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This fall, after 2 years as district coordinator, Wayne left to enter graduate school in public policy at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

Career Center (CC): What was the nature of your work as After-School Programs Coordinator?

Wayne Ho (WH): I worked with 76 schools to implement after-school programs for diverse student populations. I wrote grants to state and federal education departments to fund the programs, trained program coordinators and school staff to implement programs, managed contracts with community based organizations, and helped to draft educational policies at the local and state level.

CC: In what ways did your undergraduate degree prepare you for that job?

WH: I did a lot of writing in English and Ethnic Studies classes. This has definitely helped me because effective written communication is a very important skill to have in any job. Also, education is a field where you work with very diverse groups of people - from youth and parents to community advocates and school staff. UC Berkeley's diversity has definitely helped me interact with multicultural populations.

CC: What other experiences were important in getting you to where you are in your career?

WH: I did a lot of volunteering as an undergraduate. I helped start REACH!, the Asian Pacific American Recruitment and Retention Center, and Bridges Multicultural Center which aims to increase the representation of students of color at UC Berkeley. I also worked at the Cal Corps Public Service Center as a student. These experiences helped me develop important leadership skills, such as organization, time management, follow through, and cultural competence. I think that experiences outside of the classroom are equally, if not more, important than experiences inside the classroom.

CC: What did you like about your work as the San Francisco Unified School District's After School Programs Coordinator?

WH: I liked being the link between schools and community based organizations (CBOs). They each have their own cultures that are sometimes in conflict, but they are both working for what's best for youth. I promoted collaboration between schools and CBOs because that is what's necessary in order to provide support and opportunities for underserved youth. I have met so many dedicated individuals who work tirelessly for youth.

CC: What were some of the drawbacks?

WH: School districts are huge bureaucracies. And they exist in larger bureaucracies called cities, counties, and states. It is challenging to make grassroots impacts on youth when there are systemic issues that impede your progress. This is disappointing because youth and families deserve to get the best public education. There needs to be a new model for how school districts function in large cities.

CC: Do you have any tips regarding what Cal undergraduates can do to prepare for a career in the field of education?

WH: Cal undergraduates should balance their classroom and volunteer experiences. If you want to work in education, you should volunteer at a school or a community center as an undergraduate. There are a lot of student groups that provide tutorial, mentoring, and college preparation services to youth throughout the Bay Area. These are great opportunities to enhance your skills, to learn about challenges facing young people, and to get a taste of what the education field is all about. I cannot stress how important it is to be working directly with youth. Classes cannot properly prepare you for a job in education.

CC: So how's life as a public policy grad student at Harvard and what's next for you?

WH: I enjoy learning about topics and gaining skills that are necessary for me to address education on a larger scale. Unfortunately, the Kennedy School of Government in particular and Harvard University in general do not have a student population as diverse as UC Berkeley. After graduation, I plan to move to New York City in order to work for a public agency or a community based organization that serves youth and families. I aim to use my previous work experience with youth and the knowledge I have gained at the Kennedy School to improve services for youth and families in a large urban area.

Additional Resources

Education Career Night
Wednesday, October 15 - 6:00-7:30pm, Alumni House
30+ alumni and other professionals will be on hand to talk informally about a wide range of career options in the field of education.

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Career Field - Education