Marxe Community Spotlights 2019

Executive MPA student and and Deputy Director at Teens for Food Justice, Gabrielle Mosquera tells us all about her new role, passion for social action and justice, and more in this month’s student spotlight.

We welcome new faculty member, Substitute Assistant Professor, Liza Bolitzer with a spotlight on her beginnings as a college teacher and how that led to her research on higher education.

We speak to Marxe alumnus and KPMG Senior Associate, Konstantin Zborovskiy about his career, Marxe experience, and more.

Hear from Executive MPA student and Associate Director of Nursing at NYC Health+Hospitals, Alma Bascon.

We spoke to Lecturer, Alexis Perrotta (whose research focuses on urban transportation policy, planning, and welfare) about NYC public transportation, her students, and the Marxe School.

We speak to MPA alumnus and Department Coordinator for Natural Resources and Climate Change at the Ford Foundation, Kenneth Archibold. We discuss his role at the Foundation, educational experiences, and more.

Hear from Executive MPA student, Alejandro Cintron Carrasco, who is pursuing his career in public service as associate director of language access at the New York City Department of Education (DOE).

Marxe Chair of International Affairs and Professor, Zachariah Mampilly tell us his thoughts about the Master of International Affairs program, his current fellowships, and the courses he will teach at the Marxe School.

We speak to MPA alumna and Chief Program Officer at Dress for Success Worldwide, Jeanette Duffy, covering her thoughts on the nonprofit sector, what she does at Dress for Success, and how her Marxe MPA experience contributed to her career.

September’s student spotlight is with Anna Yakubova (Executive MPA, ’12) who works at the NYC Department of Small Business Services on critical projects such as promoting diversity in small business ownership and for whom public service is a “passion.”

Professor Engel discusses his research on the American obesity epidemic and more in this legacy faculty spotlight.

In this month’s alumni spotlight we speak to MPA alumna Ebony Meeks who was involved in both the Obama for America and Hillary for America campaigns. She discusses coming to terms with the campaigns’ different outcomes, her thoughts on the Marxe School, and more.

Maria Cruz Lee is a public sector strategist who helps organizations with digital, events, operations and branding. She was Digital Marketing Director at the City University of New York, building and managing the University-wide Digital Council, and is now Digital Marketing Director at City & State NY.

Distinguished Lecturer, Michael Seltzer speaks about his first experience working in West Africa in the nonprofit sector, The New York Community Trust Leadership Fellows (which he is director of), and more in this legacy faculty spotlight.

In Jason’s spotlight he discusses the US veteran experience, his role at the DVS, and why we “must be bold and choose to do things we’ve never done before.”

Maria Michalos’ passion for public service has taken her from a role in government to a nonprofit organization, advocating for environmental policy change and abroad in Marxe global programs as she works toward her MPA.

The Marxe School offers a warm welcome to Dr. Patria de Lancer Julnes who has just begun her new role as Associate Dean of Academic Programs.

As an individual with a disability, Edmund Asiedu has had a challenging road, but has also been fortunate and hard-working enough not to allow it to define his actions.

We speak to Vice President of Operations at The New 42nd Street, Jessica Baker Vodoor about her decision to return to school for an MPA, her experience running for office in Brooklyn, and her passion for the opportunities to effect change through becoming an elected public servant.

After living, working, and studying all over the world, taking up residence in New York City was perfect for Professor John Casey.

Communications Strategist and Management Consultant, Executive MPA alumna, adjunct lecturer, and member of the Marxe Dean’s Advisory Board, Janet Dewart Bell recently published her first book, Lighting the Fires of Freedom: African American Women in the Civil Rights Movement.

Ken discusses his professional pivot, the Marxe Master of International Affairs program, his study away experience at SciencesPo in Paris, and more.

Neil Hernandez tells us about his research on the US immigration system, work as an asylum officer, and pedagogical aspirations on his return to the Marxe School.

We speak with Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships and Learning at Support Center for Nonprofit Management, Lakimja Mattocks about her affinity for nonprofit work, her mission, and her Marxe MPA experience.

Safety issues and emergencies can mean the difference between life and death in a hospital. Jory Guttsman – who directs safety and emergency management at NYC Health + Hospitals – tells us about the challenges he faces each day.

In this month’s faculty spotlight we speak to Assistant Professor, William Casey Boland about his punk rock past, how the teachings of punk rock relate to public affairs, and his interest on state and federal public policies on higher education.

Deputy Chief Operating Officer at the Office of Administration at the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, Maria Osorio tells us about the career path that led to this role and how the Executive MPA provided her with the tools to achieve success.

National Director of Education Programs at the Anti-Defamation League, Jason Sirios tells us what he’s learned about hate, how the Marxe Executive MPA program has contributed to his career, and more.

In this legacy spotlight, Diane M. Gibson discusses the New York Federal Statistical Research Data Center (NYRDC), including a project on preventive care for individuals with diabetes.

Director of Grants Management and Special Program Operations at Helmsley Charitable Trust, Chris Percopo tells us about his first foray into the nonprofit world and his experience in the Marxe MPA program.

We speak to Senior Investigator at the New York City Department of Education about her career, her experience in the Marxe Executive MPA program, and how she utilizes its lessons in service of “advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as preserving an enriched and safe educational environment for all students.”

We welcome back Distinguished Lecturer and newly appointed faculty director of the Higher Education Administration program, Jim McCarthy with a spotlight about his love of higher education, plans for the higher education administration program, and returning to the Marxe School.

For many in the Marxe community, philanthropy is a way to turn passion into action. We speak to alumnus and Associate Program Officer at the Helmsley Charitable Trust about this role, his experience with Marxe’s signature study away program, The Washington Semester, and more.

Dipika tells us about the work she did in Nepal after the earthquake in 2015, her podcast on new immigrants’ stories, and her Master of International Affairs experience thus far.

We welcome new professor (and alumnus!) William A. Ramos with a spotlight about his role in President Obama’s Administration as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, his return to the Marxe School, and more.

We speak to Higher Education Administration alumna, Adrienne Bricker about her interest in administration, working in the registrar’s office, and more.