• How did you select your graduate school and how did it prepare you for your career?
• Work or internship experience during graduate school
• What was the most important or useful course you took in the MPA/MPP?
• Were you a Presidential Management Intern?
• What has been your career path since graduating? What do you want to be doing in 5 years?
• What is the most exciting and/or interesting aspect of your current job?
• Do you feel your MPA/MPP is helping you to “make a difference?” How?
• What advice, if any, would you give to an undergraduate thinking about going for an MPA/MPP?

How did you select your graduate school and how did it prepare you for your career?

> I chose to go to Baruch School of Public Affairs for three reasons First, I was 
employed full-time and Baruch offers a full slate of evening classes. In addition, Baruch has many links to the governmental and not-for-profit sectors in New York City. Many professors and staff have experience in city government and these linkages provide Baruch with important resources and create unique opportunities for internships and jobs. Lastly, Baruch is affordable and offers a variety of generous scholarships.

Any work or internship experience during graduate school?

> I was employed full-time as a Manager in a Mental Health Not-for-Profit while I
was in school. I also worked part-time as a Case Manager, assisting families in their homes. In 1999, I did an independent study with Professors David Birdsell and Douglas Muzzio, funded through a scholarship, on the subject of third party candidacies in New York. 

What was the most important or useful course you took in the MPA/MPP?

> Accounting, Budgeting and Financial Management in the Public Sector and Race, Immigration and Economic Policy were the most useful courses I took. The former has helped me considerably in my job as a manager in city government. Particularly useful was its strong emphasis on using spreadsheets and other computer software to analyze complex numbers and charts and forecast. The Economics class, taught by Dr. Marcellus Andrews, has helped me to understand and analyze everyday events, international news and issues at work. Seeing social policy through the lens of labor economics has provided me with an incredible tool to sort out complex issues and choices.

Were you a Presidential Management Intern?

> No.

What has been your career path since graduating? What do you want to be doing in 5 years?

> A year after receiving my MPA, I was recruited by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development to run their Homeless Shelter Case Management Unit. There are approximately 1000 singles and families in the system and my unit provides them with a variety of permanent residential options and services to find subsidized and supportive housing. I want to continue working at HPD, gaining more experience in the Public Housing universe. My future plans include moving up in the management structure of the department.

What is the most exciting and/or interesting aspect of your current job?

> Everyday I tackle new, interesting, exciting and sometimes challenging problems. I need to use all of the skills that I learned in school and others I have acquired in various positions. I interface with staff and clients from different departments and divisions and partner with other city departments and private entities (i.e., housing consortia). In addition, I forecast quarterly projections, research various topics, develop and implement solutions to problems, report findings to my supervisors, manage information systems and deal with staffing issues. 

Do you feel your MPA/MPP is helping you to “make a difference?” How?

> Without a doubt. The analytical skills I learned at Baruch have been invaluable to my career and my everyday life. Working in city government requires the ability to juggle “number-crunching,” operations, human resources and diplomacy. Baruch provided me with the “big-picture” outlook along with the specific skills and knowledge to tackle most problems. I am also able to read the daily newspaper with more insight.

What advice, if any, would you give to an undergraduate thinking about going for an MPA/MPP?

> I would recommend that he or she get some experience in government or in a Not-for Profit prior to going to graduate school. Getting that type of experience will give a student focus and allow him or her to get the most out of graduate school. In addition, many agencies and organizations will assist ¾ in terms of flexible schedules or tuition reimbursement ¾ students furthering their education in related areas. I also recommend that undergraduates take an Intro to American Political Theory course to get a larger perspective of issues they will have to tackle.