One of the best parts of the ExMPA program is the direct applicability of the lessons to our workplace. During my two years, there were many times where the lessons I learned on Saturday were immediately applied the following Monday. The classes are not theoretical—what we learn we really need to know and has a direct, measurable impact on what we all do every single day. One great example I had was learning about statistics, then being on a CDC call about seasonal influenza and understanding the reported data at a much higher level!

The cohort model is an invaluable component of the ExMPA program. Some of the difficulty of the program is mitigated by having a group of strong, like-minded professionals at your side. The group was always supportive and never failed to help one another. To this day, my cohort and I remain in contact, and it has helped many of us in our careers and our personal lives. Whether it is to see a show (put on by a fellow ExMPA alum) or a karaoke night out, the cohort has been a fantastic group to grow with and an amazing network of individuals who I know I can rely on professionally.”

As practitioners working in different New York City agencies and nonprofits, our professors provided valuable academic insight on not only public policy but on the procedural and operational side, to help us become strong thinkers AND doers. The program helped me grow into my current role as Chief Operations Officer at Makeba, a fintech startup working in the heavily regulated financial and remittance industry. I enjoy working on new ideas and bringing them to life — after the program, I now look at social impact proactively to ensure that innovation stewards technology and services responsibly.

The cohort model is brilliant. Our cohort was tremendously diverse in every single aspect imaginable — politically, ethnically, and professionally. This was a huge advantage because we weren’t just learning from our professors, we were learning from each other. We worked in teams to develop new and innovative ideas using each other’s experiences to debate stances and navigate solutions. On a personal level, I started the program when my daughter was 6-months-old and felt guilty about adding one more thing to my plate. The support from other parents in our cohort helped me stay focused and driven to excel. Even post-graduation, our cohort stays in touch and provides much valuable support to each other.”

Initially, I thought of graduate school as a tool for advancement, an entrance fee into a new tier of opportunities. I was not expecting such a dramatic development in my thinking and understanding throughout the course of study. My classes helped me access my previous experiential learning, trust myself, and investigate those experiences for new ideas. They acted as a laboratory where I teased out ideas and worked through knotty problems. My work completely shifted. I found a new vocabulary and clarity of purpose I could not have imagined two years ago, which led to a promotion and expansion of a project I’d been developing for over a decade. All the while, my cohort walked with me, sharing their wealth of experience, varied contexts, understanding, and hilarity. Attending the Marxe School is one of the best decisions of my adult life.”

I made the decision to attend Marxe to pursue my EMPA after years of telling myself that I couldn’t do it. My role at my current organization was beginning to expand and I wanted to ensure that I was well equipped with all of the tools I needed, personally and professionally, to succeed. What I appreciated most about the EMPA program was the strategic and intentionality of its structure. Each of the courses prepared you for the next. My communication skills, writing skills and overall understanding of the public and private sectors have prepared me for the next phase of my career. Cohort 37 has been the driving force behind my success at Marxe as it pertains to accountability. We held each other to the highest of standards and became family while doing so. (Where would we be without WhatsApp?)”