Jonathan McGrath

Why did you choose NYU Wagner for graduate school?

I had been considering a number of graduate programs that focused on sustainability, but when I learned that NYU Wagner offered a Master of Urban Planning, I knew that I would be able to leverage the vast reach of NYU while studying an important field through a public-service lens.

What impact do you hope to make through your career and/or organization?

Each day that I can go to work and know that I'm directly or indirectly helping people (in my current position, that means providing safe water to more than a million people across Ghana and India) is a day that I can feel good about my professional path.

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

I knew that communications would always be a part of my professional life, but NYU Wagner allowed me to pivot away from commercial communications and pursue work in a field that better aligns with my interests (and morals).

What is your next move?

Though I plan to continue honing my communications skills, I would be interested in gravitating toward more direct programmatic / project management work.