Master of International Affairs

“I came to Marxe because I wanted a career in government policy. I worked with Professor Robert Smith researching the impacts of DACA and other policies within New York’s Mexican community. I was one of Marxe’s first recipients of the Harold W. Rosenthal Fellowship and interned at the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs in Washington, where I worked on combating child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking. All these opportunities prepared me for my current position at the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection where I help enforce worker protection laws and contribute to policy recommendations through research and outreach.”

“I came to the Marxe School from the financial industry to learn more about global governance and international relations and advance my career in anti-financial crimes. The Special Concentration allowed me to tailor my studies and my Capstone to my interests. I learned new skills, including how to improve my business communications, and expanded my network of colleagues. One of the most essential aspects of the MIA program is the open dialogue between professors and students–and how focused professors are on supporting students’ success.”

“I came to Marxe from Senegal, hoping to bring my skills as a journalist to the nonprofit sector. It turned out even better: I now work for a public relations agency that specializes in impact communications for nonprofits. My job allows me to interact with multiple organizations across the country and with some global partners. The MIA program prepares students to take on issues with worldwide implications. The most important part may be how it honed my writing skills and taught me how to best communicate mission-driven work.”

“I came to Marxe from the private sector with the hope of transitioning to a fulfilling public sector career, although I wasn’t totally sure what form I wanted that career to take. The amazing faculty and diverse courses helped me define that path and I’ve now landed exactly where I want to be, working at the nexus of climate and migration. Two of the best opportunities at Marxe: The Washington Semester and my internship at the Inter-American Development Bank, which kick-started my public sector career, and the Capstone program, where I created a project that helped me land my current job.”

“Today global is local and borders are increasingly meaningless when it comes to meeting the greatest challenges.”

Dr. Robbins researches and writes about national security issues and the nexus of US foreign policy and politics. Before coming to Baruch, she was Deputy Editorial Page Editor at The New York Times and Chief Diplomatic Correspondent at The Wall Street Journal. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

“The Marxe School’s Master of International Affairs program connects our students to a dynamic faculty addressing cutting-edge issues affecting our world. We prepare our graduate students to tackle global policy challenges.”

Dr. Arias researches security and politics in Latin America. His most recent book is Criminal Enterprises and Governance in Latin America
and the Caribbean. He has served as a consultant to the Ford Foundation, the UN Development Programme, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and UN Habitat and was the principal author of the UN Introductory Handbook on Policing Urban Space.

“Local and global issues are inextricably intertwined, particularly where climate change is concerned. The MIA offers a great venue to learn about issues and apply tools for today’s big challenges.”

Dr. Balk is a spatial demographer whose research focuses on urbanization and climate change. She currently serves as Co-Chair on the New York City Panel on Climate Change’s 4th Assessment, is a member of the Society and Economy Working Group of the New York State Climate Impacts Assessment, and the National Academy of Sciences Committee
on Population.

“The MIA program at Baruch – in the heart of NYC – is unique in bringing together highly engaged and diverse students with expert faculty who help them prepare for successful public and non-profit leadership roles.”

Dr. Heiland is an economist and demographer who has published on a wide range of topics, including the effects of the early retirement rules of the US Social Security system, the social dynamics of obesity, and the determinants of East-West German migration after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

“In a world with increasingly accessible data, our Master of International Affairs provides rigorous and cutting-edge training so that our graduates can evaluate the effectiveness of existing public policies and use evidence to implement new policies that change our world for the better.”

Dr. Leavitt’s research develops methods in causal inference, with a specific emphasis on randomized experiments, design-based inference, and their integration with Bayesian methodology. He applies these methodological developments to studies of racial and ethnic politics in a comparative perspective using original data from the US and South Africa. He is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University.

“For our students to succeed in a globalized world–whatever their path–understanding international economics is essential.”

Dr. Leblebicioglu’s research program is centered around issues in international macroeconomics, with a special focus on financial frictions, trade policy, and economic growth.

“The Marxe School is the only international affairs program in the city that seeks to cultivate such a diverse student body and bring them into the real world of international policy. I am thrilled to be a part of this exciting and essential project.”

Dr. Mampilly’s research focuses on Africana studies, democracy, inequality, social movements and political violence.

“The Marxe School has an extraordinary concentration of leading faculty in public management and international affairs in the heart of the most exciting city in the world.”

Dr. Mitchell’s research and teaching focus on nonprofit and NGO management, leadership, and strategy. His book, Between Power and Irrelevance, examines how leading INGOs are adapting for the future.

“Marxe MIA students are able to leverage the rich global programming across the Baruch campus and the wider CUNY community.”

Dr. Muhleisen is a political scientist whose research project is centered around comparative policy, particularly international and European Union regulatory policy. She is the former Assistant Director of the European Union Studies Center and has taught courses on global governance, regionalism, and international organizations.

“In our MIA program, students work with cutting edge researchers and practitioners to understand and confront key challenges from climate change to political polarization and violence, to inequality and human rights.”

Prof. Smith’s public sociology seeks to use social science research to reduce inequality and injustice. He has been funded by the National Science and Guggenheim foundations. He has served as an expert witness in Voting Rights Acts cases, a case with a $20 million settlement from Wells Fargo, and first-authored an amici brief whose argument the Supreme Court used in continuing DACA in 2020. His next book is Horatio Alger Lives in Brooklyn, But Don’t Check His Papers.

“This is an exciting new program because we are able to draw on the most current research and approaches to international affairs education.”

Dr. D’Souza is a development economist who studies food security and nutrition, conflict and instability, governance, and international trade. She has worked for the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and consulted for the World Bank.

“Addressing the worlds’ most pressing challenges requires the understanding of global systems, societies, and cultures. Our MIA program allows students to explore these issues in New York City, one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world and a true living laboratory.”

Dr. Valente’s research uses advanced quantitative methods and socioeconomic theory to investigate the impact of policies on underrepresented and marginalized groups, providing empirical support for addressing socioeconomic inequalities due to race, class, and gender in social, political, religious, and educational institutions. Her research also evaluates the impact of public policies on the quality of life (a.k.a. happiness) of minority groups. Dr. Valente’s regional focus is Latin America and Brazil.

“Our Master of International Affairs graduates launch into their fields with the cutting-edge perspectives and skills that global organizations are demanding in one of the fastest periods of change in human history.”

Dr. Waisanen teaches Global Communication and Communication Strategy. He is the author of seven books, including Immigration and Strategic Public Health Communication: Lessons from the Transnational Seguro Popular Project (with Rob Smith and Guillermo Yrizar Barbosa) and Improv for Democracy: How to Bridge Differences and Develop the Communication and Leadership Skills Our World Needs.

“The rules and principles of the Liberal World Order are under serious threat. While pursuing a graduate degree in the MIA program, students will have the opportunity to study and understand these and other global challenges in real time.”

Dr. Wallerstein served for five years as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counterproliferation Policy and Senior Defense Representative for Trade Security. He is also a Senior Non-resident Fellow on U.S. Foreign Policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. His teaching focuses on national and global security challenges, including proliferation and climate change.