Archive for APEA

Seeple Snapshot: Oscar Pocasangre, MPA

Oscar Pocasangre

Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Concentration: Economic and Political Development (EPD)
Specialization: Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis (APEA)
Oscar speaking at a panel on emerging markets at the OECD as a representative for SIPA’s Center on Economic and Global Governance (CGEG)

Oscar speaking at a panel on emerging markets at the OECD as a representative for SIPA’s Center on Economic and Global Governance (CGEG)

 

What did you do before SIPA?

Prior to SIPA, I worked for two years at the MIT Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) as a policy and training analyst in their Chile office. I focused on creating courses on randomized trials for policymakers and also worked with governments and NGOs throughout the region in promoting the use of good evidence when crafting public policies. I was also able to write up various policy publications, including a book chapter on conditional cash transfers.

What has been the best part of your SIPA experience?

There have been many highlights! Academically, I think the highlight has been taking a class with Andrés Velasco, a former finance minister of Chile and former presidential candidate during the Chilean primaries in 2013. He was very accessible as a professor and he was able to combine rigorous theories from political economy and game theory with his personal experience in politics to explore issues that policymakers face in practice. Another highlight was being able to represent SIPA at two conferences in Paris sponsored by the Center on Global Economic Governance. There were many distinguished speakers at the conferences, including Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, the Minister of Finance of France, representatives from the UN and the OECD, among many others. It was a great opportunity to hear what these experts think about the world’s current problems and how to solve them.

What kind of work do you hope to do when you graduate?

I want to be a university professor and do research on the political economy of development, governance, and ways of using experimental methods to answer questions of political science. So, that’s a cool way of saying that I hope to stay in school after I graduate.

Can you describe the nature of the SIPA curriculum?

The SIPA curriculum is flexible enough that you can choose to focus on the areas that interest you the most and approach these areas from both theoretical and practical perspectives. SIPA does tend to emphasize practical experience. One of the big values and strengths of the SIPA curriculum is that it requires students to take a series of economics and statistics courses, which I think, are vital for anyone involved in policymaking.

Do you feel like you have gotten to know some of the faculty members?

Yes! This has been one of the other highlights of my time at SIPA. I find that professors here are very accessible and willing to help and offer advice. Many students don’t take much advantage of the office hours of the faculty, but these are great opportunities to get to know professors. I’ve been able to work closely with one faculty member on a research project. As an aspiring academic, this has been an incredible experience and opportunity.

 

Seeple Profiles – Can you see yourself here?

 

Kristen Stamboulian

Kristen Stamboulian

What did you do prior to SIPA?

Prior to SIPA, I was a public school teacher in the Bronx for six years. I taught 6th-8th grade English and served on my school’s leadership team.

Why did you choose Management and is it meeting your expectations?

I chose management because I wanted to gain the skill sets that I knew I would need in order to one day work as a leader in public education reform. The specialization, by far, exceeded my expectations! Professor Holloway is an incredible chair of the department and has thoughtfully designed the program to fit students’ areas of interest. She’s very accessible to students and has become a mentor to me along the way.

What do you plan on doing after SIPA?

After SIPA, I am hoping to return to my hometown of Detroit and work on education policy to improve student outcomes across the city. I know my specialization in management has provided me with the skill sets needed to meet this challenge head on.

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Eric Shrago

Eric Shrago

What did you do prior to SIPA?

Prior to SIPA, I worked in financial services in the US and in Asia helping companies grow and expand into new markets.

Why did you choose APEA (Advanced Policy & Economic Analysis) and is it meeting your expectations?

I chose APEA because I wanted to further build my quantitative and analytical skills. The APEA program presents a multitude of opportunities to do this as the courses not only draw from SIPA but also from many of the other departments and schools at Columbia. This has allowed me to tailor my coursework to my interests.

What do you plan on doing after SIPA?

After SIPA, I want to work in policy that encourages renewable energy development.

 

"The most global public policy school, where an international community of students and faculty address world challenges."

—Merit E. Janow, Dean, SIPA, Professor of Practice, International and Economic Law and International Affairs

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