Introducing From the Field: Alumni Perspectives—a new way to bring firsthand insights from graduates of the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs. In their own words, alumni reflect on the paths they've taken, the lessons they've learned, and the ways their time at the Truman School continues to shape their impact in public service, policy, service, and leadership. Each installment offers a candid look at the real-world experiences of those who once walked our halls and now help shape communities across Missouri and beyond.
Cookingham-Noll Fellow Sarah Beahm, 2025 MPA graduate.
My first summer as a Cookingham-Noll Fellow has been a whirlwind. The two-year fellowship follows a rotational structure: from June to September, the other fellow and I tour and shadow every city department; from September to March, I’ll serve in the Office of Management and Budget as a budget analyst, contributing to the development of Kansas City’s $2.5B annual budget. In the second year, I’ll select three to four departments for long-term rotations based on my interests.
This summer alone, I’ve toured water treatment plants, joined neighborhood inspection ride-alongs, participated in a park clean-up, visited both the downtown and international airports, met with the City Council, Mayor, and City Manager, and even received a helicopter tour of the city. It’s been an incredible opportunity to explore every facet of city government—from trash collection to long-term development planning.
The Truman School of Government and Public Affairs equipped me well for this experience. The program strengthened my soft skills, which have been invaluable in building relationships with department directors and executives across the city. Its interdisciplinary coursework prepared me to quickly grasp a wide range of policy areas under city jurisdiction. For instance, my capstone project with the City of Columbia’s transportation and finance departments gave me a foundation in transit systems that provided helpful context for understanding Kansas City’s Streetcar expansion. Additionally, the core research curriculum has helped me engage meaningfully with the city’s data driven decision-making through DataKC.
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