The Master in Public Administration Program helps aspiring leaders elevate their impact.
By Lydia Glock MPA 2026
I came to the Master in Public Administration (MPA) Program wanting to better understand how public funds can be used more effectively to support a just transition to climate neutrality. Having previously worked in energy infrastructure finance at the German Development Bank, I was looking forward to exploring these topics more in depth. What I did not expect, though, was how much more I would gain from my MPA experience.
Designing Your Own Path
One of the biggest strengths of the MPA Program is its flexibility. The interdisciplinary structure allows you to build your own study plan based on the topics you care about and the skills you want to develop.
For me, that meant bringing together different perspectives. I took finance-focused courses like API-148: Advanced Risk Management and Infrastructure Finance and worked as a teaching assistant for IGA-412: Energy, the Energy Transition, and Geopolitics. Cross-registering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology gave me a better sense of climate and energy innovation in the private sector, and a climate trek to Washington, D.C. helped me connect these learnings to real-world policy discussions.
Exploring the Unexpected
At the same time, some of the most interesting parts of my experience came from broadening my original focus.
I took classes with Alex Keyssar and Daniel Ziblatt on democracy, focusing on what causes today's democracies to succeed or fail and what can be done to defend them, and I took a course on grief at the Harvard Divinity School, which approached environmental change from a completely different angle. I also explored topics such as Middle Eastern politics and AI, and I participated in a study group on American political thought.
Beyond the classroom, I traveled to California on a trek supported by the Taubman Center of State and Local Government to learn about housing policy and state and local government, and even learned how to stargaze through Harvard’s telescope.
These experiences pushed me to engage with new questions I had not previously considered.
“Life as an MPA student is busy and sometimes overwhelming, but it also allows you to dive deeply into the topics you care about, discover new interests along the way, and meet people who will challenge how you think.”
Lydia Glock MPA 2026
The MPA Community
While HKS and Harvard offer incredible academic opportunities, much of what makes the MPA experience special happens outside the classroom. Some of my favorite moments have been the simplest ones:
Small group dinners, where we planned, cooked, and shared meals together
The MPA book club, where we discussed topics ranging from food systems to generic drug manufacturing
Weekend trips with classmates to Vermont and Maine
Serving as an Orientation Leader and welcoming the new cohort to campus
Cambridge, Boston, and Beyond
Life as an MPA student also extends beyond campus. Cambridge and Boston offer plenty of ways to take a break and explore. You might enjoy:
Walking the Freedom Trail or going to the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Canoeing or sailing on the Charles River
Birdwatching in the Harvard Arboretum
Experiencing New England traditions like apple picking and fall foliage
Final Thoughts
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to stay curious and leave room for the unexpected. Some of the most memorable parts of my MPA experience came from things I had not planned. Life as an MPA student is busy and sometimes overwhelming, but it also allows you to dive deeply into the topics you care about, discover new interests along the way, and meet people who will challenge how you think.
If you are considering the MPA Program, I would say stay open, make use of the flexibility, and see where it takes you.
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