MPA Student Lobbies on Behalf of All MSU Students

Janelle Booth, who graduated in May with a Master’s of Public Administration through the Department of Political Science, was selected as Montana Associated Students’ lobbyist during the 2011 legislative session. She represented all students on each campus in the Montana university system by tracking student-related legislation, providing testimony in hearings, disseminating information to students, legislators and the press, and coordinating student activity at the capitol.

During her graduate studies at MSU, Booth received a graduate fellowship to work at the Western Transportation Institute. She was awarded the University Transportation Center Outstanding Student of the Year award and traveled to Washington D.C. for the award ceremony. She also presented the results of her transportation research at four national conferences, and received a student paper award at the National TRB Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation in Burlington, Vt. last fall. 

While at MSU, Booth was awarded a scholarship to serve as one of two representatives from the U.S. to attend the International Black Sea Symposium in Aegina, Greece during the summer of 2010. Thirty-nine young professionals from countries in the wider Black Sea region, Western Europe, the U.S. and Central Asia were selected to participate in the symposium, where topics discussed included energy security, the role of NATO and Russia, EU relations, good governance in the Black Sea region, and conflict resolution methodology.

Booth is currently working as a Community Resource Associate Specialist at MSU’s Local Government Center. She grew up on a ranch in South Dakota and wants to continue to be an advocate for agriculture and rural communities. “Janelle is the kind of person who will make the world a better place but not require (or desire) the spotlight of recognition,” said Liz Shanahan, associate professor in the Department of Political Science.