Alumnus Devon Heberlig, Agency Representative at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services and a graduate of Shippensburg University’s Master of Public Administration program, is making a difference in the lives of vulnerable communities across Pennsylvania.
Heberlig started Ship’s MPA program while working at the Department of Human Services. He shared that the program directly helped him build upon his foundation of public service, while also allowing him to engage with students and professionals focused on budgeting, program implementation and human-resources issues that often arise in public administration.
The most memorable part of the MPA program was the relationships that Heberlig fostered with classmates and faculty. During the pandemic, he worked side-by-side with former students and Ship alumni across multiple agencies to address obstacles and serve communities during an unprecedented crisis. In his words, this pivotal experience helped him “continue to grow in how he leads, collaborates and serves with integrity,”
Courses such as Public Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation and Public Budgeting and Financial Management helped him understand how policy, budgeting, ethics and how to evaluate whether a policy is achieving its intended outcomes or creating unintended consequences. Heberlig emphasized that “the ability to analyze policy through both a fiscal and ethical lens has been invaluable.”
Ship’s MPA program has assisted in Heberlig’s career by helping him assess how to bring together county officials, state offices and community organizations to ensure they are aligned in meeting the need for vital resources — such as housing, food and social services support.
The program also helped him learn how to utilize policy analysis tools to assess the needs for state and federal housing support, staffing and support services, improve upon data collection and tracking methods, and build strong partnerships with nonprofits and volunteer groups.
For Heberlig, working in public service is all about showing up for people in need and doing his best to help communities succeed. “It’s about removing barriers, expanding access, and creating pathways so that every person has a fair shot at stability, dignity and possibility. What motivates him the most to serve his state is the belief in the mantra: “When we invest in people — their potential, their resilience, their dreams — we strengthen entire communities.”
Heberlig enrolled in Ship’s MPA program because he wanted to expand upon his knowledge of public service so that he could serve the commonwealth to the best of his abilities. As an agency representative for the Department of Human Services, he is making a difference in Pennsylvanians’ quality of life and access to vital services. Shippensburg’s Master in Public Administration program aims to continue to develop individuals like Heberlig, who believe in removing barriers and expanding access for all.
