MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Current Alumni Spotlight:
Mark A. Hunter - Bio
Mark is a native of Grambling, Louisiana and an honor graduate from Grambling High
School. Mark is a graduate of Grambling State University with a B.A. in Political
Science and a Master of Public Administration. Mark has also studied at the University
of Arkansas in the Doctoral Program of Public Policy where his focus was Policy Leadership.
Mark is presently a Doctorate of Education student at Grambling State University with
a focus in Higher Education Administration. Mark’s research at the University of Arkansas
consisted of Community Involvement in the Political Process, Hemophiliacs and the
HIV Epidemic, National Security primarily focusing on Terrorism effects, Weapons of
Mass Destruction, and Emergency Response. Mark’s research at Grambling State University
consists of the relationship between Education and the reduction of Recidivism.
Mark has been employed with Louisiana State Representative Pinkie C. Wilkerson as
a Chief Legislative Assistant and Office Manager, the Department of the Army at the
Pentagon where he served as a Policy/Publications Analyst and Action Officer with
the Office of the Chief Information Officer of the Army (CIO/G-6), and the Defense
Intelligence Agency (DIA). Mark has also served as a team member for the U.S. Government’s
Nuclear Weapons Policy Division while being employed with Science Applications International
Corporation (SAIC) as a National Security Analyst. During this time he was assigned
to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). Mark worked alongside the Action Officer
(AO) who was assigned to the Nuclear Weapons Standing and Safety Committee (NWSSC),
which is an under committee of the Nuclear Weapons Council (NWC).
Mark is member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Prince Hall Masonry, Greater Grambling
Chamber of Commerce, KAIROS which is a prison ministry, and Founder and Executive
Director of the Dr. Michael A. Hunter Foundation which assist HIV positive individuals
in rural parts of Louisiana. Mark is also a member of New Rocky Valley Baptist Church.
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Bridgett Leonard-Robinson - Bio
Bridgett Leonard-Robinson, a native of Quitman, Louisiana (St. Rest Community), received the
Bachelor’s of Science degree from GSU in the Fall 2002 and a Master’s in Public Administration,
also from GSU in the Spring 2006. She is currently employed with the United States Social
Security Administration as a Social Insurance Specialist. Bridgett enjoys spending
time with family and friends and traveling.
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Nova Stokes - Bio
After graduating from Grambling State University with a Masters in Public Administration
specializing in Human Resources Management with a 3.97 GPA, Nova currently holds
the position of HR Coordinator over Global Mobility at Jacobs Engineering Group,
Inc. in Houston Texas. She directly supports expatriate employees by processing
documentation requirements for International affairs and is the liaison between employees
and the company's third party visa processing vendor for immigration. Along with
General Interface, data requests and reporting, she also support employees domestically
with reference to HR matters.
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Kadar J. Dennis - Bio
Kadar J. Dennis is a December 2002 Graduate of Grambling State University with a
Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Information Systems. In December 2004, he
received his Master of Public Administration Degree with emphasis in Public Management.
Kadar is currently employed by the U. S. Social Security Administration as a Social
Insurance Specialist and Site LAN Coordinator. He is also part owner of Entertainment
Etc. and FryDaddyz Katering Ko. Kadar’s affiliations include New Living Word Ministry,
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., MOVE Inc., and Grambling State University National
Alumni Association. Kadar sponsors various annual events to give back to the Grambling/Ruston
Communities.
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Dominique Lewis - Bio
I graduated from the MPA program in December of 2004 with a Health Services Administration
concentration. I chose this concentration because of the interest I have always had
in health policy and public health. I worked in the healthcare field for a few years
after graduation, but in 2007,my love for foreign affairstook over and led me to
serve my country by working for the U.S. Department of State. Working for the federal
government has given me the opportunity to give back to a nation that has given so
much to me. As I continue my personal and professional growth, I’m always looking
for new challenges. Whether I’m giving a presentation on a country that I’ve never
even visited or on the U.S. border to Mexico conducting training, I know the MPA
program has prepared me for whatever I may face. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling,
spending time with friends and family, and watching movies. One of my favorite quotes
was by the late President Kennedy who once said, “Go into public service, for it
will be the crown of your career.”
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Brandon James, District Manager - Bio
Brandon James received his Bachelor of Science Degree (2001 in Marketing) and the
Master of Public Administration Degree (2003) from Grambling State University. He
is currently employed with the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Brandon began his
career with the SSA in June 2003 as a Claims Representative in the Ruston, LA Field
Office. He worked as a Claims Representative until April 2007 when he was selected
to participate in the Dallas Regional Leadership Development Program (DRLDP). His
assignments during his participation in the DRLDP were as Operations Supervisor in
the Monroe LA Field Office and as Facilities Analyst in the Center of Material Resources
located in the Dallas Regional Office. He was selected as the Operations Supervisor
in Monroe, LA in September 2008. He served as District Manager of the Ruston, LA
Field Office from June 2009 through September 2009. Brandon was selected as the District
Manager of the Bastrop, LA Field Office in October 2009 and currently serves in
that capacity.
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Mario DeLance Bailey - Bio
Mario DeLance Bailey is a Spring 2005 Graduate of Grambling State University with
a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. In Spring 2008, he received
his Master of Public Administration Degree with emphasis in Human Resource Management.
Mario is currently employed by the Social Security Administration as a Social Insurance
Specialist. Mario’s affiliations include New Zion Missionary Baptist Church and Kappa
Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
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Katrina L. Branson - Bio
Katrina is Title IX Coordinator/Assistant Director at the University of Louisiana-Monroe
(ULM). She received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from
ULM, formerly Northeast Louisiana University and her Master of Public Administration
degree from Grambling State University.
Katrina is a recent graduate of Monroe Chamber of Commerce Leadership Ouachita, which
develops and empowers emerging leaders of northeast Louisiana to promote the region
as a place recognized as one of the best places to live and do business.
Currently working on her doctorate degree at Grambling, Katrina supports alumni,
academic and administrative endeavors to strengthen the historically black university
where her mother retired from and her sister and brother also graduated from.
Other activities Katrina is involved include: ULM Staff Senate secretary, ULM United
Way Campaign chair, United Way community investment volunteer, State and Local Business
& Professional Women (BPW) webmaster, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Monroe Alumnae
Chapter webmaster and Public Relations chair, Society for Human Resources Management
national and local member.
Katrina is single and spends her spare time involved with local organizations, pushing
herself toward healthy living through nutrition and exercise and enjoys catching
up with friends and family on Facebook.
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