Bri Roden

Pronouns: She/Ella
Hometown: Arkansas
Program Pathway: Full-time
Expected Graduation: 2027

Hi y’all! I’m Bri, and I’m thrilled to be a first-year MPA student at the Evans School. I was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, and before moving to Seattle, I lived in Northwest Arkansas where I attended the University of Arkansas and started my nonprofit career. I studied supply chain management and nonprofit studies, and my work has primarily been in food pantry and food bank settings, focused on improving access, quality, and dignity in such spaces. I came into the program very interested in social policy and policy analysis, but I’ve also developed a newfound interest in budgeting and finance. In my free time, you can catch me watching women’s sports (go Storm, Torrent and Reign!), walking around Green Lake, reading with my two cats Duchess and Piggy, or making rings out of vintage spoons.

What has been your favorite part of being a part of the Evans community?

I’ve loved the blending of so many experiences and motivations that have brought everyone to Evans with the common goal of creating change for our communities. We’re all mini experts in our certain areas, so it’s very illuminating to get to hear other’s stories and learn more about other fields in the world of public service and policy. I come from a food security focus, but now I’m learning so much about disaster response, education policy, environmental concerns, etc., just by being a part of Evans.

What surprised you most when you started the MPA program?

I didn’t expect to develop an interest in budgeting and finance, but our core budgeting and finance course really surprised me in the best way. It’s very fulfilling finally learning and understanding the money side, and it’s helping me think through new approaches to the issues I care about.

What advice would you give to someone considering the program? Why did you choose Evans?

If you’re still considering applying and haven’t done these things already, I would recommend checking out both the Evans School’s values and learning more about the great faculty we have in the program. Personally, I felt very drawn to Evans because of its mission and values and how they aligned with my own personal and professional values. Once I started reading more about the professors, their research, and the types of courses they teach, I felt even more solidified in both my decision to apply and to enroll after my acceptance.

What has been your favorite class so far, and why?

I’m currently taking and loving Advanced Budgeting in the Public Sector with Dwight Dively, who has so much knowledge and experience to share from working for both City of Seattle and King County. Learning the intricacies and complications of taxes, revenue forecasting, the federal budget, and more is very energizing and engaging. For core courses, my favorite class so far has been Financial Management and Budgeting with Dr. Kioko.