At 68, Mary Siwierka returned to school with a clear goal: earn her master’s degree. A lifelong public servant with nearly 40 years in municipal government, including serving as Safety Service Director in Elyria and Human Resources Director in Avon Lake, Siwierka began Cleveland State University’s (CSU) Master of Public Administration (MPA) program within the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education in 2024.

Her path was shaped by the Ohio Certified Public Manager® (OCPM) program. As one of the first students to receive CSU credit for completing the OCPM program along with her professional experience, Siwierka was able to fast-track her degree. “Without the OCPM program, I would have never been able to get a master’s degree,” she said.

Siwierka connected with Rob Ziol, director for the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management (CPNM) at CSU, while working as Human Resources Director in Avon Lake.

Avon Lake Mayor Greg Zilka, who worked as an educator and served on city council before becoming Mayor, was a proponent of the OCPM program at CSU and sent all of his department heads to take the program.

Siwierka completed the Public Management Academy and Leadership Academy in about a year and a half from 2021-2022.

Through OCPM, she earned 12 credits and life-experience credit, cutting down both costs and coursework. That pathway allowed her to complete her MPA in just a few semesters while earning straight A’s.

“Rob and I had several conversations about how great the OCPM program is,” said Siwierka.  “Rob pitched the idea of giving college credit for the OCPM program. We met with Dr. Clayton Wukich [associate professor and director of Levin’s MPA and Master of Nonprofit Administration and Leadership programs].”

With her OCPM and professional experience Siwierka’s requirements were much easier to accomplish. Being retired, she was able to take multiple courses a semester and could access both day, night and online classes, including a capstone course.

Highlights included the Columbus Seminar, where she shadowed Ohio lawmakers and followed legislation in real time through a five-day immersive field study during Spring Break. “The Columbus Seminar was fantastic,” she recalled. “There was so much positive energy.  I learned from the other students, and they learned from me.”

Siwierka sees the OCPM program as a transformative tool not just for herself, but for anyone working in public service. “The OCPM program is fantastic. It can push you to that promotion, get you to that next level. Many mid-level managers can make the transition to decision-making leadership roles with access to the right toolkit.”

“By earning college credit for the program and receiving credit for life experience, it reduced the number of courses I needed to take thus saving money and eliminating significant debt,” added Siwierka. “Being older also brings other life priorities such as family and career that could be an impediment to going back to school.”

For Siwierka, the degree was more than a credential, it was a personal triumph. “I was very proud to have earned my master’s degree. It was a huge accomplishment for me.”