SPAA Graduate Profile: Ying Liu (PhD'26)
Name: Ying Liu
SPAA PhD Grad Month/Year: May 2026
Why did you choose Rutgers SPAA?
I was drawn to SPAA because of its diverse faculty and strong reputation for placing PhD students. I have never regretted choosing SPAA because of the incredible support I have received from our outstanding faculty. And I am proud to be part of the “SPAA mafia.” :)
What drew you to SPAA and to the field of public service?
I was drawn to the field of public service because I observed gender inequities in public organizations and developed a passion for understanding them and contributing to the advancement of gender equity in public service. Gender equity in public administration has always been one of my core interests, even before I joined SPAA. I was drawn to SPAA because of the faculty’s strong focus on social equity research.
How would you describe your experience as a student here?
I received so much support from the faculty at SPAA throughout my time here. The professors are incredibly generous with their time, and I learned a lot from the many conversations we had on the third floor. I also really appreciate the diverse and inclusive environment at SPAA, as well as the sister- and brother-like friendships we built over the past five years.
What have you learned from SPAA that you’ll carry into your career?
There is no shortcut to doing good research. Work hard. (Everybody here is so hardworking and motivated!)
How do faculty and mentors here inspire or challenge you to think differently?
The faculty and mentors at SPAA have inspired and challenged me throughout my time here. I feel very lucky to have had so many opportunities to interact closely with faculty members. They helped me sharpen my ideas, encouraged me to think creatively, challenged my assumptions, and were always generous in sharing their insights and advice.
I especially want to thank Professor Riccucci, whose research has been a huge inspiration to me. She taught me the importance of critical thinking, and I always enjoyed our conversations about difficult questions and big ideas. I also feel incredibly fortunate to have had her as my advisor because I was able to learn not only from her research but also from observing how she works and thinks as a scholar and mentor.
What excites you most about the future of public service?
I am committed to mainstreaming gender issues in public and nonprofit administration. While I am concerned about the growing global backlash against gender equity and justice, I still feel optimistic about the future. I am excited to see how conversations around social equity will continue to grow and shape public service moving forward.