Balancing Graduate Education & Full-Time Careers: Real Talk on Work, Life, & a Ph.D.

Posted December 12, 2023January 7, 2026 in PhD Students, Public Administration MPA & EMPA, Public Affairs/Community Development, Recording Rutgers Podcast, Staff

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Are you grappling with the challenge of balancing work, life, and the prospect of further graduate education? Interested in learning more about the Public Affairs Ph.D. program or the Public Administration Program? This Recording Rutgers podcast episode is just what you need.

In this episode, we feature two students from the Public Affairs doctoral program who are also Rutgers-Camden employees. Michael D’Italia, the Director of the Chancellor’s Experiential Learning Fund for the Office of the Provost, and Kandace Diedrick, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Programs at the Business School, join us to share their experiences. Both hold master’s degrees in public administration, work full-time, and have established careers, offering a unique perspective on balancing work, life, and academic pursuits.

The conversation focuses on their transition from the MPA to the Ph.D. program, exploring the unique aspects and structure of the Ph.D. journey. They will also share their personal motivations for pursuing advanced degrees, delve into the challenges they’ve faced along the way, and discuss their specific research interests. This episode promises to be a source of inspiration and insight for both current and prospective graduate students, particularly those considering degrees in MPA, EMPA, or Ph.D. programs in Public Affairs. It highlights the significant interplay between academic endeavors and career development.