Meet Zach McCune

Over the course of my career, I have been deeply engaged in community-based initiatives, campaigns and other mobilization efforts in support of non-profit organizations, political candidates and issues of public importance. It is through these experiences that I have developed a deep appreciation for community and the many ways public service manifests.  

Through these experiences, I’ve learned of the unique challenges and motivations of public servants from different backgrounds, geographies and generations: local officials seeking to revitalize rural communities, organizers registering and mobilizing new voters, survivors of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, fearless LGBTQ+ advocates, champions of and fundraisers for cancer research, family caregivers and older adults committed to advancing age-friendly policies.  

I decided to return to the John Glenn College of Public Affairs to pursue a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Management to sharpen my analytical skills and deepen my understanding of the methods used to evaluate public policies and programs. As a Policy and Research Manager for AARP, I have enjoyed applying learnings from the classroom to my professional portfolio and have found the coursework to be practical and well-tailored to the demands of the current environment.