We’re excited to launch our new FacultySpotlight series—celebrating the incredible instructors who bring passion, expertise, and experience to our MPA program! This spotlight features an instructor who began their journey as a student in the program and now helps shape the experiences of future public service leaders.
Today’s #facultyspotlight is Ryan, who teaches Program and Policy Evaluation in our MPA Program!
What brought you to the City College of New York and to the Colin Powell school for Civic and Global Leadership?
I was inspired to pursue a career in program evaluation during my time as an MPA student at City College. I now hope to spark that same interest in aspiring evaluators while equipping public service leaders with the skills to assess and improve their programs.
How long have you been teaching in the MPA Program and what do you like most about it?
This is my seventh year teaching in the MPA program. I’ve enjoyed staying sharp on the fundamentals of program evaluation, refining the course syllabus over the years, and, above all, hearing how students are applying new evaluation skills in their workplaces.
How do you bring real-world public service experience into your teaching?
As an internal evaluator in the nonprofit sector, I weave practical examples into class discussions—especially on navigating the challenges of program evaluation.
What do you hope students take away from your course?
I hope students complete the course confident in developing logic models, evaluation plans, and surveys—while recognizing the vital role of collaboration in program evaluation.
What advice would you give to current or prospective MPA students?
Organizations value skills far more than grades. Focus your energy on mastering key skills that will advance your career, rather than fixating on grades. Embracing failure as a learning opportunity is powerful!
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
