SPAA Graduate Profile: Sidra Razzaq (MPA'26)
Name: Sidra A. Razzaq
Hometown: Teaneck, NJ
SPAA MPA Grad Month/Year: May 2026
Current Position/Organization: Deputy Director of Communications for the County of Bergen, Office of the Bergen County Executive
Why did you choose Rutgers SPAA?
Continuing my education at Rutgers–Newark felt like a natural next step, as I also attended RU-N for my undergraduate degree. I chose Rutgers SPAA because of its strong reputation for those pursuing careers in public service, especially within this region. I was also drawn to the program because many of the mentors and professionals I look up to in my career earned this same degree, which inspired me to follow a similar path. As an online MPA student, the program gave me the flexibility to continue working full-time while expanding my academic and professional skills. Most importantly, the diversity that defines Rutgers-Newark and its commitment to uplifting voices from different backgrounds was something that mattered deeply to me.
What drew you to SPAA and to the field of public service?
My current work in local government is what drew me to SPAA and public service. I have always been interested in government and policy, but working in county government showed me how public institutions serve the people.
As a Muslim woman of color, I have also witnessed firsthand how voices like mine are not always part of the conversation or represented in these spaces. What drew me to public service was the opportunity to help bring those voices and perspectives to the table, and represent my community while contributing to the decision-making process.
What do you hope to accomplish with your degree?
I hope to continue growing in my field while becoming a more effective leader. Many of my professional mentors pursued this same degree, and I hope to one day follow in their footsteps and become a leader in public management or government. One thing I especially value about this program is that the skills developed through it, like collaboration and analytical decision making, are skills we can use across all fields. SPAA helps shape effective and empathetic public servants.
How would you describe your experience as a student here?
My experience at Rutgers SPAA has been very rewarding. Continuing my education at the same institution where I completed my undergraduate education allowed me to reflect on how much I have grown professionally and academically, and how my time at Rutgers-Newark contributed to that progress.
During my time in this program, I also had the opportunity to contribute to the broader Rutgers community by assisting with communications and social media efforts at the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America (CPRA) under the leadership of Professor James Jones. Dr. Jones was one of my professors during my undergraduate studies, and the lessons I learned in his classes about advocacy and standing up for our communities inspired me to continue my education and strengthen my commitment to public service through this MPA program. It was especially meaningful to contribute to the CPRA because its mission is centered on creating pathways into public service for underrepresented voices, which reflects my own journey.
I am grateful that I was able to advance my education through SPAA while also contributing to SASN, where my academic journey at Rutgers-Newark began. The foundation I built at SASN guided the growth I experienced throughout my MPA journey.
If you could describe Rutgers SPAA in one word, what would it be?
Opportunity!
What makes SPAA feel unique compared to other programs or schools you considered?
You cannot talk about Rutgers–Newark and Rutgers SPAA without talking about the diversity that is such a defining pillar of the institution. SPAA feels unique because of the experiences students bring into the program. Many of my peers were working professionals from different backgrounds and areas of public service, so classroom discussions often centered around real-world scenarios and perspectives. This meant that we were not just learning theory, but applying that theory to one another’s lived experiences.
Rutgers–Newark’s legacy has always been rooted in uplifting voices from all communities and backgrounds and creating opportunity, and that is something that truly sets it apart from the rest, and is a large reason why many of us were drawn here.
What have you learned from SPAA that you’ll carry into your career?
SPAA taught me that public service is ultimately about people. I will carry forward the importance of compassionate leadership, collaboration, accountability, transparency, and making decisions with the communities we serve in mind. The program also taught me the value of engaging in different perspectives.
What is one lesson, class, or experience that has impacted you the most in your time here?
One of the biggest lessons I will carry with me from my time at SPAA is the importance of accountability and transparency in public service. Through one of my elective courses, Unlocking Open Government, I was challenged to think more deeply about the relationship between government and the people it serves.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
I see myself continually growing and building on the lessons and experiences that have shaped me so far. I hope to continue serving my communities in meaningful ways and eventually take on leadership roles within public management or local government.
How do you see yourself carrying forward the legacy of SPAA after graduation?
I am proud and honored to hold two degrees from Rutgers-Newark. While we are all part of the same Rutgers family, there is something special about Rutgers-Newark that I especially recognized during my time at SPAA. There is a drive, passion, and grit within this community that truly sets us apart. I hope to carry the legacy of SPAA and RU-N forward through the values I learned during my time here, and by encouraging those around me to use their voices and recognize the value they bring to the table.
How do faculty and mentors here inspire or challenge you to think differently?
One thing I especially appreciated during my time at SPAA was the opportunity to collaborate closely with Professor Diego Galego, who took an interest in some of the initiatives happening within my county that I mentioned in our Collaborative Governance class, and later even visited my workplace as part of his research. As a student, it was rewarding to realize that my own professional experiences and perspectives could contribute to my professor’s academic research.
At SPAA, we are not viewed as students, but as peers and working professionals. This experience also challenged me to think differently about the value of the work we do as public administrators. It reminded me that, whether we impact 10 people or 10,000, we are making a difference.
What excites you most about the future of public service?
After interacting with my peers throughout this program, I am excited by the compassion and innovation that the next generation of public servants will bring into this field. We are fueled by a genuine desire to improve our communities.
What gives me hope is that many of us carry our own lived experiences into this work. We remember what it feels like to struggle, to feel excluded from the conversation, and to question whether our voices matter. I believe those experiences will shape the way we lead and make decisions in the future as public administrators.
Why do you think public service matters, especially now?
We are entering public service during a time when many people feel overlooked or disconnected from the institutions that are meant to serve them. Especially now, we need leaders who put service to the community above all else. As public administrators, the decisions we make have the potential to impact people’s everyday lives, which is why compassion and accountability are so important in this field.
Public service matters because people deserve to feel supported by the institutions that are meant to represent them. Throughout my time at SPAA, I was inspired by how many of my peers were committed to that responsibility and motivated by a desire to make a difference.