MPA student’s chance encounter leads to high-profile assignment
After a social event for Master of Public Administration students, suddenly Noah Ellington was prepping a three-day retreat for federal employees.
When Master of Public Administration student Noah Ellington attended an alumni event in January, he did not expect a casual conversation could lead to coordinating the logistics for a three-day retreat for congressional chiefs of staff just two months later.
The March retreat was hosted at the request of Chancellor Lee H. Roberts and in collaboration with the Congressional Management Foundation, a nonprofit that works to improve communication and management within congressional offices.
Ellington, a graduate researcher for the North Carolina Benchmarking project, hadn’t planned to be involved in the retreat — until an unexpected opportunity allowed him to step into a new realm of public service work.
How did this happen?
My involvement began with a conversation at the MPA Happy Hour following the North Carolina City/County Management Conference in January. I had the opportunity to speak more in depth with Dean Aimee Wall, whom I had seen around the school and briefly interacted with before, but hadn’t yet connected with one-on-one. During our conversation, she mentioned the upcoming chiefs of staff retreat and noted that, as a new program, there were still several logistical pieces to work through. I offered to help, and she encouraged me to follow up.
I was glad to do so, and from there I began attending planning meetings and supporting the team. Before long, I was helping to develop the agenda, coordinate the campus tour, and assist with other logistical details for the retreat.
What did you learn working behind the scenes to plan the retreat?
This experience reinforced how important it is to be flexible and aware of your surroundings. Plans change quickly, and being able to adapt without losing focus is critical. I also learned the importance of taking ownership of mistakes, no matter how small. Everyone makes them, but how you respond matters. Acknowledging them and moving forward builds trust, while avoiding them can have the opposite effect. Finally, I saw how important it is to read the room and understand where you can be most helpful. That awareness allows you to contribute effectively without overstepping.
How has this experience shaped your career vision?
This experience showed me that strong management and leadership skills are needed across all levels of government. Because of that, I can now see myself working at the federal level, whereas before I was primarily focused on local government. It also helped me see that, despite how intimidating federal institutions can seem, the people working within them are approachable and willing to share their experiences. That made the path feel more accessible and confirmed my interest in continuing to explore opportunities in that space.
What advice would you give MPA students about saying yes to unexpected opportunities like this?
I think a big takeaway is to be open to opportunities, even when they feel small or uncertain at the time. This experience came from a single conversation that I almost didn’t stay for. Even though I was exhausted from spending the day at the conference, I decided to stay a little longer and attend the happy hour, which ended up making all the difference. Saying yes does not mean overcommitting, but it does mean being willing to show up, follow up and express interest. You never know which conversation might lead to something meaningful.
