Monica Aldea-Espinoza, MPA'19; PhD'26

Monica Aldea-Espinoza's 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. Her work seeks to strengthen public institutions by integrating evidence‑based research with a commitment to equity, efficiency, and democratic accountability. Her dissertation, "Meritocracy in Practice: Social Equity and Senior Executive Recruitment in Chile," examined how merit‑based recruitment systems function within broader processes of state modernization and how equity principles are incorporated into senior civil service hiring.

Education

• PhD: Rutgers University–Newark, School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) (2026)
• MPA: Rutgers University–Newark, School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) (2019)