Thom Blaylock is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Public Policy at NYU Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. At Wagner, he teaches professional and public policy communications and is the Clinical Director of the Master of Science in Public Policy Program. Previously, he taught at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. Thom has worked as a writer, editor, and consultant. Thom received his Bachelor’s from Rice University and a MFA from Columbia University’s School of the Arts.

Rhea Almeida is second-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 second-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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