Katie Kalugin
Master of Public Policy
Graduated in 2018
Katie Kalugin was a student in the Master of Public Policy Program at SPPUA, who graduated in 2018. She is from Oregon, grew up on a berry farm, raised by a single mom, and has five sisters. She’s the first in her immediate family to graduate from high school and college. She received a BA in politics and a minor in women’s and gender studies from Willamette University. After graduation, she moved to Boston to complete a year of service with City Year, an education-based AmeriCorps program. She served in a third-grade classroom as a mentor, tutor, and role model. She is currently working for the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) as a Transit Equity Programs Specialist.
I chose the MPP program because public policy decisions affect every part of our lives, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of affecting policy change on principles of equity and improving the lives of underprivileged, underserved communities. I am compelled by public policy as a reflection of our values and commitments as a society. The MPP program allowed me to better understand the nuances of policy creation and the factors that prevent or spur policy development.