Feature Stories
Anna Tyszkiewicz, '01 & '04
While some of her peers were lucky enough to gain paid internships as
undergraduates at GVSU, Anna Tyszkiewicz, ’01 and ’04 secured an
unpaid internship with Grand Valley Metro Council (GVMC). Although at
first she was envious of her friends who were on a payroll,
Tyszkiewicz soon learned the value of professional immersion over
financial compensation. Since she wasn’t “on the clock,” Tyszkiewicz
had more exposure to the ins and outs of the business and gained
knowledge beyond her work in the classroom as a public administration
student. This head start gave her the familiarity and know-how that
eventually catapulted her into a successful career in Indianapolis.
Throughout her internship, GVMC, the designated metropolitan
planning organization for the Grand Rapids area, was impressed with
her dedication. After her internship concluded, the organization
offered her a part-time position while she continued her undergraduate
and graduate classes. Upon earning her master’s degree in public
administration, they offered her a full-time position in the
transportation department.
After five years with GVMC, Tyszkiewicz was recruited by the
Schneider Corporation, one of the largest civil engineering and survey
firms in Indiana. She started as project coordinator and was quickly
promoted to middle management. While working with the Schneider
Corporation, Tyszkiewicz said that she was thankful to be exposed to
important aspects of civil engineering. She learned how to be
empathetic to both the private and public sectors. Despite her best
efforts, however, she could sense the budget tightening so she began
looking for other work.
In the fall of 2008, Tyszkiewicz accepted a position at the
Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). By the
following summer, she had been promoted to Principal Planner and was
assigned to lead the North East Corridor Rapids Transit Project, a 23
mile-long corridor that will be Indianapolis’ first rapid transit line.
As Principal Planner for Indianapolis MPO, Tyszkiewicz puts her
Grand Valley education to work. The networking that she was able to do
while in college opened doors for her and allowed her to see all the
different avenues to which public administration can lead. Along with
her goal to see the completion of the North East Corridors Project,
she would also like to implement the region’s first Bus Rapid Transit project.
In the fall of 2012, Tyszkiewicz accepted a three-year term as a
member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. She currently
lives in Indianapolis with her boyfriend, John and daughter, Ella.
Updated August 2013
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