Madeleine Wadeson, MPA ’24

Name: Madeleine Wadeson
Hometown: Warwick, N.Y.
Program: Master of Public Administration 
Awards: Outstanding Student Leadership Award

What was one of the most meaningful experiences you had during your time in the MPA program? 

One of the most meaningful experiences that I had during my time in the MPA program was when I discovered a new passion for data analysis and statistics from taking Statistics for Public Managers and Policy Analysts (RPAD 505) with Professor Mimi Arnold Lyon. I had never taken a statistics course before and was apprehensive going in, but I ended up discovering a passion for statistics in policy settings. Throughout the semester I found myself more and more interested in how statistics and data could be used to make compelling and meaningful policy recommendations and conclusions. I loved being able to conduct my own quantitative analysis and draw conclusions that would have real-life implications. Because of my interest in the content of RPAD 505, I ended up choosing an internship that focused on data analytics and policy analysis. I also took elective courses related to statistics and data analytics, which is something I never would have considered had it not been for how much I enjoyed taking Professor Arnold Lyon’s course. Discovering a passion for statistics and policy even led me to my post-graduate job working with data. Professor Arnold Lyon helped me discover a passion I did not know that I had, which put me on a completely different path through my MPA than I would have anticipated. 

Where did you complete your internship requirement and what knowledge, skills, and abilities did you develop as a result of this experience? 

I completed my internship at the Office of the New York State Comptroller with the Data Analytics and Budget & Policy Analysis teams. Most of the work that I completed was related to data analysis, therefore I grew my technical skills significantly during this internship. I continued developing many skills during my time at OSC, such as Microsoft Excel, Tableau, statistics, memo writing, policy analysis, and public speaking. The internship specifically appealed to me because the work dealt with the intersection of data analytics and policy. During my time in the MPA program, I have been very interested in how to use statistics and data to convey meaningful policy recommendations to stakeholders. My internship at OSC gave me the opportunity to analyze large datasets for patterns or relationships and then create data visualizations with the information I analyzed. I would then take these visualizations and communicate policy recommendations that I could present to team members at OSC. Throughout my internship I also learned how to work with others in a client/consultant relationship, something that I will use frequently going forward in my career. The experience of conducting data analysis and then making policy recommendations from the results of the analysis was a full-circle moment that allowed me to incorporate all my interests into an impactful project at my internship.

What specific skills or experiences through the program have prepared you for your transition to post-graduate employment?

The MPA program has prepared me extremely well for post-graduate employment because the program focuses on growing an interdisciplinary set of skills that are useful in many workplace settings. The MPA program taught me how to conduct meaningful and efficient data and policy analysis that can be used to give recommendations to others on what decisions should be made. My classes in statistics and data analytics helped me gain an entirely new skillset that I will use every day in my post-graduate job. The technical skills taught in the MPA program make Rockefeller students very competitive candidates in the job market. Furthermore, the MPA taught me to how to balance important public service values such as equity, efficiency, accountability, transparency, and responsiveness. My time in the MPA program has helped me learn how to weave these public service values into the work that I do, something I will continue doing in my future full-time position.

What kind of opportunities are you considering for post-graduate employment? 

For post-graduate employment, I have accepted a position in Government and Public Service Consulting at Deloitte here in Albany with a focus on data. This position will allow me to work with a public sector client and use data and policy analysis to help create impactful solutions to problems they are facing. I’m very excited to start my career in Public Sector Consulting because of the diverse and flexible work opportunities that it will present me with. My position in Public Sector Consulting at Deloitte will also allow me to further develop my passion of applying data analytics to policy areas and using the results to make helpful policy recommendations. 

What advice do you have for students who are considering or pursuing an MPA degree? 

I would tell anyone considering or pursuing an MPA degree to take every opportunity available to make your experience as unique as possible. One of my favorite parts about my MPA program experience was when I studied abroad in Milan, Italy at Bocconi University. This was an amazing experience that helped me grow personally, professionally, and academically. I was able to live and study in Milan because of Rockefeller’s relationship with Bocconi, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested. Graduate school is a fantastic time to take all available opportunities to help you determine what you want to do after graduation. Studying abroad helped me focus on what I was most interested in, while also providing opportunities for personal growth that will be very useful in my career.