Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Trippe Ross earned his Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Georgia in 2012. Having completed a successful internship with the Athens Community Council on Aging (ACCA) in his senior year, he was hired as a full-time employee upon graduation. For the next 5 years, Trippe served in a variety of roles, directing programs and services for older adults, adults with disabilities, and their families. During his time with ACCA, Trippe witnessed how policy at the local, state, and national level affected his clients and the non-profit sector. This sparked his interest in advocating for effective policy that addresses the needs of older adults and differently abled individuals. He also developed an interest in studying how the structure and culture of organizations contribute to operational success and stability. Seeking to explore this in the higher education sector, Trippe joined the Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases within UGA’s Odum School of Ecology in 2017. Here, Trippe coordinates educational and training activities for faculty and student researchers engaged in studies on the pressing problems posed by ecology and infectious diseases. Trippe looks forward to applying the skills he develops through the MPA program to his work with this growing research center.

Education

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) | University of Georgia, School of Social Work | Class of 2012

Trippe earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from UGA in 2012. During his undergraduate education, Trippe gained field experience through volunteer work with Project Safe and a year-long internship with the Athens Community Council on Aging (ACCA). Noteworthy projects during his undergraduate education included a program evaluation for a newly implemented service with ACCA’s Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program, and an interdisciplinary project in which he partnered with horticulture, education, and health nutrition majors to implement a weekly after school garden club for students at Chase Street Elementary School and the Garnett Ridge Boys & Girls Club. In his senior year, Trippe was elected to serve as the student representative to the BSW Program Faculty Committee & as the senator for the School of Social Work to the Student Government Association.

More About

Trippe is pursuing a Masters in Public Administration in order to gain the skills and experiences needed to lead operations in a non-profit or higher education setting.

Work Experience:

5+ Years experience directing services & programs in a non-profit setting
2 Years administrative experience with the Odum School of Ecology

Of Note

2016 STAR (Service, Teamwork, Attitude, & Reliability) Employee Award, Athens Community Council on Aging

Research Interests

Organizational Theory
Zoonotic Spillover
STEM Education
Science Communication