As appearing in source.colostate.edu | July 2, 2024 | By Christina Jacobson
From the workplace to the classroom: A master’s student’s journey to public policy
It’s easy to grow up, look at your life and wonder, “Okay now what?” Whether that means you graduated college and are looking for the next step, or you’ve been working for years and have reached a plateau. At these times, we’re forced to decide next steps. For Aaron Cobas, this meant going back to school.
Life after undergrad
Cobas grew up in California. He earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science with an emphasis on Environmental Policy from Humboldt State University, now known as California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt.
After graduating, Cobas interned for Oregon Wild, a non-profit in Bend Oregon, dedicated to helping preserve the natural habitat and environmental health of the East Cascade region. Cobas worked as a research intern collecting data on the area, relaying information back to the public.
Once this internship ended, Cobas became a park ranger working in Moab, Utah and then Jemez Springs, New Mexico. Currently, Aaron works as a park naturalist in Monrovia, California, yet that hasn’t stopped him from pursuing a degree in public policy through Colorado State University’s online Master of Public Policy and Administration program.
Landing at CSU
Cobas chose this program because of his dreams to venture to a new path for a long-term career. Colorado State became the clear pick for Cobas for several reasons.
“This online program allowed me the opportunity to work from home while getting a quality education from a land-grant university. In addition, the M.P.P.A. program helped me decide on what kind of public policy route I wanted to take through the program’s specializations of public policy, public management, and international policy and management,” Cobas said.
The M.P.P.A. CSU experience
After taking a leap and going back to school, Cobas has found himself overwhelmed with positive feelings about his decision and the experiences he’s had within the program, specifically with the faculty and professors who have impacted him.
“Every one of my professors has been helpful, whether I was stuck on an assignment or there was an exam that I didn’t do so well on, or any types of pointers on projects like my capstone, they’ve always been there to be helpful and I think that’s what makes the M.P.P.A. program so unique is just the level of dedication, the level of support, and the level of care that the professors and the counselors have shown their students,” Cobas said.
Cobas would strongly recommend this program because “you’re getting professors who are devoted to their students and who want them to succeed at CSU, but also in their professional development because they know once their students leave CSU, it’ll be the skills that they’ve taught that will ultimately determine how they succeed.”
Diving into the capstone
Cobas has reaffirmed his passion for this work with the help of his capstone project. During this project he worked with a Commerce City coordinator, a management analyst, and doctoral student to look at the policy feasibility of introducing a district geothermal heating system in Commerce City. He had to consider economics, cost, savings, pros and cons, environment with construction and how it would impact landscape and wildlife, social implications of commerce city residents.
“The capstone, while an incredible experience, felt like the biggest hike of my life. Nights of research and analysis, all-nighters, and weekend hustles. Nevertheless, I have completed the best milestone of my M.P.P.A. career and am looking forward to the final semester come August. After 16 weeks of hard work when your professor likes your deliverable, it’s the best feeling in the world,” Cobas said.
Moving forward
With one semester left, Cobas is laying the groundwork for his future with his new degree, whether that means finding a new job in Colorado or another U.S. state.
“I hope to use what I learned and apply it to real-world applications and work in the non-profit sector. I am focused on working for a nonprofit organization that focuses on sustainability practices and climate justice. In addition, I also hope to start my career working as a research fellow or as a sustainability intern to get me a jumpstart on my future. While I admit this seems daunting, I am hopeful that the lessons I have learned from my two-year journey will help guide me to a prosperous career,” Cobas stated.
In the meantime, he’s looking forward to attending the John Freemuth Student Congress in Las Vegas which he received a scholarship to attend.
“This multi-day conference will have other public policy students from across the country coming together, sharing their stories, and looking at public land management policies in sustainability practices in alternative energy resources. I am so excited to learn from other professionals’ network with other motivated game-changers around the country and find meaningful solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time,” Cobas shared.
When you find yourself at a crossroads, remember there’s always an opportunity to take risks, grow, and take your skills to the next level. For Aaron Cobas, this meant taking the plunge with CSU, landing on the other side, and being more excited for his life and career than ever.