Carolyn Gorman

Why did you choose NYU Wagner for graduate school?

I’ve always been interested in public policy, particularly related to health and labor. For a long time, though, I didn't know how I wanted to work on those issues-- meaning, in what capacity or role. It wasn't until I made myself take a break from a topic I'm quite passionate about (mental illness policy), and step back to work at a new organization on new issues that it became very clear: I was energized by data and research. I came to NYU Wagner because I felt the coursework and faculty valued applied research–grounded in current, important questions relevant to policymakers and program administrators on the ground. Dean Sherry Glied, to me, is the exemplar: a scholar-practitioner whose work reflects a need to understand what policies are effective and practical to implement, and how we can serve as well-measured, effective public leaders. Wagner seemed the best place for me to gain skills and knowledge toward those goals. And I did.

What were you doing before you came to NYU Wagner?

I spent a short time working as staff on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and then for a non-profit think tank in New York, the Manhattan Institute, where I built up a portfolio on mental illness policy. I still work on the issue there now, as an adjunct fellow. Right before I came to Wagner, I was working for the JPMorgan Chase Institute, a think tank separate from the firm's lines of business that has a public-good mandate to use its proprietary data for economic- and policy-oriented research. I wasn't on the research team, but being around such engaging people and unique data made me want to be! At that point, I knew I needed to skill-up and learn how to work with data and do more quantitative research. So I came to Wagner, and I am excited to be heading back to the JPMorgan Chase Institute as a research associate in July.

How would you describe your experience as an NYU Wagner student?

I really enjoyed having a close-knit cohort as part of the MSPP program--especially because we started and graduated during the pandemic. The MSPP program is set up so that the cohort takes almost all of the same courses over an intensive one-year period. Going through the program together, I think we felt like a team. We had each other for support, to study for the same classes, to share experiences, to have inside jokes, and to build friendship, really. I learned something from every single individual in my cohort--and still do! They are a real highlight of my Wagner experience.