The Georgina and Charlotte Bloomberg Public Service Fellows Program
The Georgina and Charlotte Bloomberg Public Service Fellows Program prepares high-potential students with the skills, knowledge, and networks to be impactful public service leaders. The Bloomberg Public Service Fellows will receive full-tuition scholarships for full-time study to complete their NYU Wagner Master of Public Administration or Master of Urban Planning degrees and funded summer internships between their first and second years to gain experience in the practice of public service in the public or nonprofit sector. Internships will be supported by professional development programming, reflective assessments from students, and site visits by NYU Wagner. Career guidance will be available for all Bloomberg Fellows, and they will be connected to Bloomberg Philanthropies’ network of government and nonprofit leaders for work opportunities and one-on-one mentoring.
A key element of the program is the development of a cohesive network of leaders. The Bloomberg Fellows will meet throughout the year, outside the classroom, to get first-hand exposure to the forces shaping U.S. urban communities in the 21st century.
This Program attracts the best and brightest students to the field of public service and alumni of the Program will be leaders in shaping the ability of the nonprofit and government sectors to address the most pressing challenges confronting our nation.
FELLOWSHIP CRITERIA
Students with the skills, commitment, and determination to thrive within this rigorous leadership program – and in demanding careers in public service -- are the focus of recruitment. The Program welcomes all talented applicants, regardless of income status. Bloomberg Public Service Fellows will be chosen on the basis of their
- Demonstrated commitment to public service
- Overall academic potential, including quantitative aptitude
- Leadership experience, potential, and aspirations
- Thoughtful and articulate communications, both written and verbal
- Ability to analyze various perspectives surrounding a public service issue(s)
- Keen sense of curiosity and ability to problem solve in a collaborative environment
- Desire to work in U.S. local, state, or federal government and/or U.S. nonprofit sector upon graduation
The following NYU students meeting the above criteria are also eligible:
- NYU undergraduates enrolled in Gallatin, Global Liberal Studies, the College of Arts and Science, and the Tandon School of Engineering (with the potential to add students from other New York-based NYU undergraduate schools in the future), who are pursuing an Accelerated Dual Track Program (BA/BS + MPA/MUP) with NYU Wagner.
- NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service two-year, full-time Master of Public Administration and Master of Urban Planning program applicants.
Students enrolled in dual degree programs with other NYU schools are not eligible for NYU Wagner Named Fellowship programs.
HOW TO APPLY
- Submit your Fellowship Application Essay along with your online application to NYU Wagner. Fellowship applicants must also submit a one-minute video essay.
- Those selected as fellowship semi-finalists will be invited to participate in interviews.
- Those selected as fellowship finalists will be invited for an in-person interview with the Selection Committee. Those finalists who cannot travel to New York will be able to interview remotely. The panel of judges will be comprised of representatives from the Bloomberg Foundation and NYU Wagner.
2022 Bloomberg Public Service Fellows
Anna Bauman (MPA 2024)
Anna served as a client advocate at the East Baton Rouge Office of the Public Defender for the past two years. As part of the national organization, Partners for Justice, she provided holistic client services with the goals of reducing the impact of criminal legal system involvement, eliminating barriers to resources, and decriminalizing poverty. Anna was a Dean's Honor Scholar at Tulane University where she graduated with a degree in political science and social policy. In college, she researched local and state education policy, culminating in a co-authored article on charter school governance in the Urban Affairs Review. Originally from Florida, Anna is passionate about the Gulf States and the capacity for local and state-level governments to implement innovative policy initiatives. She is particularly interested in fines and fees reform, ending cash bail, and increasing access to affordable housing for system-impacted individuals.
Dominique Dukes (MPA 2024)
Dominique Dukes is dedicated to refining policy and practice using research, data, and the experiences and perspectives of the most marginalized constituents. She was a researcher in MDRC’s postsecondary education policy area for six years, partnering with open and broad-access postsecondary institutions to increase college achievement for students with low incomes and students of color. Dominique played a variety of roles: coordinating random assignment evaluations at colleges, conducting qualitative research and providing formative feedback, developing and managing research projects, and disseminating research findings to postsecondary institutions and state policymakers. Dominique is a first generation student and holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Columbia University.
Shannon Flores (MPA 2024)
Shannon Flores is a former legislative staffer born and raised in Southern California. After graduating from Yale in 2018 as an Education Studies Scholar with a degree in Political Science, Shannon moved to Alaska and became a guidance counselor at a public boarding school. There, she helped first-generation, indigenous students from predominantly rural villages apply for college. In 2019, Shannon was accepted to the Capital Fellows Program and went to work for the California State Assembly, where she staffed legislation to protect tribal sacred sites, waive child care fees during the pandemic, create a rental assistance program for unhoused Californians, and establish the first statewide FAFSA completion requirement. Shannon is particularly interested in working in state and local government, where she believes she can create the most change.
Scott Johnson (MPA 2024)
Scott worked in education for six years as a teacher, curriculum fellow, and professional learning community lead. He taught AP Microeconomics, Global History, and English at KIPP high schools in the Bronx, NY and New Orleans, LA. Throughout his teaching career, Scott’s students consistently achieved the highest levels of academic growth and mastery department-, network-, and city-wide. Before teaching, he worked in the Supply Chain Analytics department at Levi Strauss & Co., acting as a technical lead on projects in Belgium, Poland, and Turkey. Scott holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from the Relay Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Science in finance from Santa Clara University.
Juan Diego “JD” Mazuera Arias (MPA 2024)
JD is the government affairs assistant at The Century Foundation, where he focuses on education, health care, and economic policies. His main role is to track and analyze legislation or pending laws as well as establish and maintain relationships in Congress and throughout the Biden-Harris administration. He joined TCF after finishing a fellowship with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, working first as a public policy fellow at the Aspen Institute’s Latinos and Society Program and then as a legislative fellow and co-leading the immigration portfolio in the office of U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. JD was born in Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia; was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina; attended Central Piedmont Community College; earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Queens University of Charlotte; and is the first in his family to graduate from college. Being a former undocumented DACA recipient has led JD to his passion in public service and politics, advocating for Latine issues and immigrant rights.
Lynn Miao (MUP 2024)
Lynn was born and raised in lower Manhattan, and holds a B.A. in Government from Harvard University. Most recently, she worked for NYC Health + Hospital as a Senior Program Manager, directing efforts to provide relief and resources to New Yorkers as they recover from COVID-19. Previously, she worked in political campaigns in both field organizing and data roles for advocacy groups, the Texas Democrats, and the 2020 Democratic Primary for Bernie Sanders. She also worked at a data analytics and consulting firm in both Washington D.C. and Taiwan in a variety of industries, such as retail, financial services, manufacturing, and telecommunications.
Eva Phillips (MUP 2024)
Eva is passionate about helping communities leverage data to inform more equitable and impactful programs, policies, and decision-making. She holds a B.A. in Urban Data Analytics and a Minor in Geographic Information Systems from the University of California, Berkeley, and her expertise lies in conducting community-centered research, evaluating program impact, and measuring neighborhood change. In her role as Senior Data Analyst at Enterprise Community Partners, Eva contributed to the design and evaluation of housing and community development initiatives across the country, including an eviction prevention program for undocumented New Yorkers. Before moving to New York, she worked at the Urban Displacement Project, developing models to predict gentrification and displacement risk in the Bay Area, and at the City of Oakland Department of Transportation on increasing transportation access in low-income neighborhoods.
Kenya Reeves (MPA 2024)
Kenya is passionate about helping people by providing impactful resources and making positive change in communities in need. This passion led Kenya to Howard University's School of Business, graduating in 2018 with a Bachelors of Business Administration in International Business concentrating in Emerging Markets and minoring in Sociology. Upon graduation, she joined Americorps/NYC Civic Corps as an Education Specialist working at the NYC Department of Homeless Services. In her role, she managed nearly 40 family shelters throughout the five boroughs and worked with the local library system, Department of Education, and corporate partners to bring educational programming and develop libraries within these shelters. Upon completion of her 10 months of service, Kenya began her fundraising career working in institutional giving. Kenya now works as a Development Manager at Fiver Children's Foundation managing funder relationships and executing Fiver's marketing strategy through a racial equity lens.
2021 Bloomberg Public Service Fellows
Mira Atherton (MUP 2023)
After graduating Mount Holyoke College in 2016 with a degree in environmental studies, Mira worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA in resource development. Following that year, she was awarded a New York City Urban Fellowship and was placed in the Parks Planning Department researching gender disparities in park attendees and gathering public feedback for city projects. Mira has also been a Policy Analyst in the New York City Mayor’s Office of Operations working on a variety of projects including transportation safety, long-term asset planning, the creation of the City’s first 10-year food plan, and most recently, COVID-19 crisis response.
Aisha Balogun (MUP 2023)
Aisha is an advocate for equitable approaches to creating, maintaining, and accessing built environments. She has served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member where she supported community efforts to increase housing access for returning citizens from incarceration and facilitated the use of data in program coordination. Prior to her service year, Aisha collaborated with local stakeholders to create a neighborhood vision plan that centered historical reconciliation and economic opportunity within Richmond, Virginia. Aisha holds a B.A. in sociology and a B.S. in engineering (architectural design) from Stanford University.
Symantha Clough (MPA 2023)
Symantha is interested in creating a more equitable public education system for all students regardless of race, class, or zip code. After receiving her B.A. in history and political science, she became a grassroots political organizer hoping to make broader changes in her community. Most recently, she raised $4.5 million as the Deputy Finance Director for a Congressional race in Minneapolis. During the race, she wrote the campaign’s K-12 and higher education policies, prompting her to return to her roots of working toward ending education inequality.
Jerrell Gray (MUP 2023)
Jerrell is a recent graduate from the University of Rochester with a B.A. in political science and urban studies. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and is a first generation student with family ties to Grenada and Guyana. Prior work experiences include working with Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation on advancing the Better Bikeshare Partnership with Citi Bike and with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on the intra-agency Second Chance Initiative that connected formerly incarcerated individuals with employment with PANYNJ vendors. He has worked as a political relations director for Strategy For Black Lives, a youth-led community organizing and policy group.
Jonathan Reed (MUP 2023)
Jonathan Reed (J.R.) spent five years in broadcast news including work as a field producer for CNBC’s San Francisco bureau, where he covered the tech industry, startup culture, and California’s economy. Prior to joining CNBC in 2016, J.R. led New Haven coverage at the Yale Daily News. He focused his own reporting on local business and economic development, tackling topics ranging from New Haven’s biotech sector to the rollout of Connecticut’s health insurance exchanges. At Yale, J.R. double majored in economics and political science, with a concentration in urban policy. His coursework culminated in a thesis on inequitable transportation planning in his hometown of Chicago.
Jacqueline Sharry (MUP 2023)
Jacqueline attended Union College in Schenectady, NY as a Posse Foundation Scholar. She was a Phi Beta Kappa member and studied biology and history. Since graduating, she participated in the New York City Urban Fellows program where she worked at the New York City Economic Development Corporation on neighborhood and climate resiliency planning projects. She is now an analyst at The Cadmus Group where she supports various projects that promote safe drinking water and healthy watersheds across the country.
Patrick Spauster (MUP 2023)
Patrick work experience includes research analysis in the Metropolitan Housing and Communities Center at the Urban Institute, which involved projects relating to homelessness and housing discrimination. He has a strong background in qualitative research and quantitative methods, including analysis of survey, administrative, spatial, and program data in R, Stata, and Python. Additional work has focused on access to homeownership, foreclosure, climate resiliency, cash transfers, and human rights. Patrick holds a B.A. in public policy and a minor in economics from Davidson College.
Viviana Vizcaino (MUP 2023)
Viviana is a native New Yorker from Brooklyn, and a dedicated advocate for equitable economic development. In her role as an assistant development manager at The Hudson Companies, her portfolio includes affordable and mixed-income, multi-family, and mixed-use developments across the boroughs. She is also a member of the American Planning Association’s Diversity Committee’s Youth Education and Professional Development sub-committees. Viviana earned a B.A. in Economics, concentrating on applications to public policy, from Baruch College. Prior to working in real estate, she held research positions with the NYCEDC and NYC Council District 38.