In each issue, we will interview a student enrolled in our public management or healthcare administration programs as a way to further connect our readers to the achievements to our students. This issue we feature, Giorgi Kopaleishvili, MPA

Where are you from?
I am from the Republic of Georgia (former Soviet Union Country). It is located between Europe and Central Asia, bordering Russia to its North, and Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan to its South. It is also situated between the Black Sea to the West and the Caucasus mountains to the North. The total area is 69,700 square kilometers (roughly the same size as South Carolina or Ireland).

Sea, mountains, desert, plain- this is the landscape of Georgia. Diverse is the nature of Georgians, defined by these contrasts. The history, long of five thousand years reveals why the Georgian nation is so unique. The ancient Georgian alphabet is one of the few existing in the modern world. The oldest writings in Georgian language are easily read and understood by modern Georgians without any translation. Throughout centuries the history of Georgian state has evolved, altered the boundaries, and both extended and reduced its original territory.

On April 9,1991, Georgia regained political independence and began working towards establishing a respectable place in the world community. However, on November 23, 2003 there were major changes in Georgia when the Rose Revolution (peaceful revolution), really a democratic one, occured and and the whole Georgian people changed the government with a new, energetic, democratic, and transparent one.

President of Georgia, H.E. Mikhail Saakashvili (President Shevardnadze’s successor) came to the power with necessary and timely reforms aiming to bring political and economic stability to the country.

What is your professional background?
I have almost nine years of professional experience in the public and private sectors. I worked for the US Agency for International Development granted international organizations, in the US and UK, embassies in Tbilisi (capital city of Georgia) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. Basically, I was in charge of media relations and communications. Now, I’m taking a break from my professional career to deepen my academic knowledge. That’s why I’m pursuing my master’s degree here at Suffolk.  

Why did you decide on Suffolk University?
I was advised by a Georgian friend to apply to one of the Suffolk University programs.

I am honored and pleased to be here. Besides studying, I work as a Graduate Fellow, which I find challenging and interesting. I won another prestigious award – a Presidential Fellowship of the Presidential Foundation of Georgia. So, it is a great investment that two partner countries -- Georgia and the US -- are making in me.

How does the Suffolk MPA program fit into your long term plans?
The knowledge and practice I will acquire here will be mutually beneficial for my country and me, since upon completion of the MPA (Master of Public Administration) Program I will go back to my country and contribute to the development of Georgia and the Georgian people.

Thus, I believe that the MPA program exactly matches and meets my future plans, to become a public manager, and serve the public, think as an entrepreneur, and improve the skills so necessary to an effective public administrator. My country, especially now that we have so many reforms in almost every field, needs professionals in the field of public administration!

What do you like best about Boston?
Boston is a real university city with great libraries and academic institutions, and the whole atmosphere helps me concentrate on studying. Suffolk is here for students to receive valuable knowledge, experience and invest in their future -- their professional career and personal growth.