Marxe Spotlights 2020

Fire Department of New York veteran Mark Tria came to Marxe via the School’s FDNY-BSPA program to upgrade his college education from Associate’s to Bachelor’s. In this spotlight he tells us about his experience in the FDNY, his transition to the Marxe School, and more.

In this legacy spotlight from 2016, we spoke with Michael Seltzerabout 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 month’s special alumni spotlight, we speak to Marny Smith who is both an alumna and Assistant Director of Graduate Career Services of the Marxe School. She tells us about her relationship with the Marxe community, what Marxe means to her, and her passion for maternal health including the US’ high stillbirth rate.

Associate Director at Child Welfare Organizing Project, Fatima Doukoure talks her time as an elected official, her work in Mali, and her Executive MPA experience at Marxe.

Professor Dan Williams tells us about his new book on participatory budgeting and his approach to remote instruction in this month’s faculty spotlight.

Director of Community at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Emma Osore tells us about her role there, her view on the intersection between art and public administration and more.

We talk with Marxe student, Keiara Solomon about her work in the NYS Senate program, her internship with the United Nations, and remote learning at Marxe.

In this legacy spotlight from 2015 we spoke about his deeply-rooted interest in all things New York City, his then-upcoming year, and his then-new book.

MPA alumna and Chief of Staff of Assembly Member Dan Quart at the New York State Assembly, Amanda Wallwin discusses how her focus on policy analysis while at Marxe prepared her for her career, her role at the NYS Assembly, and more.

BSPA student Ann Rafaella talks about social media as a communications and media tool, her internship with the NYC City Council, and more.

In this legacy spotlight we welcomed Associate Professor, George Mitchell to the Marxe School with a chat about his thoughts on nonprofits and NGOs, his then-upcoming book, and more.

In this month’s alumni spotlight, Gianina Chrisman recalls the first few years of work and her experience in the Marxe MSEd program.

We speak to Fire Safety Education Administrator at the New York City Fire Department about her career, completing her degree after more than two decades in the Marxe School’s Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs-FDNY partnership program, and her experience as an Executive MPA student.

We discuss poverty, environmentalism, research, and the politics of climate change in this month’s faculty spotlight.

This month’s alumni spotlight features alumnus, Robert Biederman, who has had an eclectic career as an actor/writer, chose two areas of study while at the Marxe School, and is now a New York State Excelsior Service Fellow.

Director of Community Affairs for the New York State Assembly, Charlie Anderson tells us about his role in service of the office of Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick, his Executive MPA experience at the Marxe School, and what keeps him working in government.

Cutting-edge policy and research programs aren’t just explored in the classroom at the Marxe School. The School’s vital association with seven vibrant research centers allow students unprecedented exposure to experts and their research. We spoke with the Associate Professor and Executive Director of the New York Federal Statistical Research Data Center (NYRDC) about ongoing research efforts, including a project on preventive care for individuals with diabetes, and more.

In this special alumni spotlight, Marxe graduate and Director of Dedman College Records and Academic Services, John Georges tells the story of his MSEd experience, from personal to professional with ups and downs, and successes and failures.

BSPA student Tyler Gooding tells us about his NYS Assembly Internship, NYS Senate internship, and the policy issues he’s most passionate about.

Distinguished Lecturer, Michael Seltzer embodies this delivery of knowledge and expertise. We speak about his first experience working in West Africa in the nonprofit sector, what brought him to the Marxe School, and more.

International Student Advisor at the Institute of International Education, Tracy Minard discusses her career, her Marxe MSEd experience, and what drives her.

Undergraduate student Wilson Tejada talks about his “life-changing” time in the U.S. Army, his decision to come back to school, and his New York State Assembly internship.

Professor Casey talks his approach to teaching, his research projects (including one on skiing, which he describes as typically a “rich person’s sport”) and his time away on sabbatical.

We speak to the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Policy at the NYC Department of Education Office of School Food, Stephen O’Brien about making sure communities are fed during the COVID-19 pandemic, his sense of civic duty, and more.

Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs student, Soleil Griffin tells us about her nonprofit, working in Albany as a New York State Assembly intern, and more in this month’s student spotlight.

We chat with Associate Professor Anna D’Souza for the first time in almost six years in this month’s spotlight in which she fills us in on recent research, her evolving teaching style, and more.

Senior Development Officer at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center in Hong Kong, Jeffers Kuo talks about his Marxe experience as an international student, his drive for nonprofit management, and his work at the Center.

Deputy Director of Leadership Giving at Baruch College, Lauren Braun recalls unexpected professional challenges, and tells us what drives her passion for nonprofits and fundraising in this month’s student spotlight.

How does improv performance relate to public affairs and administration? Communications expert Don Waisanen tells us about the overlap between these two seemingly disparate disciplines and more in this month’s faculty spotlight.

In this month’s spotlight we talk to Meredith Gray, alumna and executive director and co-founder of The Co-op School, a cooperative preschool through middle school in Brooklyn. She tells us about the School, her role, and the lessons she’s learned both there and at Marxe.

Master of International Affairs student, Sara Hoenes tells us all about her transition from professional dancer to international affairs student; her Washington Semester experience and subsequent trip to Sierra Leone – and more.

We speak to Associate Professor, Cristina Balboa about her research, the resulting publication, and her plans for the Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management.

Kristina Wilson-Rocheford, who was recently senior manager in the Department of Executive Communications & Thought Leadership at Nestle Waters North America, tells us about her decision to get her MPA at Marxe, her past role at the United Nations, and more.

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 than a decade away.

This legacy spotlight with Professor Emeritus, Fred Lane reviews his most enriching Marxe experiences, his continued work in education and nonprofits, and more.

MPA alumna and Director of Plan Management at the NYC Emergency Management Department, Kathryn Howard tells us about the role’s challenges, her volunteer work with Animal Care Centers of NYC, and her Baruch Marxe experience.