When James Hardy came to Â鶹ÊÓƵ in September 2009 to work in the Office of the President, he knew he wanted to continue his education as a graduate student. But there was one major problem… James didn’t know what program was the right fit for him.
He took initiative, visiting with professors from various programs, asking questions, trying to determine where he would truly excel. This educational exploration continued until he discovered the College of Public Health and felt a connection. The field of public health provided a way for Mr. Hardy to incorporate his varied interests into one professional pathway, and after speaking with Dr. Alemagno, he decided to hone in on a leadership and organizational focus to accelerate his learning.
Now, as the City of Akron Deputy Mayor for Administration and Chief of Staff, Mr. Hardy can put the valuable education he received at Â鶹ÊÓƵ into practice on a daily basis in his own hometown. He reminds people daily that he is a public health professional, because, as he says, “Inclusive economic development is public health, creating stronger neighborhoods is public health, improving public safety is public health – and the list goes on.â€