Marit graduated from the MPP program in 2021 and works as a Senior Policy Analyst for the New Mexico Legislative Education Study Committee. Marit is from Michigan and her received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She also received her secondary teaching license from Santa Fe Community College. Marit chose the MPP program because she wanted to become a more effective, data-driven policy analyst and because of her interest in Education policy, specifically, closing the achievement gap and ensuring all students have access to an excellent education. Also, because she enjoys telling stories with charts and graphs and crafting public policy narratives. For her the most important lesson from the MPP is to always keep the “why” of your work as your focus and commit to representing what the data says honestly. 

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Martha graduated from the MPP in 2020 and now works as the Director of Development & Communications for Centro Sávila. She is also the Director of Centro Sávila’s Youth Advocacy Program - a 10 week program designed to empower youth to use their voice to advocate for policy changes that will impact underserved communities in our state. Martha is also on the Founding Board of Equip Academy of New Mexico - a proposed high quality, literacy-focused elementary charter school for Albuquerque's Westside. The NM Public Education Commission approved the charter in August and Equip is set to open its doors in August 2025! Martha is the process of transitioning from a founding board to the governing board of finance. 

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Tim graduated from the MPP in 2023 and works as a Senior Policy Analyst at the New Mexico Legislative Education Study Committee. Tim is from Sandia Park, NM and graduated from UNM with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science. He chose the MPP because it was well-aligned with the skills needed in legislative analysis. In his work, understanding how to read academic research and collect data, then distill all of that into need-to-know information is critical to success.

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Andrea graduated from the MPP in 2023 and works as the Policy Coordinator for iCivics in Cambridge, MA. Andrea gradauated from UNM with her BA in Human Resources in 2021. She started out her graduate school journey in the MBA program but after feeling unfulfilled she decided to pursue her MPP as well. Andrea is passionate about environmental justice and conservation policy, she plans to continue to use her MPP to continue to advocate for the environment and demographics disproportionally disadvantaged from climate change.

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Amelia graduated from the MPP in 2024 and works as the Deputy Director for the State Ethics Commission. She is from Carlsbad, NM and earned her undergrad from UNM in 2019 with a bachelors in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. Amelia wants to use her MPP to facilitate collaboration among the private and public sectors. Her goal is to bridge silos and unlock the full potential of our state, ensuring that combined efforts lead to substantial and sustainable solutions. Amelia’s most cherished memories from the MPP program are the moments spent engaging with classmates and professors, whose passion and intellect have been nothing short of inspiring. The most significant lesson she will take with her is the profound impact that a collective of dedicated individuals can have on our state's future. She is excited to see the positive impact herself and her peers will make in the coming years. Amelia extends her heartfelt gratitude to Melissa Binder, Emma Tomingas-Hatch, and all those who have contributed to the MPP program's excellence. Their thoughtfulness and dedication have not only shaped an exceptional educational journey but also profoundly influenced who she has become.

Hallie, a 2023 MPP graduate, combines her academic background with diverse professional experiences to enhance her work as the Capital Navigation and Funding Assistance Bureau Chief at the State of New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration, Hallie brings expertise in grant writing, management, and public sector finance to efficiently allocate resources and support community initiatives. Her previous experience as a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer has enriched her with cultural competence, adaptability, and resilience, enhancing her ability to drive positive change. Passionate about leveraging public resources to address pressing challenges and advance equity, Hallie is dedicated to maximizing impact through strategic project management and collaborative partnerships. Her MPP degree enhances her analytical skills and deepens her understanding of public policy complexities, empowering her to serve with greater confidence and effectiveness.

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Julio graduated from the MPP in 2024. He is from Albuquerque and earned his degree in Political Science and Economics from UNM in 2022. Julio chose the MPP because he liked how the program was a blend of Economics, Political Science, and Public Administration. He felt that have these three fields combined provide skills that can be applied to a variety of career fields. Julio plans to use his MPP to continue working in the Public Policy space and pursue opportunities in Washington, D.C. Julio’s best memory of the program are the guest speakers in the Policy Seminar and hearing their thoughts on how we can better serve the needs of our community. Julio would like to thank his family for their support, his instructors for their thorough feedback, and his friends for going on beer runs to let him vent.

Clint graduated from the MPP in Spring 2020 and works as a Fund Analyst for the New Mexico Public Education Department. He is from Albuquerque, NM, and received his Bachelor's in Philosophy at UNM. While in the MPP program, Clint specialized in international policy and hopes to one day pursue a career in diplomacy.

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Abbe graduated from the MPP in 2023 and plans to run track professionally while continuing to work with research and policy advocacy groups. She is from Ambler, Pennsylvania and completed her undergrad in Sociology and Spanish at Harvard University. Abbe chose the MPP because she wanted a degree that would teach her skills and strategies to make a systemic impact on American society. She plans to use her MPP to help develop progressive social policy, particularly with regard to reforms to the American Criminal Legal System.

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Elsa earned her Master of Public Policy in 2024, with an emphasis on climate mitigation and adaptation at the local level. In her current role as an Active Transportation Planner for the New Mexico Department of Transportation, she focuses on bike and pedestrian safety and connectivity across the state. Previously, she worked on immigrants’ rights and carceral issues as a paralegal at the ACLU of New Mexico. Elsa enjoys studying the intersections of social issues and investigating how thoughtful policies can make our communities more vibrant, equitable, and sustainable.

Sam graduated from the MPP in 2022 and works in the Governor's Office as a Policy Analyst. He was drawn to the MPP program because of its hands-on approach and the direct connection to the community. He would like to thank Melissa and Emma for all of their help and guidance; his parents, John and Susan; his friends who have let him rant about projects and due dates; and his significant other, Rachel who has handled Sam’s most stressed moments with a lot of support.

Check out Sam's MPP blog here!

Jessica graduated from the MPP program in 2021. She works at UNM as a Program Planning Officer for student success and is the inaugural UNM program Fellow for the University Innovation Alliance, a consortium of universities dedicated to increasing the number and diversity of college graduates in the United States.  Jessica also worked as a Fiscal Analyst and Program Evaluator for the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee where she gained invaluable legislative and policy experience. She is from Albuquerque, NM and received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from UNM. She chose the MPP because it tied together her academic and applied policy interests, and it helped her to better understand the world around her. She plans to use these skills to shape real world outcomes and policies, she feels that this is very special because the impacts are measurable.

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Emily graduated with a Master of Public Policy in 2023 and currently works as the Policy Manager for Teach Plus Pennsylvania. She grew up between New Orleans, Louisiana, and a small town in Mississippi. Emily earned her BA in Political Science and Human Rights from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2012. She then moved to New Mexico, where she taught and later served as a Senior Policy Analyst for the Legislative Education Study Committee. Emily recently relocated to Philadelphia to be closer to family.

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Lauren graduated from the MPP in Spring 2020 and works as the Finance Analyst for the Party/Non-Party Branch of the Federal Election Commission in Washington, D.C. She is from Huntsville, Alabama and got her BFA in Interdisciplinary Film & Digital Media from UNM, thanks to this experience she explains, "So I make really good cornbread and I complain about lighting the entire time we watch movies."

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Efraín graduated from the MPP program in Spring 2020 and works as a Senior Economist at the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. He was born in Juarez, Mexico and moved to the United States with his family at the age of 11. Efraín received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of New Mexico. He explained that he chose the MPP because, "As an immigrant I’ve been passionate about helping those less fortunate.  New Mexico ranks among the lowest states on many socioeconomic lists, so I realized early on that there would be many opportunities to do what I’m passionate about – help others."

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Paige graduated from the MPP program in May 2019. She is the Deputy Policy Director for New Mexico Voices for Children and focuses on tax and fiscal policy issues. She received her BA in Economics from Luther College in Iowa and is originally from Minnesota. Prior to moving to the Southwest, she worked at a variety of nonprofits in Iowa City and Chicago, including a year as an AmeriCorps volunteer. In New Mexico, she worked with Accion and interned with the Legislative Finance Committee. Her experience with nonprofit and governmental organizations further developed her interest in public policy issues, particularly those surrounding sustainable economic development.

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Mary graduated from the MPP program in 2021 and works as a research scientist at the UNM Cradle to Career Policy Institute. She is a member of a policy research team focused on maternal child health, child care, and early childhood education. She is from Sandia Park, NM and received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from UNM. Mary chose the MPP program because of its applied nature and her hope to use her education to make a positive impact in her home state of New Mexico. Mary’s experience researching child welfare as a graduate assistant with the MPP Policy Lab inspired her to focus her career on policy impacting New Mexico’s children and families.

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Gabby graduated from the MPP program in 2021 and works as the Policy and Communications Coordinator for Health Action New Mexico. Gabby is from Albuquerque, NM and received her bachelor’s in international studies from UNM. Gabby chose the MPP because it combined her favorite elements of Political Science and Public Administration and she wanted a program with applied skills with a theoretical grounding. Gabby says that is her love of challenging work, as well as collaborating with a team, problem solving, and working toward a more equitable society that led her to this field.

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Brisa graduated from the MPP in 2023 and works for Future Focused Education as the Evaluation Coordinator and Analyst. She was born and raised in Albuquerque and recieved her undergrad from the University of New Mexico with degrees in Political Science, Spanish, and a minor in Women’s Studies. Brisa chose the MPP because she saw the direct effect policy has on creating opportunities for marginalized communities. One of Brisa’s favorite memories of the program will be how it challenged her to become a better student and prepared her for the professional world.

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Alex Shomaker graduated from the MPP in 2022 and works as an Internal Evaluator for ABC Community School Partnership. A major influence in Alex’s life is Star Trek. The idyllic conditions portrayed in the series – such as a society that celebrates diversity and that has eradicated poverty and injustice – motivates Alex to work in policy in a way that aims to do the same, emphasizing the destruction of historic barriers to equity and justice in real life.

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Emily graduated from the MPP program in 2021 and works as a Senior Research and Policy Analyst at New Mexico Voices for Children, where she coordinates the KIDS COUNT program for NM and focuses primarily on education policy. Emily is from Roswell, NM and received her bachelor’s degree in rhetoric and professional communication with a minor in government from NMSU. Emily chose the MPP mainly because of her desire to help people in New Mexico. She says it is her passion for her home state that really led her to the policy field. Emily was originally interested in law school but after working in advocacy and for a non-profit she found her way to public policy because she saw how many problems are addressed with insufficient patchwork solutions, and she wanted to find a way to be part of correcting these problems where they start in order to prevent them in the future. She wants to actively work with her community to improve the well-being of kids and families.

Check out Emily's MPP Blog.