Career Development
From our alumni survey:
Say their job makes a difference in the lives of others
Say their job gives them a feeling of personal accomplishment
Are employed full-time, according to a survey of alumni from 2009-2017
Where Our Alumni Work
Graduates of the MPA Program have found meaningful careers in a variety of social-mission-driven organizations. Below are a few examples of positions that our alumni hold or have held in recent years.
Local Government
Senior Business Analyst
New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development
Press Officer
Manhattan District Attorney’s Office
Senior Fraud Investigator
NYC Bureau of Fraud Investigation
Director of Community Affairs
New York City Council
Budget Analyst
NYC Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget
State Government
Deputy Director of Recapture Operations and Systems
New York State Governor's Office of Storm Recovery
Financial Services Regulator
New York State Department of Financial Services
START Program Coordinator
New York State Department of Health
Legislative Aide
New York State Assembly
Financial Auditor
New York State Office of the State Comptroller
Federal Government
Senior Advisor and Public Health Analyst
US Department of Health and Human Services
Confidential Assistant
White House
Office Manager and Community Liaison
US Congressman Gregory Meeks
Federal Field Specialist
US Department of Health and Human Services
Applied Strategy Associate
US Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Program Support Assistant
US Department of Veterans Affairs
International
General Coordinator, Publishing and Reading Access
Ministerio de la Cultura, Peru
Reporting Liaison Officer, Office for Project Services
United Nations
Nonprofit
Senior Associate
The Rockefeller Foundation
Community Engagement Coordinator
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
Operations Assistant
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Research Grants Specialist
Rutgers University
Academic Program Manager
City University of New York
Development Associate
The New School
Strategic Data Facilitator
New Visions for Public Schools
Co-Founder and Harm Reduction Coordinator
Community Action for Social Justice
Grants Administrator
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Private Sector
Director of Industry Solutions
Techstars
Community Engagement Associate
Ichor Strategies
Public Relations Associate
Mega Contracting Group
Co-Founder and Owner
Nory Pouncil - Master Self-Awareness
How We Help Students Achieve Their Career Goals
Through Changemaker Fellowships, workshops, one-on-one guidance, and events, we prepare students for careers that maximize both social impact and personal fulfillment. Students improve their self-understanding, identify roles that align with their values, and develop skills to make connections and build meaningful careers.
Changemaker Fellowships
Students who complete their first semester in good academic standing are eligible to apply for a Changemaker Fellowship. This is a competitive application process among MPA students. The application requires students to propose a project that will help them grow professionally and develop their capabilities through experiential learning, advance toward their career goals, and contribute to solving a social problem.
Workshops
Our career workshops guide students through a process of introspection and skill-building. Students explore what motivates them to work for social change. They identify their core values and strengths, clarify the social issues that move them the most, and learn about roles they can play in their social change ecosystem. They also learn practical skills, including personal branding, writing effective resumes and cover letters, and navigating common interview scenarios.
One-on-One Consulting
One-on-one sessions address students' unique needs at distinct points along their career paths, including:
- Strategic career planning and goal-setting
- Using online platforms for career development
- Building a network in one's area of interest
- Writing and revising resumes and cover letters
- Preparing for interviews
- Applying to jobs, internships, and fellowships
Guest Speakers
The MPA Program hosts events with professionals in the field who talk to students about their career paths and offer advice. We also host networking events to help current students connect with alumni.
