Gary Rosche: From Jeopardy Contestant to Public Service
May 19, 2014 by Adam Levenson
MPA@UNC student Gary Rosche has been a contestant on Jeopardy!, and he has taught English at a university in Spain and Spanish at a college in North Carolina. These experiences make him an interesting and well-rounded person, but it’s his commitment to public service and his desire to serve in a leadership position in local government that brought him to MPA@UNC.
Student Name:
Gary Rosche
Expected Graduation:
December 2015
Current Location:
Durham, NC
Current Position:
Deputy Tax Collector, Durham County Tax Administration, Durham, NC
What are your career aspirations?
I want to continue working in local government. My goal is eventually to work in city/county management.
What made you decide to earn an MPA degree?
Once I began working in local government, I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my career in public service. Earning an MPA seemed like the logical next step in advancing my career in this field.
Why did you choose to attend MPA@UNC?
UNC’s reputation speaks for itself, and the MPA program at UNC is one of the reasons why. I have also done a lot of professional training through the School of Government at my present job. I have always been impressed with the quality of training and extensive knowledge that the faculty and staff have about local government. It is also great that I can pursue this degree while I continue to work full time. I have to say that I have not been disappointed.
What has been your favorite part of or experience in MPA@UNC?
The best part of this experience has been getting to know and work with the people in the MPA@UNC program, including students, faculty, and staff. The faculty members are incredibly knowledgeable and experienced, and I have learned so much in the short time I’ve been in the program. My fellow students, who have been supportive and have brought a variety of professional experiences to the table, have been instrumental in making this journey a fulfilling one. Finally, the staff has been great in providing us with just about every bit of information and support we could possibly ask for.