Microaggressions Are Ubiquitous. MPA Students Can and Should Break the Cycle. Interview with MPA Scholar-in-Residence, Part 1
Dr. Adriana Espinosa, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at CCNY and scholar-in-residence at the MPA Program, discusses gender and racial disparities in STEM professions, microaggressions and other gendered language in the workplace, and how this relates to MPA students’ careers as social impact managers.
Gender gaps are pervasive in our society – in wages, in positions of political power, in access to venture capital, and more. One major theme of your work as scholar-in-residence is the gender gap in STEM. Tell us about that work.
Within STEM (Science,… Read More »
Although highly qualified for her summer internship in Washington, Yaritza Holguin felt a lingering doubt about whether she belonged – a deep unease aggravated by the frequent acts of racism and anti-immigrant bias she and her colleagues encountered on Capitol Hill. In this story, Yaritza tells how she coped with this feeling, known as impostor syndrome, by connecting with others who she identified with, seeking advice from women leaders she admired, and practicing self-affirmation.
As I stepped into the Capitol of the United States, I encountered a sea of tailored suits. They… Read More »
“What if we ignite the communities that are the most invested in and affected by the failing schools - to identify the leaders, and give them the opportunity to tell us what it is they need?” - Lorena Camacho, 2018 Social Innovation Fellow
Posterboards with detailed policy analysis, charts, and infographics covered the walls of the MPA office over the past month.
The projects were the culmination of the social innovation fellowship, a year-long program for MPA students aiming to find creative ways to address social problems, beyond existing policies.
Fellows receive… Read More »
Older Vera is a skilled data analyst and experienced teacher with a passion for making education systems work for all students. He joined the MPA program to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to create policy research that will bring real changes in education policy. His summer internship taught him how to overcome the negativity of the current news cycle and find hope in the inspiring work of the advocates at Public Citizen.
I arrived in Washington D.C. a week before my internship start date, giving me time to reflect on myself and my life. Having just finished another… Read More »
Project Explores Authentic Leadership Styles Based on Students’ Own Backgrounds
In the fall, MPA students created a website to explore their own leadership styles by drawing on their unique experiences, strengths, and deeply held values.
The student-led team effort was the final project for their Authentic and Adaptive Leadership course, a core requirement in the MPA program.
Professor Rene Aubry gave the class an open-ended prompt, encouraging creativity, exploration, and collaboration. Students brainstormed collectively and decided to create a website,… Read More »
Rob Bentlyewski worked for several progressive politicians before joining the MPA Program. He planned to use his MPA to establish a safe, comfortable career in government. Little did he know that his internship in the NY City Council during the height of the immigrant child separation crisis would inspire him to dedicate his career to defending people’s rights and upholding the integrity of public institutions, even if it meant sacrificing the calm and predictable path he had envisioned.
The Manhattan Borough President hosted a roundtable and invited the staff of every elected… Read More »
In the MPA summer internship program, students engage in reflective practice that includes goal-setting, storytelling, supervisor feedback, infographics, and reflection papers.
This process provides an opportunity for the internship to be a transformative professional experience, in addition to the traditional benefits of internships, such as skill development, relationship-building, and exposure to a new sector.
“We take seriously the academic component of the internship,” said Natalia Trujillo, acting director of the MPA Program. “We push our students to be reflective… Read More »
On Wednesday evening, Dr. Adriana Espinosa gave an hour-long presentation followed by an in-depth discussion of how biased language in the workplace can influence women and racial and ethnic minorities' careers.
Espinosa is a professor in CCNY's Department of Psychology who currently serves as scholar-in-residence at the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service.
The talk drew from Espinosa's extensive research on the underrepresentation of women and ethnic minorities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)… Read More »
Sandra Fernando speaks about her path from the MPA program to the ACLU
Sandra Fernando (MPA ’17) recently joined the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a nonprofit organization that has defended civil rights in the courts, the legislature, and civil society for more than a century and today has 1.75 million members. While an MPA student, Sandra interned with the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus through the prestigious Edward T. Rogowsky internship program. She also worked as an operations associate in several different offices at… Read More »
MPA students in Professor Brett Whysel’s economics course learn how individual financial decisions are connected to economic issues affecting our broader society, and they gain valuable decision-making skills to boot.
The interdisciplinary course integrates psychology, decision-making, and behavioral economics with the traditional concepts taught in public economics courses, such as externalities, public goods, and fiscal policy.
Professor Whysel, who designed the course, draws on his background in philosophy and investment banking as well as his current role as co-… Read More »
Last Updated: 09/13/2021 15:40