For Braelon Scott-Blue, the pull toward public administration started long before graduate school. As a political science undergraduate, he was drawn to understanding how systems function. Though his early ambitions eventually led him away from politics, his curiosity about the field never faded.
“Public administration has always interested me, the way it works and what happens behind the curtain,” Braelon says. “Even when I moved away from political aspirations, I stayed passionate about public administration because the field itself always intrigued me.”
After earning his political science degree, he knew a master’s in public administration was the natural next step, but life had other plans. Work. Family. Kids. For years, the goal stayed on the horizon.
Finding a Program That Fit His Life
When Braelon finally decided to pursue his MPA degree online, he needed a program that could meet him where he was. Previous programs he’d explored required significant travel or rigid scheduling. Neither was realistic for a working father.
Murray State University changed the equation. The program’s responsiveness, accelerated format and willingness to accept transfer credit made the decision straightforward. “Murray State felt realistic for my life,” he says. “The speed to completion and how responsive everyone was made it an easy decision.”
The online MPA program also unlocked something more fundamental: the ability to be fully present in each role he held. “The online format let me be a dad, an employee and a student without sacrificing any of those roles,” Braelon says. “I could log in whenever I had time, whether early morning or late at night after my kids went to bed.”
His family made that possible, too. His wife motivated him to continue. His kids understood when dad needed quiet time. “My wife pushed me to find reasons to keep going instead of excuses to stop,” he says. “That support system made it possible for me to get to the finish line.”
Faculty Who Showed Up
If the flexibility of Murray State’s online master’s degree opened the door, the faculty are what kept him moving forward.
His first course — Foundations of Public Administration — set the tone. Instructor Dr. Jameson’s enthusiasm came through even on screen, and her early feedback gave him something he hadn’t expected: confidence. “Starting the program with Dr. Jameson changed everything,” Braelon reflects. “Her passion and the feedback she gave helped me realize I was capable of doing this work.”
Public budgeting proved to be his most challenging course, but Dr. Clinger went beyond the standard coursework by holding extra weekend Zoom sessions and offering the kind of individualized support that made a real difference. “He graded tough but fair,” Braelon says, “and his extra weekend sessions made everything click.”
The most defining moment of his time in the program, though, came during a family crisis. When his daughter was hospitalized for a week, Braelon feared he’d have to withdraw. Dr. Cantrell Bruce responded with grace and flexibility. “During one of the hardest moments in my life, Dr. Cantrell Bruce’s compassion kept me on track,” he says. “I thought I’d have to stop the program, but her understanding made it possible for me to continue.”
As he moved into his capstone and portfolio work under Dr. Jung and Dr. Choi, the full scope of his growth became clear. “The feedback on my capstone showed me exactly how far I had come,” he says.
A Degree That Pays Off Every Day
Braelon works as a retention specialist — a role in which his own experience as an online learner has become one of his greatest professional assets. He now advises students navigating the same challenges he once faced: balancing coursework with careers, families and unexpected setbacks.
“The program helped me better understand the realities students face because I was living those realities too,” he says. “I apply what I learned every day, especially when helping students navigate their programs.”
The skills he developed — critical thinking, problem-solving, communicating across diverse groups — show up in his work constantly. More than that, he carries a confidence he didn’t have when he started. “I began the program unsure if I could finish and ended it knowing I’m ready for bigger opportunities,” he says.
Crossing the finish line also carried personal weight. “Finishing the degree is something I’m proud to show my kids,” he says. “It sets an example for them.”
About the Master of Public Administration Online Program at Murray State University
Murray State University’s online MPA program is designed for working professionals seeking to advance in public service, government and nonprofit organizations. The program features a flexible, 100 percent online curriculum covering core areas including public budgeting, organizational theory, human resource management, policy analysis and ethics.
Students can choose from multiple concentrations and will complete 21 credit hours of core courses and 15 credit hours of electives, allowing them to tailor their public administration degree to their professional goals. The program culminates in a two-part capstone experience in which students propose and execute an original research project addressing a substantive management or policy issue.
Murray State’s online MPA program is delivered in an accelerated format with multiple start dates per year — an ideal structure for working professionals managing demanding schedules. Pay-by-the-course tuition keeps costs transparent, with all fees included. Transfer credit policies allow eligible students to carry in up to 15 hours of relevant graduate coursework, helping qualified candidates reach graduation faster.
Murray State University is ranked #1 among the “Best Value Schools in the South” by U.S. News & World Report (2025) and has earned recognition as a Top Tier university for academic quality for more than 30 consecutive years. The GRE is not required for admission.
Explore the Master of Public Administration online programs at Murray State University.
