SPAA Graduate Profile: Nicolás Lagos (PhD'26)
Name: Nicolás Lagos
Hometown: Puente Alto, Chile
SPAA PhD Grad Month/Year: May 2026
Why did you choose Rutgers SPAA?
I chose Rutgers SPAA because of its faculty. SPAA is recognized worldwide as a leading school in public administration, with scholars who are shaping global conversations on transparency, diversity, and experimental methods. Becoming part of this school was a personal and professional goal for me.
What drew you to SPAA and to the field of public service?
I worked for nine years at a national audit office, where I witnessed firsthand the damage corruption can do to democracy and public trust. That experience convinced me that fighting corruption is ultimately about strengthening governments and public institutions. Working to build better public administration is, for me, a way of serving society.
What do you hope to accomplish with your degree?
I hope to generate knowledge about public administration with a strong focus on public servants themselves. Strengthening democracy, fighting corruption, and improving public service will be impossible if we do not understand the interests, concerns, and behaviors of the people who actually work inside public institutions.
How would you describe your experience as a student here?
It has been a constant challenge to keep up, in the best possible way. Sharing classes, discussions, and conversations with professors and classmates I deeply admire pushed me to continuously study, improve, and grow. Being surrounded by people I respect so much motivated me to always give my best.
What makes SPAA feel unique compared to other programs or schools you considered?
What makes SPAA unique is its deep commitment to public service. It does not matter whether your goal is to contribute through government, nonprofits, academia, or professional practice, the common purpose is always to generate knowledge and educate people in ways that improve public service and democratic governance.
What have you learned from SPAA that you’ll carry into your career?
SPAA taught me that academia can and should play an important role in strengthening public service. Training better professionals and developing stronger theories to improve democratic governance is a personal responsibility I now carry into the next stage of my academic career.
What is one lesson, class, or experience that has impacted you the most in your time here?
One thing that truly impacted me was having professors with open doors. I will always value that. Some of the most meaningful moments during my time at SPAA came from conversations with professors about personal concerns, classes, research ideas, or simply an interesting paper. That sense of openness and mentorship is something I will carry with me forever.
How do faculty and mentors here inspire or challenge you to think differently?
Being part of academia also means challenging academia itself. SPAA encouraged me to bring perspectives from the Global South into conversations that are often dominated by experiences from the Global North. I believe contributing those perspectives is both valuable and necessary.
What excites you most about the future of public service?
What excites me most is that public managers will continue to be watchdogs of public values during a time when democratic institutions face growing challenges. Public service still has the power to protect fairness, accountability, and trust in society.
Why do you think public service matters, especially now?
Without public service, we risk becoming only consumers in a market driven by individualism. Public service is where people with different backgrounds, ideas, and experiences come together to work toward a shared future.