Deborah Swerdlow

Why did you choose the Trachtenberg School?

Trachtenberg was my top choice for several reasons. It allowed me to stay living and working in DC, which aligned with my personal and career goals. I also liked the flexibility of the program: I knew I would get a solid, core MPA education while getting to choose electives across the university and build my own concentration.

In what ways did the Trachtenberg community—whether professors, peers, or alumni—support or influence your career?

The Trachtenberg community has stayed with me in big and small ways. Because of the courses I took and professors I had, I was smarter about supply and demand, the federal budget reconciliation process, and many other concepts as I encountered them in my career. The career counseling services have also been incredibly valuable to me as an alumna, when I've faced turning points and needed guidance.

What advice would you share with someone looking to pursue a career similar to yours?

Be specific enough about your goals so that people can help you, but not too specific that you miss opportunities. That means knowing enough about what you want to do — the type of work, in what settings, and/or on what issues — so that people in your network can help you connect to the right people and roles. But don't be so limited in your vision — focused on one job in one industry or organization — that you can't recognize opportunities that are slightly off the path but still valuable. If you do good work, stay in touch, and stay open, there will be opportunities you can’t predict.