Message From the Dean

Welcome to NYU Wagner, a community of change makers who unite purpose with action. Our students, alumni, and faculty work in every area of public service, grappling with complex, critical issues. Together, we develop ideas and put them to work—crafting and implementing better solutions to our world’s most pressing social challenges.

I’m proud to be part of an institution dedicated to preparing the next generation of public service leaders. Here at NYU Wagner, we provide our students with the critical skills to make change and the analytic frameworks that guide them in making sense of the real world. Our unique, interdisciplinary approach grounds students in finance, management, and policy—core knowledge needed to work across all sectors. We emphasize that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to difficult social problems. Issues are complex, messy, and interconnected—making an effective impact requires that we acknowledge the distinct contexts surrounding each issue. Because we’re embedded in the heart of New York City, our students are uniquely able to take full advantage of the countless networks, jobs, and organizations this vital urban laboratory has to offer, and to use those experiences as a springboard to the rest of the world.

At NYU Wagner, we’re constantly growing and adapting to the changing world around us so our students are able to move conversations, generate ideas, make decisions, and take action. We’ve expanded our urbanization expertise so our students can better address the challenges that will come as the world’s cities grow and change. We’ve broadened our specializations to include social innovation—essential to developing new, cross-sectoral cutting-edge solutions to age-old problems. And we’ve expanded our faculty in critical areas of health policy, governance, immigration, race, class, gender, and poverty.  

I encourage you to get to know us by exploring our website, watching videos, attending one of our many public lectures, or visiting us during an open house. When you walk through our doors, you’ll feel the passion and commitment of this vibrant school. At NYU Wagner, we are all making an impact.

Sherry Glied

Dean and Professor of Public Service