Student Spotlight: Madina P. Ouedraogo (MPA-PNP)

Name: Madina P. Ouedraogo

 

Hometown: Newark, NJ

 

Wagner Program and Specialization: MPA-PNP, Advocacy & Political Action

 

Current Employment/Internship: Program Assistant at the National Center on Philanthropy and the Law; Government Relations Intern at Kasirer Consulting LLC

 

 

1. Tell us about yourself.

My name is Madina P. Ouedraogo. I am from Newark, NJ and am a first-generation American. My ethnic background is Burkinabé, West African. I graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with double minors in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; and African American Studies. Upon completely my degree at NYU Wagner, I aspire to work at the intersection of lobbying, political strategy, and policy reform rooted in gender and racial equity and justice.

 

2. What are you currently working on? Can you describe the project or work you would like to highlight?

I am currently working in my new role as the program assistant for the National Center on Philanthropy and the Law at NYU Law. Additionally, I have just started my new Government Relations Internship at Kasirer Consulting LLC.

 

3. What Wagner experiences have helped you the most with this project or work?

Study groups and tutoring have helped strengthen my academic understanding of various coursework and extend my network through connections and friendships with fellow NYU Wagner peers.

 

4. What experiences at NYU Wagner helped you in your search for an internship or job?

The Office of Career Services at NYU Wagner and the NYU Wasserman Center were a major help in my search for my current internship and job. Both helped me perfect my resume and cover letter for both positions I currently hold. Additionally, networking with my fellow NYU Wagner classmates and having them extend their contacts and connections to me has also helped me search for internships and jobs in my desired fields.

 

5. What is something about your identity that has impacted the way you approach public service?

As a first-generation American, Black, West African (Burkinabé), Muslim, working-class woman, my approach to public service is intrinsically inclusive. My interlocking identities bind me to a higher standard of social justice. When I look in the mirror, I am constantly reminded of who I am, what I represent, and the duty I have to assist with the dismantling of various forms of institutional and systemic oppression. I plan to further my occupational skills through a position that allows me to progress an inclusive and intersectional approach to policy reform to magnify my impact and create meaningful change in various political and advocacy arenas for the most vulnerable populations within society.

 

6. If you could start over at NYU Wagner, is there anything you would do differently?

I believe everything happens for a reason. There is nothing I will do over, ever!

 

7. What is your favorite spot on campus or at the Puck Building where you feel inspired or simply enjoy?

It is a tie between the 10th-floor graduate student exchange lounge in Bobst and the computer lab in Bobst. I can always count on the computer lab to help get me in the right state of mind and knock out an assignment. Also, the grad lounge is one of my favorite places to just relax and get a breather from the rigor of academics at NYU Wagner. It is a great place for me to socialize, connect, and catch up with peers.

 

8. What’s next for you?

I am beginning my second semester and experiencing all that it has to offer; completing my first year at NYU Wagner on a strong and positive note; and preparing for summer fun, internship, and job opportunities.