When Layla Bonnot began toying with the idea of graduate school, she thought she’d be going in for an MBA.
“I was a finance major for undergrad, so it seemed like what I should do,” says Layla, who was working as a government contractor at the time.
Yet “should” and “want” are two very different tracks, and Layla decided to follow her heart. She wasn’t all that happy professionally and resolved to move out of finance and into nonprofit work.
“When I was looking to switch to the nonprofit world, all jobs required an MPP, which was not a degree program I had considered before,” she says. “I was determined to keep an open mind about the school search process when I heard about an open house at Mason for its Master of Public Policy program and decided to check it out.”
Layla instantly vibed with the faculty and students she met that day. Coming from a business background, she had a lot of questions about moving into education policy, and she was impressed with the program director’s openness and interest in her goals, both professional and academic. Add to that Mason’s flexibility, value, and convenient location, and Layla was sold.
“I looked at other MPP programs in the DC area,” she reveals, “but I was drawn to Mason from the beginning.”
Today, Layla is a program associate at the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), and she holds her days at Mason in high regard. She recalls fondly the strength of her academic program and professors, the diversity of her fellow students, and priceless opportunities that made her learning experience unique.
“I served as the student assistant to the dean, which helped me to understand higher education administration and how a school operates,” she notes. “I also participated in the study abroad program in South Africa, which was great! It gave me an opportunity to bond and network with my classmates in a completely different way than from a classroom, and I’m still friends with some of my cohorts from that trip.”
The critical thinking, writing, and networking skills that she acquired at Mason have proven their worth in Layla’s career. At the CCSSO, she helps members think about the implications of technology and information systems at state levels and how they will help kids succeed in college and in life.
“My work is state-focused, and honestly I love it. I love bringing states together to share best practices and solutions and to learn from one another.”
Yet despite her busy schedule, Layla still makes time for her alma mater. Currently she serves as secretary for the Schar School of Policy and Government Alumni Association, in which she also heads up the student support committee.
“I was a student ambassador when I was at Mason because I wanted to help promote that message that I heard at the open house. Now I’m serving as secretary on the alumni board, and this is my third year doing that,” she smiles. “It’s a way to stay connected with the school, which has undergone a lot of changes, and I’m excited to see where it goes.”