Headshot of Paul Garbarino with quote about how choosing HKS was obvious to him because of the career preparation
Paul Garbarino had other options when deciding where to go for his master’s degree, but ultimately chose HKS because of the curriculum and faculty. Read more about Paul’s HKS experience and advice for prospective students below.

Paul Garbarino MPP 2025 is pursuing a Master in Public Policy to prepare himself for a career as an economic development practitioner and local government leader. Born and raised in Utica, Michigan, Paul saw firsthand how susceptible Detroit’s manufacturing industry and its workers were to economic shocks. Because of this, he felt inspired to pursue an education and career in government place-based policymaking. Before attending HKS, Paul worked at the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

What inspired you to choose Harvard Kennedy School?

I chose HKS for two reasons: HKS’s financial aid and the school’s reputation for academic and career-outcome excellence. I was incredibly fortunate to receive the Julius Babbit Public Service Fellowship to attend HKS. While I received offers from other phenomenal public policy schools, Harvard Kennedy School’s vigorous commitment to preparing its students for a career in public service aligned perfectly with my career goals and made choosing HKS obvious. I am so grateful I made that decision.

What are your favorite things about your experience at HKS?

First and foremost—the people. When I walk through the halls of HKS, I am constantly in awe of who my peers and professors are. Collaborating on projects, studying for tests together, and grabbing drinks after class are just a few of the little, and sometimes spontaneous, moments with other students that make the HKS experience so magical for me. But it’s also the extraordinary events, opportunities, and adventures—staying a night onboard the Queen Mary in California, jumping in a cenote in Mexico, talking economic development policy with the Governor of Maine at the Maine State House—that have been made possible for me by being at HKS.

In what ways do you engage with the Harvard Kennedy School community outside of the classroom?

This past academic year, I was a member of the Taubman Center for State and Local Government’s Economic Development Seminar. Through the Seminar, I had the opportunity to engage in monthly enlightening and constructive conversations with pioneering economic development practitioners around the country (and had the opportunity to visit Maine!).

I am also a research assistant for the both the Reimagining the Economy and Project on Workforce initiatives at HKS, where I perform analyses and help advance research on economic and workforce development policy.

Outside of this academic work, I am very involved with Harvard University Graduate Intramurals! I am on the volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and flag football teams (and our flag football team made it the championship game this past season!).

What advice would you offer to prospective students considering Harvard Kennedy School?

The opportunities at HKS are seemingly infinite. The best advice I can offer to prospective students is to research the faculty and centers and initiatives at HKS. I will fully admit that, before coming to HKS, I had no idea how integral the centers and initiatives are to the HKS student experience. I believe incoming students would find it particularly helpful to know what each center and initiative does, and how one, or even a few, may augment their learning and experience at HKS.

Quick questions

  • Favorite class: MLD-411M Greater Boston Applied Field Lab: Advanced Budgeting, Financial Management and Operations taught by Professor Linda Bilmes
  • Favorite study spot: HKS Library
  • Favorite restaurant near campus: Grendel’s
  • One bucket list item you want to accomplish before graduating: Go rowing on the Charles River
  • Favorite guest speaker: Former Mayor of Flint, Michigan Karen Weaver
     
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