SPAA Graduate Profile: Jill Segulin (MPA'26)
Name: Jill Segulin
Hometown: Scotch Plains, NJ
SPAA MPA Grad Month/Year: May 2026
Current Position/Organization: Executive Director, Refugee Assistance Partners NJ
Why did you choose Rutgers SPAA?
Of the online-only MPA programs, Rutgers-Newark ranked near the top. Many top names in the field of public administration could not compare to Rutgers SPAA program’s curriculum in Nonprofit Management. RU-N SPAA program offered the most comprehensive and well-rounded curriculum that would prepare me for the full breadth of public service, including leadership in the nonprofit sector.
What drew you to SPAA and to the field of public service?
I have worked in nonprofit management and public service for 30 years, both in a volunteer capacity and as a profession. I felt that just having a bachelor’s degree in Human Services was not enough to equip me for today’s realities and the challenges facing nonprofit organizations. Public Administration as a field of study follows a path that takes Human Services beyond helping people, and into helping organizations thrive in their work.
What do you hope to accomplish with your degree?
I hope to use my skills, knowledge, and approach to create sustainable social change in more impactful ways. For me this means advocating for equity, accountability, privacy, and accessibility, and to ensure everyone’s inherent dignity is acknowledged and respected.
How would you describe your experience as a student here?
I have grown personally and professionally in more ways than I can count. The coursework is both challenging and deeply fulfilling. I really appreciate that the program as well as all my professors remained focused on the goal – to prepare public administrators to be social change agents.
If you could describe Rutgers SPAA in one word, what would it be?
Transformative.
What makes SPAA feel unique compared to other programs or schools you considered?
The Rutgers SPAA program is centered around the NASPAA five core competencies from beginning to end. The Rutgers SPAA curricula and combination of required courses dovetails theory with practical application in ways that I could (and often did) incorporate into my professional life immediately. It was more than schooling—it was preparing for a better future.
What have you learned from SPAA that you’ll carry into your career?
I learned that actions grounded in sound theory and tested methodology have a foundation that is more enduring than relying solely on life experience, even if that experience is substantial. Visionary actions when a person is wiling to take risks and be innovative must still be centered on evidence and foundational knowledge.
What is one lesson, class, or experience that has impacted you the most in your time here?
One lesson that has impacted me the most was that public administration boils down to real people, not technology, not government systems, not bureaucracy, not organizations. All 14 of my classes drove this lesson home in one way or another. Whether I was learning about ethics, or digital technology, or diversity in the workplace, or even economics and budgeting, it is essential that every facet of public administration be people-centric to be effective.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
I want to be an effective leader in the nonprofit sector, someone that my co-workers and clients both trust in my respect for them as people.
How do you see yourself carrying forward the legacy of SPAA after graduation?
The legacy of SPAA rests in the five core competencies: effective leadership and management, involvement in the policy process, critical thinking, advancement of public values, and communication. I plan to apply these core competencies, not just in my own profession, but to teach others so they too can carry these lessons and abilities into their work as well.
How do faculty and mentors here inspire or challenge you to think differently?
One mentor I had in my last semester demonstrated that there are upsides and downsides to every perspective. There are ineffective ways and there are better ways to accomplish your goals, but there is no one right path. She taught me that true learning involves self-reflection as well as critical analysis, not just searching for the “right” answer.
What excites you most about the future of public service?
I am most excited by the global interconnection of public service; there is an unmistakable momentum toward collaborative governance and universal stakeholder participation to be inclusive of the global community.
Why do you think public service matters, especially now?
We are now facing “wicked problems” that are incredibly complex, more numerous, and having a more pervasive negative impact for a large segment of the global population. At the same time, some government systems have become actively antagonistic to the needs of the people they must serve. Public service centered on people is not a panacea, but it has the potential for addressing these challenges in ways that are impactful and meaningful, and can tip the scales toward more robust global wellbeing.