Brown University Welcomes Diverse MPA Cohort, Emphasizing Collaboration and Professional Experience
Brown University's Watson School of International and Public Affairs has welcomed a new cohort of 43 Master of Public Affairs (MPA) students, including five pursuing a dual MPA/MPH degree. According to Catherine Rodarte, Associate Director of Admissions and Recruitment, 79% of the class are U.S. students representing 16 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, with the remaining 21% being international students from 10 countries. A significant portion, 51%, of the cohort brings prior full-time professional experience. Bryce Millett Steinberg, the faculty director of the MPA Program, highlighted the cooperative and collegial spirit among the students, noting how those with strong quantitative backgrounds assist others, and those with on-the-ground experience enrich discussions. The program's intensive, analytically focused summer sequence, comprising courses like Economics for Public Policy and Statistics for Public Policy, is designed to build essential skills.
