Pamela Sheeran

Why did you choose Wagner for graduate school?

The international health management program has a very good reputation in the global health community. I heard about Wagner – with its esteemed professors, accommodating course schedules, great location, and well-connected and supportive alumni base – and made the decision to apply. In fact, it was the only graduate school program I applied to. Wagner definitely lived up to my expectations and I am truly honored to be a part of it.

How did being in New York impact your professional journey?

My family is in the NY area, so at first the ease and support of being in a NY graduate program was a relief. But it was clear that Wagner’s central location was critical to the development of my career. I was doorsteps away from the headquarters of leading global health agencies, not to mention the hub where most of their meetings and conferences take place. I was able to balance going to graduate school, having a full-time job at a leading international children’s charity and regularly attending UN affiliated events, all by walking or taking the subway. I don’t think any other city could offer the same opportunity of “being in the right place at the right time” to meet key contacts – who often were visiting Wagner professors! – so often.

How did your Wagner experience prepare you professionally for what you are doing today?

Time management. Working in teams. Critical and creative thinking. Comparative analyses. Monitoring results and outcomes. All of these skills were honed at Wagner, and these are the realities of working each and every day. Wagner helped me develop as a nonprofit professional faster and most likely with more thought and purpose than I would have been able to on my own.