Evans School Career Services offers everything from job search tips to networking opportunities for students. We also connect potential employers with our students for their hiring and internship needs.
For students, we can help:
For potential employers, we can help:
Learn more about how to find a job or internship or how to partner with us for hiring an Evans School student or graduate. You can also login to directly to EvansJobs, our online job and internship database.
If you’re interested in working at the Evans School, find out about our current openings.
While securing a job or internship is ultimately your responsibility, you can take advantage of our many job-search resources through Evans School Career Services if you are a student.
We will support you in your search by:
Many of our job search resources are also available online through EvansJobs. You can access EvansJobs after you enroll in one of our Master of Public Administration (MPA) or Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management programs.
EvansJobs services include:
If you are a current Evans School student, find out about our internship requirements and securing full-time employment.
If you are a graduate of the Evans School, find out about career services for alumni.
You can also contact Evans School Career Services at evansjob@u.washington.edu or 206.221.7663 for more information.
If you are an Evans School Master of Public Administration (MPA) student not enrolled in the Executive MPA program or the Peace Corps Master’s International MPA track, you are required to complete a professional internship before graduating.
In some cases internship waivers can be granted for students who meet a certain criteria. However, we strongly encourage an internship during graduate school because it allows you to:
To fulfill the internship requirement you must:
To waive your internship requirement you need to submit an internship waiver form (27KB PDF) by October 31 for approval by the Evans School Career Services office to substitute two or more years of recent and substantial work experience that is relevant to your educational and professional goals.
Finding an internship is ultimately your responsibility, but the Evans School Career Services office is here to be your central point for guidance and information. There are various career resources available to you through the Evans School and outside organizations. (Please note that not all internships posted through outside organizations will fulfill the internship requirement.)
If you are pursuing an unpaid/low-paid summer internship we offer several awards to help assist with costs.
For more information about internships, view our employment and internship statistics or contact Evans School Career Services at 206.221.7698 or evansinterns@u.washington.edu.
While finding employment is ultimately your responsibility, Evans School Career Services will work with you from day one after you enroll to help you secure full-time employment after graduation.
While a student, three important job search steps to take include:
After graduation, you will only have unlimited access to appointments with Career Services for up to one year. After the one-year period you will need to schedule meetings between mid-June and mid-September. However, you will have access to EvansJobs and an open invitation to employer information sessions and workshops.
When you are ready to start your job search there are various career resources available to you through the Evans School and outside organizations.
For more information about securing full-time employment and Evans School Career Services for alumni contact Career Services at evansdcs@u.washington.edu or 206.616.1609.
Career development and recruiting events are held throughout the year at the Evans School.
Some of our recurring events include:
A detailed calendar of our Evans School careers services events is available at EvansJobs.
For more information or to find out about specific career resources, contact Evans School Career Services at evansjob@u.washington.edu or 206.616.1609.
Join us for panel discussions with recent alumni about putting their Evans School degrees to work from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on April 17 in the Parrington Hall Commons.
All current and newly-admitted Evans School students, as well as alumni, are invited to attend. The panel discussions will include:
There will be four panel discussions divided by policy specialization, and you'll have the opportunity to attend two of them. The event will begin with a half-hour networking reception with food and drink prior to the panels.
Find out more about our confirmed panelists and represented organizations.
Current students, please RSVP on the EvansJobs career calendar.
Newly-admitted students and alumni, please RSVP at evansjobs@u.washington.edu.
Perry Parsons (MPA '05)
Health Policy Analyst
U.S. Government Accountability Office
Parson has worked in his position as a health policy analyst for the U.S. Government Accountability Office since 2005. His work has included looking at state Medicaid financing schemes, the use of foreign physicians to address provider shortages, and geographic disparities in Medicaid and Medicare payments.
While at the Evans School, Parsons served as an intern at the U.S. Government Accountability Office and conducted a degree project for the Community Health Network of Washington evaluating the administration's block-grant proposal for Medicaid. Prior to attending the Evans School, Parsons worked for the Alaska Primary Care Association in Anchorage, and the Northwest Primary Care Association in Seattle.
In addition to his Evans School MPA, Parsons holds a graduate certificate in health policy.
Kim Hall (MPA '04)
Manager of Departmental Programs
UW International Programs & Exchanges / Office of Global Affairs
Hall recently joined the UW International Programs and Exchanges / Office of Global Affairs after studying the role of NGOs in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts in Morocco on a Fulbright grant. Hall has previously worked in Morocco as a small business development volunteer during her studies at the Evans School through the Peace Corps Master's International MPA track.
Kristen Dailey (MPA '01)
Vice President for Programs and Operations
Initiative for Global Development (IGD)
Dailey joined Initiative for Global Development in 2001 and helped them develop from a concept to a strong network of business leaders. Her role as vice president for programs and operations includes member recruitment, stewardship, and overseeing internal operations.
Dailey has been involved with international development issues for the past 15 years and is committed to finding effective, sustainable solutions to world poverty. Her professional background includes fundraising at the United Nations Foundation in Washington D.C., working with low-income refugee and immigrant families in Seattle, and heading a regional advocacy coalition of international relief and development organizations in Washington state. She has also researched microcredit and health programs in the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.
Michele Finnegan (MPA '97)
Interim Director of Recreation
Seattle Parks and Recreation
Finnegan has worked for Seattle Parks and Recreation since 2000. She is currently the Interim Director of Recreation and responsible for the operation of the city’s recreation facilities, aquatic facilities, environmental learning centers, golf courses and city-wide athletic, teen, senior, and special populations programs.
Marco Milanese (MPA '02)
Community Relations Manager, Community Development Department
Port of Seattle: Sea-Tac Aiport
Milanese has worked in his current department with the Port of Seattle's Seattle-Tacoma International (Sea-Tac) Airport since 2006. His position as a liaison to the airport's surrounding communities helps to engage citizens with issues related to everything from the environment to economic development.
Prior to his work with the Port of Seattle, Milanese spent a number of years at a local public relations firm and worked for six years with a U.S. Congressman from the San Francisco Bay area and one from Washington D.C.
In addition to his Evans School MPA, Milanese holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California, San Diego.
Dara Ayres (MPA '04)
Executive Director
Bike Works
Ayres Seattle-based nonprofit Bike Works is focused on building sustainable communities through empowering youth and promoting bicycling as a form of transportation. Her specific areas of interest and expertise include organizational capacity building, strategic planning, and program development and evaluation.
Ayres has worked in the Seattle nonprofit sector for the past 12 years addressing issues related to human rights, community development, environmental protection, and workforce development. She is also the founder of the Sustainable Capitol Hill group that engages neighbors around climate solutions, and is a board member the organization Community Consulting Partnership that connects nonprofits with volunteer consultants.
Sylvia Gil (MPA '06)
Research Analyst
Washington State Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee
Gil started working for the Washington State Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee in August 2006. She previously served as a social studies teacher in Texas as part of the Teach for America program.
Gil's studies at the Evans School focused on K-12 education policy issues, and research projects related to accountability, decentralization, and instructional policy.
Rebecca Frestedt (MPA '05)
Board Coordinator, International Special Review District and Columbia City Review Committee
City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
Frestedt's work is with the City of Seattle's Department of Neighborhoods Historic Preservation Program where she coordinates two volunteer boards. Frestedt is a volunteer herself with her the Capitol Hill neighborhood association.
Prior to her work with the city, Frestedt served as a consultant for community outreach and information gathering to the three south Seattle neighborhoods of Chinatown, Pioneer Square, and SODO Industrial area. Her worked with the neighborhoods was related to a land use study currently underway with the city's Department of Planning and Development.
Karen Tollenaar Demorest (MPA '06)
Director of Educational Investments
Alliance for Education
Demorest's nonprofit organization Alliance for Education works to strengthen financial support and community engagement to help all students in Seattle Public Schools achieve academic success. Demorest is a first-generation college graduate and has worked in the hospitality industry, computer industry, and in fund raising and development.
Her commitment to addressing the barriers students face in pursuing education beyond high school led Demorest to focus her Evans School studies on education and social policy. In addition to her MPA, Demorest holds a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Washington.
Kari Hanson (MPA '06)
Consultant and Head Grant Writer
MGS Consulting, Inc.
Hanson's work with MGS Consulting, Inc., a firm that works with nonprofits in the Puget Sound region and across the country, deals with program evaluations, strategic plans, needs assessments, and other analysis work. Prior to her work at MGS, Hanson served for six years in the nonprofit and public sectors in Seattle. She has a passion for issues surrounding housing and homeless, which she developed during her time as an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer.
In addition to her Evans School MPA, Hanson holds a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Seattle Pacific University.
Cathy Wallach (MPA '02)
Research Coordinator, Small Schools Project
Coalition of Essential Schools
Wallach has worked for the past seven years evaluating, researching, and writing about high school conversion and district reform in Washington state. Prior to her current work with the Coalition of Essential Schools, Wallach served in the areas of youth leadership and service learning with City Year, the Giraffe Project, and Communities in Schools.
Wallach is currently building on her Evans School MPA through doctoral studies in Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Washington.
Roopa Karia (MPA '02)
Democracy and Governance Officer, Latin America and Caribbean Bureau
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Karia's current work with USAID supports programs in justice sector reform, trafficking in persons, and crime and violence prevention - including work on the Central American gang problem. Karia previously served in the USAID Office of Global Development Alliances, which as designed to extend the reach and impact of foreign assistance through public-private alliances. Her work in the office supported alliance building in the education and environment sectors in Asia and the Middle East.
Prior to her work with USAID, Karia worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency helping cities and tribes assess, cleanup, and redevelop brownfields properties. She has also done international conservation and development work in Thailand and Vietnam.
In addition to her Evans School MPA, Roopa has a Master of Arts in International Studies from the Jackson School, and two bachelors degrees in political science and environmental studies from the University of Oregon.
Sandi Phinney (MPA '06)
Program Officer
Henry M. Jackson Foundation
Phinney is responsible for grantmaking in international affairs education, human rights, public service, and environment and natural resources management for the Henry M. Jackson Foundation.
Prior to her work with the foundation, she served for five years at the German Marshall Fund of the United States working on civil society and democratic development in Central and Eastern Europe. Her work was instrumental in launching the Balkan Trust for Democracy, a public-private initiative aimed at strengthening good governance in Southeast Europe.
After completing her Evans School MPA, Phinney was awarded a Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship that allowed her to spend a year working in Germany as part of a distinguished leadership development program. In addition to her MPA, Phinney holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Carleton College.
Laurie Werner (MPA '02)
Director of Programs
Agros International
Werner has worked at Agros International since June 2003, and is a volunteer board member of the Krista Foundation for Global Citizenship. Prior to her work at Agros, Werner worked with Global Partnerships assisting orphaned and abandoned children in Honduras and did consulting for a microcredit program in El Salvador.
Werner's studies at the Evans School focused on nonprofit management and international development. She also holds a bachelors degree in sociology and religion from Whitworth College.
Skip Swenson (MPA '07)
Transfer of Development Rights Project Manager
Cascade Land Conservancy
Swenson works throughout the region to develop and implement programs that transfer development rights to conserve farms, working forests, and ecologically significant lands through a market-based approach that respects property rights and encourages responsible growth. In his job at Cascade Land Conservancy, Swenson is currently working with private and public stakeholders to develop these types of programs in the City of Sammamish and Kittitas County.
Prior to his work at Cascade Land Conservancy, Swenson served as director of analytics and western region testing services manager for the research and consulting company Information Resources, Inc.
In addition to his Evans School MPA, Swenson holds a master's degree with the UW College of Forest Resources. His concurrent studies focused on environmental policy, land planning, and natural resources management. Swenson also holds a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Wisconsin—Madison, where he focused on the nexus between commerce and environmental issues.
Angela Wallis (MPA '07)
Resource Conservation Manager
King County Housing Authority
Wallis is responsible for monitoring the costs of water, electricity, and gas for the King County Housing Authority, a public housing agency serving low-income residents living throughout King County (outside the City of Seattle). She also implements conservation programs that save money and help reduce the use of natural resources. The number of resource conservation manager positions are growing in the Northwest as the work continues to gain popularity among state and local government agencies, school districts, and private companies.
Prior to her work at King County Housing Authority, Walling served as an intern for the King County Solid Waste Division during her studies at the Evans School. Her work there focused on waste prevention programs and policies.
In addition to her Evans School MPA, Wallis holds a bachelors degree in environmental studies.
Carrie Dolwick (MPA '04)
Policy Associate/Lobbyist
NW Energy Coalition
Dolwick’s background includes a variety of experiences with public, private, and non-profit entities including, support for biodiesel infrastructure development, PV development, public sector management, energy policy research, and community organizing around local land issues.
In addition to her work at NW Energy Coalition, Dolwick serves on the board of NW Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (NWSEED) and is the founder of Sustainable South Seattle.
In addition to her Evans School MPA, Dolwick holds a graduate-level certificate in Environmental Management from the University of Washington and a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Louisville.
Kasandra VerBrugghen (MPA '04)
Executive Director
Austin Foundation
VerBrugghen has worked for the Austin Foundation since 2006. The nonprofit foundation provides fitness training, health education, and nutrition awareness programs to youth in the greater Seattle area.
Prior to her work at the Austin Foundation, VerBrugghen taught GED preparation and life skills classes, and worked for another nonprofit in Seattle helping fishermen work safely and understand the laws governing their operations.
In addition to her Evans School MPA, VerBrugghen holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Arizona.
Becca Aue (MPA '05)
Associate Project Manager
Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associates
Aue's areas of specialization for Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associates includes transportation demand management, congestion pricing, policy analysis, and multimodal transportation systems. She works with nonprofits, governments, and private sector businesses. Her current project involves assisting Washington State Ferries and the Legislature in analyzing strategies to optimize the ferry system and minimize capital investment.
Aue also serves as an associate project manager for the Puget Sound Regional Passenger-Only Ferry Study, and is part of the Urban Mobility Plan team working with the City of Seattle to develop an "surface-transit" alternative for the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement.
Prior to her work at Nelson/Nygaard, Aue served as the senior planner for the Puget Sound Regional Council, where she spearheaded the development of the non-motorized component of the greater Puget Sound region's long-term transportation plan "Destination 2030." She also worked with the Seattle Department of Transportation to develop the city's Climate Action Plan, advancing congestion pricing policies, and serving as the project manager for the Southeast Seattle Transportation Study.
As an Evans School Master of Public Administration (MPA) or Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management student, you have access to numerous job- and internship- search resources through Evans School Career Services.
Evans School career resources:
Outside career resources:
For more information about career resources and Evans School employment and internship statistics, contact Evans School Career Services at evansjob@u.washington.edu or 206.616.1609.
For more information about networking and socializing with current students, learn more about our Evans School student organizations.
Professional associations with student membership rates:
More professional associations:
Washington State Job Listings
County Job Listings in the Puget Sound Region
City Job Listings in Washington State
Puget Sound Region Public Sector Job Listings
Other Pacific Northwest Job Listing Sites
Federal and National Job Listings
Socially-Responsible Business Directories
Large Consulting Firms
Small & Mid-sized Consulting Firms
Major Corporations in the Pacific Northwest
Seattle and Pacific Northwest Job Listings
Environmental Job Listings
National Job Listings
International Job Listings
Our Evans School career services office is in frequent communication with employers to learn of job openings and promote our Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management students.
Employers advertise approximately 1,800 jobs and internships every year through Career Services with recent recruiters including:
In 2006-07, approximately 70 percent of Evans School MPA students secured paid internships, and 93 percent secured full-time employment within three months of graduating. For more information about our current and past employment statistics, download the following reports:
For more information about our employment statistics, contact Evans School Career Services at evansjob@u.washington.edu or 206.616.1609.
The Evans School has several different fellowship awards for enrolled students pursuing unpaid or low-paid full-time summer internships. You can apply to more than one fellowship if it fits the description of your internship, but you are only eligible to receive one award.
Fellowship eligibility requires that you:
To apply you need to submit:
Please note that preference for most fellowships will be given to students who have yet to complete their Evans School internship requirement, and whose internship costs are offset by the organization or other secured funds.
You can also download the following fellowship descriptions:
For more information contact Evans School career services at evansinterns@u.washington.edu or 206.221.7689.
Through a competitive process that included applications and interviews, eight students were selected in 2008 for the opportunity to obtain a 13-week paid summer fellowship, working on carefully screened policy projects aligned with Mayoral priorities or key city initiatives.
Neighborhood Plans project
Department of Neighborhoods
Assist with the selection and implementation of public engagement strategies for the first sector of the city to have its neighborhood plans updated. Responsible for collecting, organizing, and distributing information on under represented groups in Seattle.
Seattle Animal Shelter project
Department of Executive Administration
Responsible for the research, coordination, facilitation, and development of a five-year strategic plan. Identify long-range program goals to include fundraising and capital campaign related to the creation of a regional training and education center at the shelter.
Race and Social Justice Initiative Survey project
Office for Civil Rights
Responsible for the development of a survey plan to obtain a baseline measure of city employee understanding of the Race and
Social Justice Initiative and work that has been done since the initiative's inception. Also responsible for the creation and assistance with implementing the survey.
Green Fee project
Seattle Public Utilities
Responsible for designing a consumer awareness program and a reusable bag voucher program for low income citizens prior to the Green Fee going into effect.
Transit Parking project
Office of Policy and Management
Responsible for researching best practices in other jurisdictions that have new transit lines coming on line, analyzing the findings, writing a report, and presenting the findings to the Inter-Departmental Team as well as the community.
Parks and Recreation Public/Private Partnerships project
Office of Policy and Management
Responsible for developing options and recommendations for city policies and best practices regarding partnerships between the Department of Parks and Recreation and private partners.
“No Parking” Easels project
Customer Service Bureau
Responsible for mapping the current processes, engaging end-users of the service, and re-engineer the process to provide for a more predictable and cost effective service.
Homeless Census project
Office of Housing, Office of Policy and Management, and the Human Services Department
Responsible for developing a statistically valid methodology for conducting a homeless census within Seattle city limits.
The terms that follow apply to your search for employment as conducted through Evans School Career Services. By adhering to these terms, you will project a positive image of yourself, your class and the school. Career Services has a positive reputation with employers, and we do not want it tarnished through questionable conduct. By using the EvansJobs website and/or any other of the Evans School’s Career Services, you agree to adhere to these terms as detailed below.
EvansJobs is ONLY for Evans School students and alumni. Students are expressly prohibited from sharing their accounts with anyone. It is the responsibility of students to ensure that their profile information is accurate and up to date. Students are also responsible for keeping the interview appointments they make with employers and following through on commitments. Students who violate the terms of service or otherwise behave, in writing or in person, in a manner that jeopardizes The Evans School's reputation with employers, may lose EvansJobs privileges. The Evans School does not endorse or guarantee any job or internship posted in EvansJobs.
Present your qualifications and interests accurately
Falsifying data, such as GPA, date of graduation, degrees obtained, institutions attended, prior work experience, and/or eligibility to work in the United States is unethical and is ground for immediate dismissal with most employing organizations.
Learn about the employers and their positions
Employers expect their candidates will make an effort to learn about their organizations. Failure to do so indicates a lack of interest and reflects poorly on the candidate and the school.
Interview only when genuinely interested in the advertised position(s)
Do not interview for practice; this will cause the recruiter to feel his/her time is being wasted and takes away valuable time from fellow students who may have a sincere interest in the organization. If you are concerned about your interviewing skills, mock interviews through Career Services are available. When signing up to attend an employer-sponsored event/information session or Career Services event it is expected that you will be on time and remain until the conclusion of the event (if you need to get to class/work please notify Career Services staff before the session).
Participate in the interview
Employers take the interview process seriously and expect students to honor their agreement to arrive on time and participate in the interview. Not showing or canceling late (defined as canceling less than 24 hours before an interview, or 72 hours if the interview is scheduled on a Monday) reflects poorly on the candidate and the Evans School.
Accepting or Rejecting Offers
Notify organizations of your acceptance or rejection of offers as soon as your decision is made and no later than the deadline prescribed by the employer. Candidates should expect offers to be confirmed in writing, and likewise, should notify the company of accepted or rejected offers by telephone first, and follow up with a letter or email. Requests for extensions of decision deadlines should be made as early as possible, not at the last minute.
Honor an accepted offer as a contractual agreement
Upon accepting a position, candidates should withdraw from interviewing and notify Career Services of a decision. Continuing to interview after accepting an offer or reneging on an accepted offer is unethical.EventsIn order to be fully prepared for and knowledgeable of events hosted by Career Services, students must attend all mandatory student meetings (Career Services Orientation for New Students and Welcome Back for Returning Students, both in the beginning of Autumn Quarter) and sign up for events on JILeS by the designated deadline.
Students accepting internship must complete and submit an online student/agency contract within two weeks of starting the internship. Upon completion of the internship, the student is required to submit an online evaluation form and the supervisor is required to submit an online evaluation of the student intern. Internship forms must be submitted to meet graduation requirements.
By using any of our career services or the EvansJobs website, you agree to have read and understand these terms of use and agree to abide by it for the duration of your stay at the Evans School. Due to the potential harm that the violation of these terms of use could cause to other students and important employer relationships, you understand that violations can result in severe sanctions (e.g., termination of some or all career services, referral to the Director of Career Services or the Assistant Dean's office).
If you have any questions, please contact us at 206.616.1609 or evansjob@u.washington.edu.