Monica Aldea-Espinoza, MPA'19

Monica Aldea-Espinoza is a doctoral candidate in the School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) at Rutgers University–Newark. Her dissertation, "Meritocracy in Practice: Social Equity and Senior Executive Recruitment in Chile," examines how merit‑based recruitment systems function within broader processes of state modernization and how equity principles are incorporated into senior civil service hiring. In addition to her research, Aldea‑Espinoza has actively contributed to the SPAA community, serving on the PhD Student Association for four years, including two years as president. Her broader research interests include state modernization, institutional capacity for policy implementation, social equity and justice in public administration, the organizational conditions that support effective and responsive governance, and the preparation of future public administrators and public service professionals. Aldea‑Espinoza’s work seeks to strengthen public institutions by integrating evidence‑based research with a commitment to equity, efficiency, and democratic accountability.

Education

• MPA: Rutgers University–Newark, School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) (2019)