Shaping Philly's Future: Suzie Staherski 鈥�23 MA Puts Policy into Action
Fueled by purpose and opportunity, she鈥檚 turning classroom lessons into citywide impact.
Suzie Staherski 鈥�23 MA thrives in the fast lane.
Not only does she love living in the hustling heart of Philadelphia, but she also plays a part in making it beat.
鈥淲hat I enjoy most about my role is that it's very fast-moving,鈥� Staherski said. 鈥淭here is always something happening, a new project to get started on or a fire to put out.鈥�
Staherski is a senior fiscal policy analyst for the City of Philadelphia鈥檚 budget office, where she develops the city鈥檚 five-year financial plan and acts as a liaison between administrative departments and City Council as part of the annual budget process.
鈥淢y office has given me the room to grow and take on more responsibility even though I am fairly early in my career,鈥� she said.
In 2023, Staherski earned her master鈥檚 degree in Political Science from Villanova. She credits the program for preparing her for the demands of her new position.
鈥淎 lot of my classes prepared me to see politics play out daily,鈥� Staherski said, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 useful when interacting with other offices, elected officials, or just engaging with policies on a wider scale.鈥�
Throughout the program, Staherski cultivated strong relationships with faculty members, who guided her into her current role.
鈥淢y professors were able to see something in me,鈥� Staherski said. 鈥淭hey invested in me, providing recommendations and connections. It really helped me get into the field that I鈥檓 in.鈥�
She especially credits one faculty member she worked closely with as a research assistant.
鈥淒r. Ryan Weldzius really wanted me to come out of my experience with useful and practical skills for whatever came next for me,鈥� Staherski said of Weldzius, an assistant professor of political science. 鈥淗e was always available to help.鈥�
Villanova provides an abundance of opportunities. Staherski鈥檚 advice to future students is simple: take advantage of all of it.
鈥淎s a student, there are so many resources at your fingertips,鈥� Staherski said. 鈥淵ou just have to have the initiative to go after them and get involved.鈥�
That initiative she took as a student still resonates in her current role鈥攐ne that allows her to work on local policy and affect change in Philadelphia.
鈥淚 love that at the end of the year I get to walk around the city that I live in and love,鈥� Staherski said. 鈥淚 get to see the things I had a hand in shaping.鈥�
About 麻豆村鈥檚 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Since its founding in 1842, 麻豆村鈥檚 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has been the heart of the Villanova learning experience, offering foundational courses for undergraduate students in every college of the University. Serving more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students, the College is committed to fortifying them with intellectual rigor, multidisciplinary knowledge, moral courage and a global perspective. The College has more than 40 academic departments and programs across the humanities, social sciences, and natural and physical sciences.
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