Today, many people shy away from public service. The complexity of tasks, public accountability, and the scrutiny of personal and family life make otherwise patriotic citizens work toward other career goals. Rudy Iturrino, however, is up to the challenge. He wants to become an assistant or deputy director within a high-pressure federal agency such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Department of Homeland Security.

"My education provides me with the academic principles and foundation that will allow me to reach my mission — to serve my nation through the shaping of public policy and effectively appropriating needed resources to the general public," he explains.

The flexible evening class schedule and high standards drew Rudy to Georgetown's Liberal Studies master's program. One particularly satisfying aspect, he says, was the quality of the instructors and their passion for the program. He points to their professional relationships outside academia — in the White House, Congress, and various think tanks, as evidence of their instructions' relevance. The guidance from his professors has allowed him to apply the theory he has learned throughout his academic matriculation to real world situations.

"Prior to my enrollment, I did not feel intellectually stimulated," says Iturrino. "The program enhanced my intellectual engagement as courses revealed how to tackle current issues and find possible problem resolution outside normative practices. It has enriched my professional life by enabling me to ascend into various positions that will affect the abilities, skills and knowledge I bring to my organization. It has enlightened my search for academic achievement and generated greater curiosity in pursuing a Juris Doctorate or a Ph.D."