Hi MPA Students – I want to introduce you to SinanAli Bana (goes by Sinan).  Sinan is a third-year MPA and has recently joined the MPA Career Services team.  He will be working with us on some of our upcoming events and supporting our office, and you!  Below are some Q&As to help you get to know him a little better.

What are some things you like to do in Austin?
Eat! I love that there are so many unique and delicious places to eat in Austin. I think if I went to one restaurant a day for the rest of my life, I still would not be able to sample all the food Austin has to offer! I also like to visit the Hill Country and take in the breathtaking scenery. One of my favorite places to visit in Austin is Mount Bonnell.

What is your favorite junk food?
Flaming Hot Cheetos Puffs!  I can eat those all day. Add some raspberry lemonade to that and life is perfect.

Do you have any pets?
Unfortunately, I don’t. I have a fear of cats. When I was five years old, I fed a cat some fish and it followed me around for the rest of the day. Since then, I have been scared of cats. I wouldn’t mind having a small puppy as a pet!

What’s your favorite charity?
The Aga Khan Foundation seeks to eradicate poverty in third world countries by not only providing relief but also by empowering people to earn a living and provide for themselves and their families. I enjoy being involved with AKF and their initiatives. It is exciting to be a part of an organization that makes a direct impact on people’s lives.

If you weren’t at work right now, what would you be doing?
Playing a sport or doing INSANITY! I love to stay active and participate in competitive sports. It is my way of relieving stress after a long day of work.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Batman! I love how he is a billionaire and yet he decides to fight crime to better his community. If he ever gets time away from fighting bad guys, I would really like to take his Batmobile for a test drive!

Who is your most memorable MPA student and why?
Me, of course! All jokes aside, I am looking forward to working in the MPA Program Office alongside a team of very friendly and motivated individuals.

If you won the lottery, what would you buy first?
I would donate half of the money to the Aga Khan Foundation and use the rest to buy a ranch in the countryside!

Is there anything else about you that we can share with the MPA students?
I am very passionate about serving my community! I enjoy taking time to do community service projects around Austin. I encourage everyone reading this post to take some time to give back to the community.

Submitted by Dawn Shaw, MPA Career Consultant