Alyssa Deslauriers -

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Alyssa recently graduated from Auburn University in 2018 where she earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Political Science and a minor in Communication.

Alyssa has always been passionately involved with projects that promote inclusion and education. She first became involved with Special Olympics while she was a high school student in Rhode Island in 2012. In 2014, Alyssa created and coordinated a prom event called the Unity Ball (a free prom for Special Olympics Athletes) and over 300 individuals were in attendance. The Unity Ball has lived on and is held each year in Rhode Island by a high school senior, under the guidance of Alyssa and others.

In college, Alyssa was elected to the philanthropy board of her sorority – Alpha Xi Delta. This board was charged with educating Auburn’s campus community about Autism Spectrum Disorders. From 2014-2018, Alyssa aided Alpha Xi Delta in becoming the top fundraising chapter nationally for Autism Speaks. She was also nominated by the University for an award for Philanthropic Work.

Going forward – Alyssa is passionate about continuing her philanthropic work and is currently pursuing a masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Georgia in order to gain valuable knowledge about how she can accomplish her goals more effectively.

Education

Bachelor of Science | Auburn University | 2018 | Major in Political Science and Minor in Communication

More About

Alyssa majored in Political Science with a focus in Public Law. She has always been fascinated with Public Law and its heavily intertwined and complex relationships with public policy and NGOs. In addition, she also took classes in the field of Communication where she earned a Minor. She chose to focus mostly on courses directed towards intercultural communications. Alyssa thought it extremely valuable to develop a better understanding of different populations and how they might communicate so she may be more adept in any social or professional setting going forward.

Ultimately Alyssa would like to be working for a non-profit organization. She wants to be in a setting where she feels like she is actively making positive change and educating the public about the value of investing in our cause.

Of Note

Mary McNamara Memorial Award for Achievement Honor and Leadership (2014)
One of 17 Auburn women nominated for the Martha Cheeley Brown Award for Significant Philanthropic and Leadership Contributions (2016)
Winner of Best Delegate Award for Auburn University Model United Nations (2016)

Research Interests

Intellectual and Physical disabilities and communications and how public policy has positively and negatively affected those with these diagnoses

Effectiveness of educational techniques currently used by a broad spectrum of Non-Profit organizations to raise awareness about their causes.

What are the direct effects of donations to a non-profit organization and what are the spending habits of said organizations?