Today’s #facultyspotlight is Ofronama Biu, who teaches Economics for Public Policy in the MPA Program.
What brought you to the City College of New York and to the Colin Powell school for Civic and Global Leadership?
Years ago I worked full-time at CUNY Service Corps as an Employer Specialist. Flash forward to 2020–one of the external supervisors I worked with was teaching at the MPA program and helping the program director find new faculty. She connected with my advisor for a recommendation and the rest was history.
How long have you been teaching in the MPA Program and what do you like most about it?
I have been teaching in the MPA program since Spring 2021 when everything was still remote. I taught Economics for Public Policy that semester, then Quantitiatve and Advanced Quantiative Methods through Spring 2024. As of Spring 2025 I am back teaching Economics for Public Policy. I love connecting students to the technical aspects of these courses while helping them see real world applications and alternative views.
How do you bring real-world public service experience into your teaching?
I have worked in the social sector my entire career. Right out of undergrad at NYU (a little too soon!) I got an MPA at the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. I worked in Student Affairs and Careeer Services (including at CUNY!) for many years. I also co-founded a nonprofit that connected underrepresented youth to careers in media and was a Program Manager for an after-school program. Not long after the Great Recession I wanted to address bigger picture labor policies beyond job training and workforce development. I also loved school and wanted to keep learning. I went back to school to study Public and Urban Policy and obtained a PhD from the New School. While in the program and equipped with some new knowledge and skills, I then transitioned into full-time research on the economy, specifically labor market outcomes and policies and wealth equity.
What do you hope students take away from your course?
I hope that students gain an understanding of microeconomic principles and conventional economic theories and approaches so they can challenge these views with other perspectives. I also want them to understand how racial and gender inequity and other forms of oppression manifest in the labor market and other areas of the economy.
What advice would you give to current or prospective MPA students?
Think of your why–what are you hoping to gain from completing this program? Most students are working full-time–as I did in both my MPA and PhD programs–so it’s important to get organized and schedule time to tackle readings and class assignments (notetaking and practice helps!) while making sure you get your rest and rejuvenation. Take advantage of the resources and student organizations at the Colin Powell School AND beyond, and get to know faculty, other students, and alumni. I didn’t do the latter in my MPA program but was just focused on school and my full-time work at NYU. In my PhD program I was far more involved and connected, and I feel that helped my learning and development and ability to finish the program successfully.
Ready to lead change in public service? Explore the MPA Program at the Colin Powell School:
🔗 colinpowellschool.ccny.cuny.edu/graduate-programs/master-of-public-administration-mpa
