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Meet the MPA Coaches


Monique Blackwood

Expertise: Working with pre-law students with their law school applications, internship, and job search.

Monique Blackwood, Esq. is the Career Coach for the Master of Public Administration program. She assists MPA students in obtaining internships and jobs and achieving their professional goals.  

Ms. Blackwood is an attorney admitted to the practice of law in New York and New Jersey for 15 years. She has experience working in public service organizations, city, state, and federal agencies as well as in the private sector. She was also an Adjunct Professor at Wagner College teaching a graduate class in the Higher Education program.  

She has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Cornell University, a Juris Doctorate from the University at Buffalo Law School, and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University.  

Ms. Blackwood is also a Board of Advisor Member and Faculty Council Scholar Representative for the Change Create Transform Foundation. 

Email: mblackwood@jjay.cuny.edu

Lu Han

Expertise: Excel

Lu Han currently serves as Director of the Academic & Strategic Data Team at Newark Public Schools. She received her Master in Public Policy from Humphrey School at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She has been working as a Data Scientist in education for more than 10 years. She is a strong believer in using data to promoting social good. Her analysis on student discipline practices at Syracuse City School District started a series of investigations about discrimination against students with color and students with disabilities, which eventually led to fundamental changes in discipline practices and decreasing suspension rates in Syracuse. She was also a Cohort 5 member for Harvard Strategic Data Project, which is designed to train data leaders to uncover trends, measure solutions, and effectively communicate evidence to stakeholders. She served as a Core Planning Member for the Urban School Improvement Alliance at U.S. Department of Education, and helped develop a number of projects, including Foundations of Data Use for School Boards, The “Long Now”: Local Data in an Era of State Longitudinal Data Systems, The Data-Informed District: Research on Using Data to Inform Practice, Practitioner Data Use in Schools: Workshop Toolkit. She also served as a committee member for Onondaga County Literacy Coalition to improve early literacy proficiency. 

Email: lhan@jjay.cuny.edu

Lois Kahl

Expertise: Writing Coach

My name is Dr. Lois J. Kahl. I obtained my doctorate from St. John’s University (Queens, New York) in Educational Administration & Supervision, Administration & Instructional Leadership.
I have co-authored several publications and manuscripts as well as Best Paper Award (TACTL-American Educational Research Association) and presentations on the 21st Century Digital Classroom. In addition I have reviewed textbooks and book chapters for several publishers.
Currently, I teach at several higher education institutions on Long Island. My expertise includes sports management, teacher education, health, physical education and ethics.

Email: lkahl@jjay.cuny.edu