From Ghana to Kansas: Get to know Public Sector Management Intern Joshua Chonga

🌟 Intern Spotlight: Meet Joshua Chonga

We’re excited to introduce Joshua Chonga, our Public Sector Management Intern!

Joshua joined Reno County in May 2025 as part of our shared internship program with the City of Hutchinson. Since joining us, he’s been supporting the Reno County Administration team with budget analysis and helping draft, revise, and present important county policies — including travel reimbursement and fund allocation procedures. Starting next week, Joshua will begin the next phase of his internship with the City of Hutchinson, where he’ll continue building his experience in local government.

Public Sector Management Intern Joshua Chonga talks to the Reno County Commission about his work on county policies. 

🎓 Academic Excellence

Joshua earned his Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Wichita State University, where he was honored with both the George Van Riper Fellowship and the Hugo Wall Fellowship for his outstanding contributions to the Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs. His academic work focused on public finance, budgeting, and local government administration — interests that directly connect to the work he’s doing here at Reno County.

While at WSU, Joshua served as a Graduate Research Assistant and Web Content Assistant for the school’s Employment and Internships program. He collected and compiled financial data from Kansas counties and cities, supported supervisor-led municipal finance research, and conducted literature reviews on capital improvements, fiscal resilience, and disaster impacts — all contributing to academic publications. He also worked on the ARISE project, which informed equitable infrastructure investments across Kansas communities.

As a web content assistant, Joshua kept the school’s job and internship listings up-to-date, ensuring students had access to accurate and timely opportunities.

🌍 From Ghana to Kansas

Joshua grew up in Tuna, a rural community in the Savannah Region of Ghana. His parents are farmers, and he credits his upbringing — where agriculture was central to daily life — with teaching him the values of hard work, resilience, and community support.

After completing his undergraduate studies, he served as a teacher and later worked at the Bole Community Cooperative Credit Union in Ghana. These experiences deepened his passion for public service — teaching allowed him to directly impact young lives, while his work at the credit union showed him the importance of financial accountability and trust. Together, these inspired him to pursue his Master of Public Administration (MPA) and focus on strengthening local government systems.

Joshua Chonga visited the 2025 Kansas State Fair.

💬 Joshua’s Perspective

“What I like most about Kansas is the welcoming nature of the people and the strong sense of community here.”

Joshua says he’s developed a new favorite food since moving to Kansas — sweet corn! He recently visited the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson, where he loved the 4-H exhibits and county displays, giving him a deeper appreciation for Kansas communities and the pride people take in their work.

When asked what he misses most about Ghana, he shared:

“I especially miss the food and the close-knit family and community gatherings. The flavors and traditions back home are such a big part of who I am.”

Outside of work and research, Joshua enjoys catching basketball games at Wichita State University’s Charles Koch Arena:

“The energy of the games and the crowd make it a great experience!”

🌱 Looking Ahead

Joshua’s unique blend of academic research, hands-on government work, and deep commitment to community service make him an invaluable part of our team. We’re proud to support his professional journey and can’t wait to see the impact he’ll continue to make at both Reno County and the City of Hutchinson.

Joshua Chonga visits with Reno County Administrator Randy Partington during a Leadership Development Team meeting.