire department at thirteen, dealing with emergency events has become a part of Whitehead’s life mission. He is Vice President of Sales at Hexagon, a global software provider to public sector emergency management agencies. One advantage of the EMPSA program was that he could maintain his professional service while earning his master’s degree.
“The degree gave me more insight into the people and work I do every day,” stated Whitehead. “I gained a deeper understanding of what it means to be a public servant.”
Whitehead appreciated the EMPSA program so much that he encouraged some of his colleagues to join the program as well.
Whitehead was selected to give the commencement address after answering the call sent by the TAMU Student Government Association and submitting a draft of the speech. He was chosen by the Public Partnership & Outreach Office in the Office of the Provost.
The EMPSA program at the Bush School is designed for executives who want to pursue their master’s degree online while remaining employed.
