Jan Luis Mendez Garcia

Where do you work? Describe your current job and how your role contributes to making an impact.

I currently work at the New York City Independent Office, a publicly funded agency that provides nonpartisan information about New York City's budget to the public. As a budget and policy analyst, I am responsible for conducting nonpartisan, self-directed policy research and analysis on a host of New York City policy issues in the areas of housing, environment and infrastructure. I’ve had the opportunity to work both in policy projects that I’ve initiated up on my own based on my personal interests, as well as incoming policy research requests from local community leaders and elected officials.  

Why did you choose NYU Wagner for graduate school?

NYU Wagner was the perfect school for multiple reasons! Not only did it have one of the top ranked MPA programs in the nation, but it was also situated in perhaps the best place in the world to practice policy and public administration. During my time at Wagner, I had the opportunity to meet some of the most amazing professionals in the field, network with other students in student organizations, make use of host of resources available for students, and gain invaluable work experiences while keeping my academics on tracks.

What was your favorite class?

I can confidently say that I enjoyed all of my classes, but the one that really stands out was Financial Management. As a budget and policy analyst, the things I learned during that class have been extremely valuable in my career. Outside of my work, learning about financial management, budgeting, and accounting has helped me better understand some of the most pressing policy issues in our time that have an impact on my life and have the chance to approach these challenges from a different perspective.  

What skills did you develop at NYU Wagner that are most helpful to you in your current work?

The skill that I learned at NYU Wagner that has been the most helpful so far in my current work has been Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Although not a required course, I took an elective course in GIS and absolutely loved it. In my workplace, there was a need for someone with GIS skills to create meaningful connections and informative maps, and I had the opportunity to fill that requirement thanks to all that I learned about making maps at NYU Wagner. Although it was only an elective, that skill has allowed me to shine at my workplace.

How did your experiences at NYU Wagner prepare you for your career?

NYU Wagner was instrumental in helping me prepare for my career. Aside from the classes and faculty that helped me learn some of the valuable skills that I use everyday, I had the opportunity to meet people from all across the public policy field, which allowed me to learn more about the different opportunities and paths that I could take for my career. On top of everything, NYU Wagner gave me the tools and the confidence needed to succeed as a public policy professional. If it wasn’t for NYU Wagner, I’m sure I wouldn’t feel as confident as I do in my work and in my position today.