Nishat is a Master of Public Administration student in her final semester. She received her Bachelors of Arts in English and a minor in health administration and policy from UGA in 2017. Post undergrad, Nishat was a 2017-2018 Americorps VISTA for the Athens-Clarke County Library where she worked with UGA and other community organizations to develop programming for local children and teenagers. During her time as a VISTA she gained skills in program development, volunteer management, community networking and capacity building, fueling her interest in public service. One of her favorite memories was working alongside the Youth Services supervisor to coordinate ACCL’s first annual Bling Your Prom event, where teenagers were able to take home free prom attire.
Since then, Nishat has worked for both non-profit organizations and local governments in various capacities such as providing equitable access to health services, promoting conservation practices and coordinating community programs through coalition building. Nishat is currently working as a Community Outreach Specialist for the Forsyth County Water Department. In her current role she coordinates public education, outreach and community relations to promote awareness of water conservation. Nishat is passionate about using education and engagement practices to empower citizens to contribute positively to their communities.
During her time in the MPA program, Nishat served as the President for the UGA Chapter of Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), where she got to foster interest in the public finance sector by connecting fellow MPA students with UGA MPA Alumni in different fields of finance. She credits her interest in working for local government to Dr. Willoughby’s Public Finance class, where she was able to learn the direct impact that localities have on advancing the quality of life of everyday residents through the provision of essential services and community development.
Post graduation, Nishat looks forward to continuing her work in local government.
