MPA Archives - Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Alumni Spotlight: Arzu Jamilova — Redesigning Hiring with Heart and Impact

When Arzu Jamilova first visited the United States in 2016, she and her husband were immediately drawn to the energy of the Pacific Northwest—the atmosphere, the natural beauty, and the thriving tech industry. It felt like a place where they could build something new. Back in Azerbaijan, Arzu had spent years working in HR and talent acquisition, eventually running her own recruiting and executive search business, helping tech companies find and hire the right talent. Her husband worked in project management within the telecom industry, but in Azerbaijan, opportunities in tech were limited. The main industry drivers were oil and gas, leaving little room for professionals like them to grow. After their visit, the couple started seriously considering business immigration, and soon, Arzu made the leap—expanding her business to Seattle and beginning the journey on an E-2 visa.

As she settled into the U.S. and continued her work in talent strategy, Arzu discovered the Evans School’s Graduate Certificate in Leading Public Innovation. The program’s focus on human-centered design, addressing inequities and improving efficiency, and real-world project management immediately caught her attention. She had long been intrigued by human-centered design, the idea of putting people at the core of problem-solving but had never explored it in a structured way. The program felt like an opportunity to not just learn about these concepts, but to actively apply them. With years of experience in HR, she was particularly interested in how human-centered design could transform hiring practices, making them more inclusive, thoughtful, and responsive to the needs of both candidates and organizations.

Through the certificate program, Arzu’s perspective on HR and recruiting shifted. Before, she had primarily focused on improving the candidate’s experience, assuming that gathering feedback from applicants would be enough. But she realized that meaningful change in hiring processes required understanding the experiences of everyone involved: candidates, hiring managers, recruiters, and HR professionals alike. Each had their own pain points and challenges. By embracing a co-design approach, she began incorporating diverse perspectives into the hiring process early on, ensuring that any changes were truly effective and equitable.

Inspired by what she learned at the Evans School, Arzu launched Candidate Centric, a consultancy dedicated to improving hiring experiences through empathy, equity, and collaboration. She also developed a training course, Human-Centered Hiring: Foundations for Effective Recruitment, now available on Udemy, directly applying the principles she had studied. The program gave her not only the knowledge but also the structure to translate human-centered design into actionable tools that organizations could use to build more thoughtful and effective hiring systems.

Looking ahead, Arzu hopes to expand Candidate Centric beyond hiring, applying human-centered design to other aspects of talent management, including onboarding, performance evaluation, and overall employee experience. She envisions a future where organizations move away from outdated, rigid hiring structures and toward approaches that are more inclusive, responsive, and human-centered. The lessons she gained at the Evans School continue to shape her work every day, reinforcing a mindset that puts people at the center of every decision. More than just a learning experience, the program connected her with a community of like-minded professionals, people who challenged and inspired her, and who continue to be part of her journey.

For those considering the Graduate Certificate in Leading Public Innovation, Arzu offers simple advice: “Go for it. You will get so much more than you expect.” The program, she says, not only provides practical tools for rethinking how systems are designed but also fosters a network of supportive, creative, and passionate individuals. For Arzu, it was more than just professional development—it was a transformational experience that continues to influence her work and her vision for the future.

Learn more about Evans Graduate Certificates

Inspiring Civic Participation in the Next Generation

The University of Washington (UW) has a vision to model democracy by cultivating collaborative decision-making, respectful dialogue, civic engagement and belonging. The NextGen Civic Leader Corps puts that vision into action for our undergraduate students who are passionate about public service, community engagement, and civic leadership.

The Evans School of Public Policy & Governance and Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) center launched the initiative in 2022 to inspire and prepare undergraduate students of all majors and disciplines to become leaders in their communities and advance the public good throughout their careers.

The initiative has now expanded to Tacoma and Bothell as part of a Tri-Campus Network and undergraduates passionate about public service and civic engagement from any discipline can join to deepen their public service commitment. The NextGen Civic Leader Corps solidifies a long-term commitment to working for the public good through coursework, experiential learning, signature events, and professional network building. Students receive guided advising, participate in experiential learning and volunteer opportunities, access financial support, and connect to a larger statewide and national community of publicly motivated peers. 

NextGen’s interdisciplinary approach makes it easy for a student in any field to explore and deepen civic leadership. NextGen Civic Leader Corps currently hosts over 2,200 undergraduate students in more than 50 majors across the three UW campuses. We are part of a growing network of programs at 22 universities across the country, hosted by the Volcker Alliance, that inspires and prepares students to serve their communities and nation.

In the short term, members are part of a robust national network of civically minded leaders, receive priority consideration for scholarship opportunities and may be eligible for a credential. The long-term impact of civic participation is linked to a healthier transition into adulthood, higher educational outcomes, and higher income levels down the road.

Hear directly from a few of our students about the impact of the NextGen Civic Leader Corps.

The tri-campus initiative is poised to expand to serve more students, and we look to our UW and Evans School community to engage with us in the work.

There are multiple ways to engage, including providing financial support, offering paid internships, providing long-term volunteer opportunities, and speaking at a signature event. Please contact nextgenleader@uw.edu if you’d like to connect to explore ways to support our NextGen students today!

Evans Spotlight: Sisters Maddie Immel, MPA ‘22, & Audrey Immel

Maddie Immel, MPA ’22, and her younger sister Audrey, a Double Dawg with an undergraduate degree in Public Health-Global Health and now a first-year MPA student, recently sat down with us to discuss what brought them to Evans. Together, they reflected on the values they share and how their unique paths have influenced one another.

What inspired each of you to choose the Evans School, and how did you decide it was the right place for your graduate education?

Maddie: Seattle is the place that I wanted to be long-term, so I only actually applied to Evans. Audrey and I are from Redmond, and it’s important to us to be around family- I knew that going to a graduate program in the place I wanted to settle long term was going to be the best option professionally and personally. Evans has a wide Alumni network, and I wanted to make new friends! I moved back to Seattle and started Evans in 2020 during the pandemic, and I feel like it was the reason I found a job that I’m passionate about and a community of friends who share similar values.

Audrey: Maddie was a huge influence on my decision to come to Evans. I was torn between staying on the East Coast for a health policy-focused program or coming back to Seattle to be near family and start building my community here. I remember Maddie took me to meet Scott Allard, who shares similar policy interests with me, like social policy and food security. I was struck by how warm the interaction was, and walking around the building felt so welcoming. I realized that I wanted to be in Seattle long-term, and having the alumni network and strong professor connections was really important to me.

Maddie, what was your experience like as an MPA student, and what advice do you have for Audrey as she navigates her own journey at Evans?

Maddie: My experience was quite different from Audrey’s because I went during COVID. The majority of my MPA program was remote learning, which, honestly, changed the experience. The professors did their best, and leadership had to make a lot of tough decisions about whether we could come back in person. But even though it was challenging, it bonded our class in a special way. I remember studying on my front porch with my friend Liz, bundled up in 30-degree weather with gloves and hot chocolate while studying for econ—it was certainly a different experience.

My advice to Audrey is to take advantage of all the job opportunities, even short-term ones, that come your way. I was able to work three different jobs in the winter quarter because the program was remote. I worked for the Milgard Women’s Initiative, did data analysis for North Seattle Community College, and working with Stephen Page and fellow Evans students for the City of Sultan on their downtown revitalization project. Working for-the City of Sultan and completing my capstone with Team Read, solidified that I want to continue supporting the public and nonprofit sector through consulting. I’ve worked for BERK Consulting for two years now, and I love that on such a wide range of projects.

Audrey, how does it feel to follow in your sister’s footsteps at Evans? Has her experience shaped or influenced your own?

Audrey: On one hand, it feels like I’m following my sister around in this world, but the cool thing is that we have very different interests and strengths. Maddie is great at managing people and community engagement, whereas I enjoy working more with numbers and data. So even though we’re in the same program, we’ll probably have very different concentrations. But so far, I’ve found it really helpful having Maddie there. She’s helped me navigate classes she liked and connected me with professors. She’s good at taking advantage of opportunities, and I sometimes need a little ‘big sister’ reminder to be proactive and make the most out of my time here.

Are there any shared values or passions that led both of you to pursue public service and policy?

Maddie: We were both really influenced by our mom, who was the main breadwinner in our family and worked for Microsoft Philanthropy for many years. She showed us that it’s possible to pursue a career aligned with your values and passion. Growing up with that example made us realize that we can both make a difference while doing something we care deeply about. I got my start at a nonprofit focused on getting young people active in democracy and social justice. That’s where I discovered my passion for registering people to vote and talking about the importance of politics at the local level. After a couple of years, I realized I wanted to have more of an impact at the policy level, so I came to Evans.

Audrey: We share a desire to use our unique skills and privileges for the common good. Growing up in the Jewish community, the value of helping others and the community was ingrained in us from a young age. I think that’s what drives both of us to pursue public service and policy—we want to make a tangible difference in people’s lives.

Looking ahead, how do you see the impact of your Evans education shaping your professional goals and shared commitment to making a difference?

Maddie: What’s great about Evans is the flexibility—it doesn’t matter where you end up, as long as you make use of the professors, job opportunities, and connections. It can be a challenge to decide your path because Evans prepares you for so many different roles, but if you leverage the community, the sky’s the limit.

Audrey: The classes and professors I’ve met so far have already challenged my narrow view of what I thought I wanted to do. I came in focused on health policy and data analysis, but after taking Sharon Kioko’s financial management course, I’m starting to realize how important it is to understand how money moves through organizations. It’s pushing me to expand my skills and see how they apply in the real world. I have no idea where I’ll end up after my two years here, but I know I’ll have transferable skills that will help me in any field. And the alumni network is a huge asset for my future.

Maddie: Exactly, Audrey! Like you said, it’s the transferable skills that matter. At BERK, I’ve worked on such a wide variety of projects—from the Pike Place Market Master Plan to a Senior Needs Assessment for the Anacortes Senior Activity Center. It’s not about being an expert in everything but about using your problem-solving skills and communication abilities to tackle challenges. I got to hone those skills at Evans and use them every day in consulting.

Anything else you two want to add?

Maddie & Audrey: Go Dawgs!

Alumni Spotlight: Joel Anderson, MPA ’23

For Joel Anderson, an MPA ’23 graduate, diving into public service has been all about understanding how our systems work and using that knowledge to make our democracy stronger. As the Assistant Director of External Affairs at the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), Joel is on a mission to make higher education accessible for everyone in Washington state. His journey started as a young political campaigner, but his time at Evans helped open his eyes to the importance of democracy—showing him that creating policies and being accountable for them is just as crucial as making those policies happen.

Looking back, Joel admits he felt more comfortable pitching ideas than implementing them. But at Evans, he realized how important it is to pair a solid grasp of policy with clear communication. “Proactively sharing ideas with the communities, you serve is just as important as keeping track of your past decisions,” he points out, highlighting that both aspects are key to a healthy democracy.

Joel’s drive to support higher education is deeply personal. As a caregiver for his dad, who battled a terminal illness, he witnessed firsthand how the financial strain of accessing and providing healthcare affected his family as well as his educational dreams. A merit scholarship opened the door for him to attend college, but he believes no one should have to rely on luck to get an education. Now at WSAC, he is working to create policies that ensure everyone has a fair shot at earning a degree or credential.

For Joel, education is a vital community resource that helps strengthen democracy. “Our democracy gets a boost when everyone has equal access to information and basic needs,” he says. By helping students earn their degrees, schools and universities play a huge role in promoting economic mobility and social stability, laying the groundwork for engaged citizens. “If we want to safeguard our democracy, we have to improve access to education and help create well-informed students,” he insists. “Education is a right, not a privilege.”

Joel believes that young people are central to this mission, and many of them are stepping up on critical issues like gun violence and healthcare access. For those who are new to civic engagement, he suggests getting involved with local organizations and keeping track of their advocacy efforts for future generations. “Knowledge is power and sharing that knowledge among young people can really make a difference in how we influence policy decisions,” he explains.

Looking ahead, Joel sees misinformation as one of the biggest threats to democracy, whether it is falsehoods about public health or conspiracy theories around elections. He believes creating spaces for open conversations about different perspectives—and challenging ideas that jeopardize our democracy—will only make our democratic foundations stronger.

With a passion for ensuring equitable access to education and a commitment to uplifting young voices, Joel is dedicated to shaping a vision of democracy that is all about opportunity, understanding, and resilience. We are grateful for his hard work and dedication to the future of democracy!

Alumni Spotlight: Tatiana Brown, MPA ’24

Like many public policy students, Tatiana Brown did not initially intend on studying public policy. Brown, this year’s Hubert G. Locke Diversity award recipient, grew up in Vienna, Virginia, a suburb of Washington D.C., and though she was raised in the shadow of the nation’s capital, she was not exposed to the important role public policy has to play in communities.

She instead pursued a degree in biomedical engineering from the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. It was there that she began noticing problems that weren’t present in her hometown.

“It was so hard to vote,” Brown said. “I had just voted the year prior at home and of course it was no problem at all. And now I’m going to three different polling places that are all closing, and I don’t know why. I also didn’t have access to a grocery store. I had to go to a corner market without fresh produce.”

Brown realized that pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering wouldn’t help reach her ultimate goal: helping people. So, she switched to studying medical anthropology and started doing public health research and working on the Virginia Medicaid Expansion project. While working with communities that, for various reasons, didn’t have access to health care, Brown grew frustrated with the lack of empathy in the system for these communities. She decided in her final year of her undergrad that she wanted to focus her post-grad career on public health.

“I definitely knew coming out of my final year in my undergrad that I wanted to get a master’s of public health, and I wanted a degree in public policy because I felt like that was the toolkit I had no idea about,” said Brown. “I knew that policy was really important to what I wanted to do, which was create long-lasting change and create better realities for communities of color, and I didn’t have the skill set to do it.”

In 2021, Brown found her way to the UW and pursued a dual master’s in public health and public policy. She was drawn to the Evans School because not many “programs are outspoken about the need to center justice.” While at Evans, she has held positions on the Equity and Inclusion Council and the Dean’s Council and has earned recognition from Evans faculty and fellow students. Additionally, Brown is the associate program director for the Campus Sustainability Fund and is the youth representative on the Washington State Environmental Justice Council.

Brown’s time spent at the Evans School and UW broadly has affirmed her belief in the role of policy to create a sustainable society and has prepared her to take her learnings outside the university. “I’ve actively been able to practice, and it has given me a lot more gratitude for what we actually learn,” Brown said. “Public policy is one of the few disciplines that is so pervasively connected to community well-being. Policy determines who is actively engaged in their governance, our built environment, who gains access to healthcare and a long life, the presence of public goods like mass transit, and how wealth is distributed in our nation. It determines our ability to build a sustainable society that promotes people over profit. We hold the power to determine our future and that begins with radically envisioning a different for our communities.”

Now that she has graduated with a Masters of Public Administration and a Masters of Public Health, Brown will remain in her role at the Campus Sustainability Fund and intends to continue working on ways for communities of color to engage in co-governance, developing models for localized regenerative economy, and other methods to improve community well-being.