Mikeala Sparks, MUP ’21, earned a Masters in Urban Planning from NYU Wagner specializing in International Development. She focused the majority of her research on emergencies, disasters and their impacts on traditionally underserved communities. Her greatest passion is connecting with people through language, culture, and a common interest in public space.

Chiamaka P. Ojiako is a lawyer, health equity advocate, and second-year MPA candidate at NYU Wagner specializing in Health Policy and Management. She finds the complex nature of health system issues and the absence of a uniformly adaptable solution or model stimulating. She currently serves as a staff writer for The Wagner Review.

Rhea Almeida is first-year MPA international student at NYU Wagner hailing from Mumbai, India. In the past, she has worked in the fields of policy, advocacy, and development for a women’s working rights group in India. Prior to that, she worked as a TV news journalist in New Delhi. Her areas of interest include workers’ rights, gender equality, grassroot level advocacy and coronavirus response policy. In addition to being contributing editor for The Wagner Review, she serves as senator for the Wagner Student Association, and events chair for the Wagner Policy Alliance. She is also the co-founder of the ‘What’s up with Coronavirus Policy’ discussion group.

Luisa Portugal is a first-year MPA student at NYU Wagner specializing in International Development Management & Policy. She earned an LLM in Constitutional Law and Theory in Brazil. Her main topics of interest are international development, climate change and the coronavirus crisis. Luisa will serve as Co-Chair of Events for the Alliance for Climate Change and Environment (ACE) in the upcoming year. She is also the co-founder of the ‘What’s up with Coronavirus Policy’ discussion group.

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