I am interested in working with a non-profit on the executive level or as a lobbyist/liasion on the Federal or State level . I have myriad interests in health policy (poverty and health care, populations with HIV/AIDS, obesity, smoking, drugs/alcohol, mental health care reform, etc.)
I have a BA in Psychology and an MA in Journalism. I have been an executive for 10 years in an entirely unrelated field (outside of public policy/health care, that is).
All that said, I am presently thinking of chucking what I have now and going back to get a degree - either an MA in Public Policy/Administration or a PhD in Public Policy/Administration.
My concern is that with a PhD, I will be viewed as "overqualified" or too research-oriented for a non-profit or government liasion position. Then again, with a master's, I am concerned I will be missing out on more in-depth study as public policy is not my background.
As someone who does not want to teach Public Policy on a full-time basis, but enjoys the research/management/applied side, what are the views out there on which degree I should persue?
I am also doing research on this when I am able. Any real-world folks out there who have any thoughts on this?