For a complete list of Ph.D. Alumni, please go to this page.

Below are two of our many success stories from the perspective of our graduates.

Success Story: Patria de Lancer Julnes

Patria de Lancer Julnes (Ph.D. ‘97) always knew that she wanted to teach. And when it came time for her to choose a doctorate program in public administration, Rutgers quickly became the clear choice.

“I was accepted by other programs as well, but the enthusiasm and compassion displayed by the Rutgers faculty really made my decision for me,” she said. “And during my time here, their support was incredible. That ‘human’ quality, coupled with the top-notch educational experience, made my experience at Rutgers incredibly rewarding.”

Today, Patria is a tenured Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director with the Department of Political Science at Utah State University. She also serves as a national council member for the American Society for Public Administration. One of Patria’s most rewarding achievements has been creating a public administration Master’s program in the Dominican Republic through the Higher Education Development Program of the United States Agency for International Development. She credits the Rutgers SPAA faculty for inspiring this project.

“The team at Rutgers cares deeply about government and the public sector, and this has influenced me greatly,” she said. “Through education, my program is helping to produce good public servants for the Dominical Republic. They, in turn, are improving democratic government and quality of life there. This project has enabled me to give back to my country and very much reflects the civic responsibility that Rutgers instilled in me.”

Success Story: David Socolow

As Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development, David Socolow (EMPA ’06) realizes every day the importance of being a strong leader and manager. David has worked in a variety of governmental and political management positions, from running a small non-profit in Washington, D.C., to serving as chief of staff for a U.S. Congressman. Prior to his appointment as Labor Commissioner in 2006, he served four years as the Department’s Director of the Division of Unemployment Insurance, where he led 1,000 employees in 30 locations around the state.

David enrolled in the EMPA program in 2004. “I had been in government for 13 years, including two years as director of the Division,” he said. “I had on-the-job management experience – with a sense of what works and what doesn’t – but I realized that more specific education and training would serve me well.“ 

“Rutgers gave me the opportunity to grow, to do my job better,” David said. “The professors in the program bring a wonderful mix of academic rigor and practical real-world experience to the classroom. They teach not only theory but also what it really takes to get things done. “I also gained great insight from my fellow students,” he added. “So much of what we do in public administration involves figuring out how to effectively and efficiently accomplish objectives, and the experiences of my colleagues in the program gave me a wealth of new ideas. After two intense years together as a group, we can continue to call upon each other throughout our careers.”

We are extraordinarily proud of the success of our alumni. Our Master’s graduates consistently achieve positions of high responsibility at the federal, state and local levels. Our doctoral graduates are teaching and gaining tenure at dozens of universities throughout the United States.

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E-mail: spaa@andromeda.rutgers.edu