Skip to content
  • Apply Now
  • Events
    • Graduate Admissions Events Calendar
    • Marxe Community Events Calendar
    • Faculty, Staff & Administration Calendar
  • Schedule a Visit
  • Ask a Question
Baruch college | Baruch College-logo Baruch College-logo City University of New York CUNY-logo

Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs

Menu

    About
    • Spotlight on Marxe
    • Marxe Rankings
    • Faculty and Staff
      • Full-Time Faculty
      • Part-Time Faculty
      • Senior Administration and Staff
    • Centers and Institutes
      • Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management (CNSM)
      • CUNY Institute for Demographic Research (CIDR)
      • New York Federal Statistical Research Data Center (NYRDC)
      • Howard J. Samuels State and City Policy Center
      • Center for Equality, Pluralism and Policy (CEPP)
    • Graduation Data
    • Assessment
    • Administrative Resources
    • Marxe Newsletters Archive
    • AEF Student Funding
    • Contact Us
    Academics
    • Master of Public Administration
      • MPA Curriculum
      • MPA Student Handbook
    • Executive MPA
      • Executive MPA Curriculum
    • Master of International Affairs
      • MIA Curriculum
      • MIA Student Handbook
    • Master of Science in Education in Higher Education Administration
      • MSEd Curriculum
      • MSEd Student Handbook
    • The Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs (BSPA)
      • BSPA Curriculum
    • Certificate in Public Communication
    Admissions
    • Graduate Admissions Requirements and Process
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    Student Resources
    • Academic Advisement
      • Graduate Advisement
      • Undergraduate Advisement
    • Career Services
    • Quantitative Student Support
    • Writing for Public & International Affairs
    • College Resources
    Global Initiatives
    • For Marxe Students
    • For Faculty
    • For Foreign Students
    Student Opportunities
    • Scholarships
    • Student Employment Opportunities at Marxe
    • Study Abroad
    • The Washington Semester
    Alumni
    • Get Involved
    • Alumni Testimonials
    • Marxe School of Public and International Affairs
    • Marxe Community Spotlights
    • January 2020 Student Spotlight

    January 2020 Student Spotlight

    January Student Spotlight with Elaine Perez, MPA ‘20

    jan20studentspotlight3

    This month we shine our spotlight on Elaine Perez, who is senior director of operations and strategic planning at Year Up New York and found a reason to come back to school after more than a decade away.


    Why did you decide to go back to school after so many years? Why did you choose the Marxe School?
    It took me 11 years to go back to school. I would start applications during that time and was paralyzed by fear of not getting in and being able to manage the coursework as a mother of three. At the same time, I felt there was this missing piece that I needed to do to both honor the sacrifices my parents had made for my future and for advancement in my career. I am proud of the growth I’ve achieved in my career, but not having a Masters was feeding into experiencing impostor syndrome and I needed to break through it. With push from family and friends, I decided to work through the application and apply to the Marxe School. After visiting several programs, there simply was none in comparison that offered the support, flexibility, and balance between theory and the practical. The Executive Masters of Public Administration program has built up credibility after so many years that you can trust you’re getting the best education. The cohort model is amazing and I’ve made friendships that will go beyond graduation. I often look back now and think why didn’t I start earlier, but I know this was the right time to return.

    How do your classes bridge the gap between theoretical learning in the classroom versus practical learning on-the-job?
    I often joke with my colleagues on how my assignments double for school and work. Each class has brought learnings and assignments that I can bring back to my organization. These range from a presentation on change management that I then used to share at work to the creation of a staff survey from my Research and Analysis II course that I used to measure the communication preferences of our employees. How I phrase questions or understand concepts in meetings now come from what I’ve learned at Marxe. There hasn’t been a class that hasn’t brought value and I still have a year to go. Looking forward to what future courses will bring.

    Tell us what you do at Year Up New York as senior director of operations and strategic planning. What are some of your biggest challenges and most rewarding initiatives?
    I lead the amazing team that helps drive operational and organizational effectiveness through our office systems facilities, planning and organizational development, and volunteer and events management. One of my specific focus areas is staff communication and professional development, as well as strategic goal setting and facilitation for our New York site. As a member of our Senior Leadership Team, I work with my colleagues to ensure we set annual goals and facilitate spaces to track their progress. It can be challenging to balance the multiple focus areas under my purview. It is why I have been blessed with an amazing team to help push forward the initiatives in their respective area, as well as having colleagues who are thought partners and support in balancing it all. The most rewarding part is being able to serve our staff and students. It’s an honor to play a role in their professional development and growth as they confide in us with their time and talents. Whether it’s organizing a staff professional development day or Bring you Child to Work day, I get the gift of planning something that aims to help our staff feel appreciated by the organization.


    Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs 135 East 22nd Street (Lexington Avenue and 22nd Street) (646) 660-6700
    Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram LinkedIn
    • Contact Us
    • About Our Site
    • Privacy
    • Site Map
    • Text Only
    Baruch College | One Bernard Baruch Way
    55 Lexington Avenue (at 24th Street) | New York, NY 10010
    646-312-1000
    CUNY logo
    CUNY logo