By John Robert Morton, Scholar and Alumni Affairs Liaison, and Shaniqua Rose, APU Graduate
Shaniqua Rose’s dedication to public service initially started together with her grandmother, who labored for the federal government. In 2013, Shaniqua determined to work for Orlando’s Financial Growth Division and later the town’s Allowing Workplace, serving to to raised life for each the general public and for companies locally.
In 2019, Shaniqua was impressed to proceed her public service by changing into the CEO of Change for the Neighborhood. This native nonprofit is devoted to offering youth mentorship, providing children with probabilities to discover their neighborhood, study historical past and simply have enjoyable. Change for the Neighborhood can be devoted to delivering social justice for quite a lot of causes.
Now, Shaniqua serves as Eatonville’s Neighborhood Redevelopment Company (CRA) Government Director and the District 5 Commissioner for the Metropolis of Orlando.
Pursuing Larger Training to Assist Her Neighborhood
Earlier in her profession, Shaniqua needed to additional her schooling and acquire the data that will assist her to raised serve her neighborhood. She already had an affiliate diploma in administration from Valencia Faculty and a bachelor’s diploma in enterprise administration from Polk State Faculty.
Nevertheless, Shaniqua knew that extra data for her skilled growth was wanted. She explored totally different potentialities and finally selected APU, graduating with a grasp of public administration diploma in 2018.
“My APU expertise was superb! The assignments for the programs throughout my grasp’s had been what I wanted to totally perceive authorities,” she says. “My capstone was one of the best class as a result of I wrote a couple of challenge that I see as a long-term plan and aim as an elected official. I share my capstone with individuals locally on a regular basis.”
Working for Workplace to Higher Serve Neighborhood Wants
Realizing her native authorities was not fulfilling the wants of the neighborhood and even functioning the way in which her grasp’s diploma stated it ought to, Shaniqua determined to run for workplace in Orlando, Florida. Though she didn’t win, Shaniqua continued to combat for her neighborhood and encourage lasting coverage modifications.
In 2021, she ran for Orlando District 5 Commissioner however didn’t win. Nevertheless, a state of affairs got here up that known as for a particular election.
Shaniqua beat six different opponents after which a challenger within the runoff election. Staying true to her dream, she was elected the Orlando District 5 Commissioner, changing into the youngest and first Caribbean-American to carry the function. Working in District 5, she might help locals with political insurance policies that can enhance lives.
As Eatonville’s Neighborhood Redevelopment Company (CRA) Government Director, Shaniqua guides the CRA within the creation of “a thriving and economically sturdy business hall with an emphasis on preserving the city’s historic character and appeal the place residents and guests can stay, work, play, and develop whereas enhancing the viability and livability of our neighborhoods.”
Recommendation for Future Public Administration College students
To different college students who need to finally search roles in public administration, Shan advises, “Become involved early! The extra expertise you’ve got in politics, the extra you perceive how the system works.”
She provides, “By no means hand over in your desires! Write them down, plan them out and watch them manifest.”
Plans for the Future
Serving to her neighborhood is simply one of many targets Shaniqua set for herself but it surely doesn’t finish there. She says, “I plan to run for re-election in November 2025 and perhaps for Congress someday.”
In regards to the Writer
John Robert Morton is a Scholar & Alumni Affairs Liaison and has been with the College for 15 years. His bachelor’s diploma in European historical past is from Troy College in Troy, Alabama. He additionally accomplished grasp’s levels in political science and sports activities administration from American Army College. As a liaison, John Robert enjoys serving to college students and alumni obtain their private {and professional} targets.
About Our Division
The AMU and APU Alumni Affairs Workplace is devoted to sustaining lifelong relationships with college alumni by offering partaking alternatives to remain concerned and related. We work intently with numerous stakeholders to strengthen the alumni expertise and provide quite a few advantages, providers, actions, and occasions all year long.
As a workforce, the Alumni Affairs workforce works to construct and maintain relationships with alumni alongside their private {and professional} journeys. We actively search for methods to acknowledge and showcase alumni, telling their tales to encourage and encourage college students to pursue their targets.
If you’re an alumni neighborhood member and searching for methods to stay actively concerned, please get in contact with alumni@apus.edu and communicate with a workforce member.
