West Chester University in Philadelphia

Karen J. Williams

Karen J. Williams is in her first year in the PPA program, but no stranger to West Chester University or the Philadelphia Campus, where she earned her Master’s in Social Work in 2016. As a licensed social worker and program supervisor for Gaudenzia, a nonprofit substance abuse treatment and recovery services provider, she works at a shelter serving women experiencing homelessness and bridging the gaps to help those in need. “Returning to WCU for additional studies in nonprofit management was a perfect opportunity, the flexible scheduling and online courses work well since I work full time. WCU provides a good balance between academic rigor and accessibility for non-traditional students and the Philly campus has a great atmosphere and supportive staff. My courses in analytics and management have really opened up new perspectives and ideas to apply to my work.”   

Bill Arrowood

Bill Arrowood’s journey to WCU has been a long and interesting one. After working as a location manager in the film industry for two decades, he has also functioned as an administrator for one of Philadelphia’s premier commercial corridors, founded a fledgling theatre company, run for Mayor of his hometown and acted as a liaison for multiple small nonprofits and community organizations. Despite the diversity of his experience, he knew that he needed to further his education in order to take his career to the next level. “When exploring all the options for public administration programs, nationally online and locally, WCU offered a unique blend of in person classes at the Philly campus and online scheduling that could accommodate an irregular work schedule. The opportunity to interact with new colleagues at the Center City campus was certainly a drawing point, not to mention the Philadelphia resident discount. With each new class in the PPA program, a new layer into the inner workings of nonprofits and municipal management is becoming clearer.”

Noel Aragon

Originally from El Salvador, Noel Aragon came to Philadelphia as a part of the Salvadoran Red Cross “Young Ambassadors” program. Prior to his studies in Public Administration, he received his BA in Liberal Arts from WCU, minoring in Political Science.  Currently working as an attaché and liaison to the Latino community for a Philadelphia City Councilperson, Noel’s demanding schedule made choosing PPA Philly Campus an ideal fit. The downtown location’s proximity to his work at City Hall, as well as classes that could be taken asynchronously allow him to accommodate an ever-shifting work schedule, and with a preschooler at home, helps balance family time.  “While my background is in politics, I am very interested in learning to be a better communicator and about the sphere of nonprofits. My undergrad experience certainly influenced my desire to continue my studies, the WCU professors genuinely seem to care for the success of their students. I am excited to interact with students at the Philadelphia campus and expand my network of friends and colleagues.”