Xavier Gonzalez

Xavier Gonzalez (Master of Public Administration ’22) always felt called to make an impact through public service, and he wanted to prepare himself for that future as efficiently as possible. “I had the plan to go through undergrad as quickly as is reasonable, and then hop into a graduate program—make a good effort with it, have fun with it, but quickly get into the workforce so I can be the public servant that I wanted to be when applying for programs in the first place,” he recalls. He completed his studies at Christopher Newport University in two and a half years, focusing on international relations and getting hands-on experience in the public sector as a Bonner Scholar. “I loved that community and that experience, and I found my niche within public service,” says Xavier. “It takes a long time for change to happen at the international level. In nonprofits and government agencies, you can see a more immediate and direct impact from the work you’re doing.”

Xavier’s experience with the Bonner Foundation introduced him to the Fels Institute of Government, and—rather than remaining focused on international affairs—he felt drawn to the versatility of the Full-time Master of Public Administration program. “I had a conversation with folks from Fels and fell in love with the program, the courses that I could take, and the fact that it's a one-year program,” says Xavier. He studied public law, statistics, and program evaluation; through electives, he gained psychological and sociological insights through a course in behavioral public policy and found that his core courses paired surprisingly well with an elective course on international relations. “I was always active in every class, even if I didn’t think they would be the most relevant or interesting for me, because I knew that all of our professors were immensely educated and experienced in their fields, and I wanted to learn everything I could,” he reflects.

At Fels, Xavier found himself in a tight-knit cohort of classmates (who would soon become friends), lecturers, and alumni who could offer the insight of recent experience. “I had monthly conversations with my alumni mentor, which helped me both navigate the academic world and introduce me to federal service,” says Xavier. He also went the extra mile to create a community with his classmates, from scheduling a weekly trivia team and forming group chats to discussing coursework and public service beyond the classroom. At graduation, he was presented with the Audrey Miller Poritzky Leadership Award in recognition of his efforts. “To be awarded as a leader in a room of those I consider leaders… it’s immensely honorable,” he says.

For his capstone project, Xavier was able to connect with the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, or Helsinki Commission, and began researching how the organization could deescalate the conflict brewing between Ukraine and Russia. As his research progressed, potential conflict became outright war, and Xavier raced to keep up with the news. Ultimately, his project focused on how the US government could support Europe’s new desire for energy independence as they separated from Russian petroleum and gas, and he presented policy recommendations for consideration. “I do think that was among the first real opportunities I had to explore and research a situation and provide a list of recommendations, and now that’s my day-to-day,” says Xavier.

As he was finishing his capstone and wrapping up an internship with the Department of Commerce, Xavier was named a finalist for the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program, a prestigious training and leadership development program—and pipeline from graduate school to government employment. As a Fellow, Xavier could learn more about different federal agencies and explore opportunities that might not otherwise have been open to him. He took a role in the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and a rotation with the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

“My main role is that of a management analyst whose primary responsibilities are within data analysis and employee engagement,” he explains. “Data analysis, in my case, involves any source of data that is internal to the agency: the annual quality of life survey for the government, exit interviews, exit surveys, stay interviews. I make sure we're getting the right topics covered and the right questions asked. And once we get results, I analyze them, present them, and develop actions from them. The employee engagement piece is where I get to build bridges between teams, opening opportunities for collaboration, working on internal recognition programs.” In these tasks, he finds himself drawing on his Fels coursework, especially statistics and program evaluation, to help assess and improve quality of life for federal employees.

Investing in employee wellbeing helps the government hire high-quality talent. But it also provides a better value to the American taxpayers, says Xavier: “When people feel good, they do good.” But beyond this, he also finds the work meaningful on a personal level. “USAID and NIMH are two agencies where people’s lives are at stake in the work that they do. I would like to think that the work I do—making folks feel better in their workplace—can in turn help staff save lives and make the world a better place.”

Now an alumnus of the program, Xavier remains engaged with Fels events—he was impressed that the program recently hosted Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg—and stays in touch with his cohort peers and mentor. As his second year of the PMF program comes to a close, he looks forward to what the future holds. “I can take everything I’ve learned here at NIMH and have an immense impact regardless of where I work,” he says. “With these tools, I could go to any agency within the federal government and improve quality of life. And, in part, that's what I'm hoping to become a subject matter expert in: organizational quality of life. I want to make sure that others feel the rewards of leadership that cares about them. It's very easy to forget why we do what we do; it’s my job to remind them.”

“Fels reminded me of the importance of commitment to the mission and what it means to be a good public servant,” he concludes. “And that's what called me to Fels in the first place.”