First-Person Perspectives

Interested in knowing what our students, faculty, and alumni think about the RAND School of Public Policy? Our site presents lots of quotes, which are shared here, so you can gain a first-person perspective on the RAND School.

Current Students

The close-knit community of faculty and researchers at RAND are incredibly generous and humble in their approach. They offer their time and treat me as a valued thought partner, which has deeply influenced my academic and personal development.

Jing Zhi Lim

Student, Cohort '22
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
I have found no other institution that melds passion for solutions, knowledge, and rigorous analysis with intellectual humility quite like RAND does.

Shona Olálérè Oluwatola

Student, Cohort '22
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
The fact that RAND researchers have a track record of examining and tackling wicked public problems like climate change is what interested me in this graduate school. I find it alluring that research activities are linked to RAND projects rather than theoretical projects, as is often the case in research universities, and that students are able to integrate academic theory with real work alongside RAND researchers. I find the prospect of having RAND’s resources—human, technical, and institutional—at my disposal throughout the duration of the program wildly exciting.
Carlos Calvo Hernandez

Student, Cohort '19
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
My favorite aspect of the RAND School has always been the student body, and I have really enjoyed my conversations with new and prospective students.

Michelle Priest

Research Project Specialist, RAND
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
RAND’s unique Ph.D. program will equip me with better complex policy problem–solving skills through novel quantitative method courses on big data applications and machine learning and practical courses such as the two policy design studio courses that analyze the complexity of policy issues.

Lynn Hu

Student, Cohort '19
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
I’d heard of — and have had — positive experiences at RAND, ranging from OJT experience that directly relates to my future career goals to successful cohort experiences.

Sarah Kang

Student, Cohort '21
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
The professional skill development we receive as part of our OJT is what attracted me to RAND. No other Ph.D. program trains you to be successful in a think tank environment in quite the same way.

Lucas Greer

Student, Cohort '20
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
I have never acquired new skills and knowledge at such a rapid pace. I am consistently challenged by novel tasks, projects, and classes, which is what makes RAND’s program unique among policy graduate schools.

Luke Schlake

Student, Cohort '23
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
My favorite thing about the school is the obvious one, OJT: we get to work on real projects with real researchers, network like you never have before in a friendly and positive environment, and explore a variety of interesting topics ranging from drug use prevention interviewing to vaccine safety meta-analyses to natural language processing analysis of Congressional discussions.

Keller Scholl

Student, Cohort '19
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
I applied to RAND’s Ph.D. program because of my desire to impact policy that can advance early education and health outcomes for underserved communities.

Ingrid Estrada Darley

Student, Cohort '19
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
I feel like RAND is an intellectual candy store where we can pursue so many different types of important work, and we get to plug in with hundreds of incredibly smart people from such different backgrounds.

Will Shumate

Student, Cohort '20
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
What's the best part of the RAND School? My cohort, hands down. The community that we have built together is what got me through the first year! I also really love being exposed to different types of research and the things that it has taught me, and I have been able to connect with so many external partners.

Alejandra Lopez

Student, Cohort '21
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
The hiring program for my current role looks for interdisciplinary talent, which aligns perfectly with RAND’s multidisciplinary Ph.D. program. RAND graduates are uniquely qualified candidates due to our rigorous mixed-methods training, advanced data analytics, and global exposure working across diverse countries and regions to deliver operationally relevant policy solutions.

Lynn Hu

Ph.D. 2023
Economist,
World Bank (Young Professional Program)

Alumni

One of the things I learned as a student at RAND is that it takes a multidisciplinary village to solve complex problems, which are really the only ones that are worth solving. I learned how to appreciate and integrate the talents of everyone in the village, how to build teams, when to lead, and—possibly most importantly—when to follow

Beth McGlynn

Alum, Cohort '83
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
Being a student at RAND contributed very significantly to my personal and career development. Particularly, the broad perspective and vision that I gained through my studies at RAND helped me bring about significant change at the various institutions I have worked for. The powerful combination of rigorous coursework and on-the-job training was very valuable in understanding the importance of both a sound theoretical basis and the practical implementation issues. I learned a great deal, both intellectually and practically during my studies at RAND.

Yilmaz Arguden

Alum, cohort '80
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
I selected RAND for my Ph.D. program because it offered the best combination of tools and methods to prepare me for the future. RAND has a program renowned for its analytical rigor, yet rather than espousing a theoretical approach to analysis, it teaches and reinforces, through real project work, a hands-on practical approach to policy development and analysis. This RAND method results in mentored development and ultimately the ability to plan, develop, and execute research and analysis projects on your own. ... I learned and then applied an incredible number of fundamental research methods that have provided me the breadth and depth necessary to tackle any opportunity, whether in academia, government, or private industry. RAND provided me the tools and the opportunities to learn and reinforce the skills necessary for success—I could not have made a better choice.

S. Jamie Gayton

Alum, cohort '06
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
Pardee RAND, without a doubt, shaped me into the person I am today. I came here as a wide-eyed lieutenant, fresh from the U.S. Air Force Academy, and here at RAND I got to work with the sharpest minds on the hardest problems. ... I've held a number of policy jobs around the Air Force, and at each one, something I've learned from RAND has turned out to be the thing that made all the difference.

Andrew Cady

Alum, Cohort '14
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
Possibilities to work with professionals from different fields on a wide range of policy problems are abundant as a student at RAND. I saw this program as a chance to improve my research and analytical skills and to develop my ability to devise creative solutions to policy problems.

Gursel Rafiq oglu Aliyev

Alum, cohort '13
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
Every individual is a credit to their community. Pardee RAND and RAND shaped the way I look at the world and molded the mindset I brought to my career. I’ve been fortunate to have guiding lights that I developed right here at RAND.

Jennifer Walters

Alum, cohort '11
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
I look back on my time as a student at RAND with fondness and appreciation. I learned so much, I met so many brilliant and wonderful people, while also making a real impact on real policy challenges and finding solutions to those. I'm proud of the school’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and interdisciplinary problem solving, and I’m so proud to be an alumnus of this organization.

Richard Bowman

Alum, cohort '06
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
One overarching policy question that continues to motivate me is: How can lawmakers ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have access to a high quality Pre-K–12 education? To provide all children with equal educational opportunities requires considering the intersection between education and related policy areas, including criminal justice, housing and health. I chose RAND for the unique opportunity to approach complex and naturally interdisciplinary problems comprehensively and from a policy-oriented perspective.

Rachel Perera

Alum, Cohort '16
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
There are many things that I loved about being a student at RAND: the academic and intellectual rigor, the opportunities to explore diverse research interests, immersion in the RAND culture of conducting objective and high-quality multidisciplinary research, the diverse experiences and backgrounds of colleagues, and, of course, the sunny and beautiful Los Angeles weather. Most importantly, I was excited to acquire cutting edge analytic skills that help me tackle complex challenges facing healthcare access in sub-Saharan Africa.

Adeyemi Okunogbe

Alum, cohort '13
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
I believe that smart creation and implementation of public policies is an absolutely vital component of continued economic development and political stability in the U.S. and globally. I’m intrigued by what I see as old and emerging policy issues related to water supply, aging water infrastructure, and long-term risk mitigation regarding climate change. I want to position myself through the development of a policy analysis skill set to be at the forefront of combating these issues in the future, so I chose to continue my education at RAND. RAND has always been at the forefront of policy analysis and methodology innovation, so the opportunity to participate in ongoing RAND projects is an unrivaled experience compared to other graduate school opportunities.

David Catt

Alum, cohort '16
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
RAND people are the most intelligent, hard-working people I know. ... Everything that I know about rigorous, innovative, and impactful policy research I learned from [my mentors at RAND].

Edmundo Molina-Pérez

Alum, cohort '11
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
Even during all my years in music, I was never as happy as I was as a student at RAND. Often I worked on things that I had no particular background in, but in which I found I had an interest—and as long as I could add value to a project, RAND gave me the chance to succeed. I worked on an aircraft survivability project, and it turned out to be fascinating: I learned every day on the project team, mixing my own abilities using quantitative tools with the topic-specific knowledge of the others. Where else could that happen, but in a community of scholars, where curiosity and imagination thrive in amazing and unsuspected ways?

Arthur Brooks

Alum, cohort '96
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
At RAND, I learned the value of curiosity, of asking good questions, of delving into topics of pursuing diverse perspectives, of questioning the status quo, and of always being open to learning more.

Kristi Raube

Alum, Cohort '87
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
The methodological skills I learned while a RAND student, the interdisciplinary approach to problem solving, and the focus on impactful policy research were and continue to be the hallmarks of the RAND graduate program. And those elements have been foundational to my work.

Cheryl Damberg

Alum, Cohort '89
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
RAND offered a unique environment to gain a broader understanding of critical issues related to policy. Being surrounded by fellow students from diverse professional backgrounds coming from all over the globe creates a wonderful positive energy and is highly conducive for further learning and creative approaches/solutions to previously insurmountable problems.

Janice Blanchard

Alum, cohort '98
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
What I enjoyed most was the exposure to quality research and the opportunity to work alongside professionals in the field. As someone coming from a mathematics background, I decided to study policy analysis in order to broaden my understanding of research methodologies that will allow me to construct solutions to issues that affect us today. I am passionate about improving student outcomes and increasing participation of minority students in STEM disciplines.

Claudia Rodriguez

Alum, Cohort '16
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
At RAND, I got an education I could not get anywhere else. The curriculum was intense and interdisciplinary, difficult but incredibly rewarding. I was encouraged to think both creatively and practically; not only to solve problems, but to develop solutions that can be implemented in a real-world context. Because my classmates came from a wide variety of backgrounds and disciplines, I feel like I learned something new every time I talked to them. Also, the school treats practical work as an integral part of the curriculum, which enabled me to tailor my education to my policy interests and previous experience. Not only did the practical requirements allow me to practice and apply the analytical skills learned in class, I was also able to work on issues I care deeply about.

Anne Boustead

Alum, cohort '11
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
There’s no better place than RAND and its graduate school to confront the challenges of today and today's polarized view of the world.

Gordon Bitko

Alum, cohort '02
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
I was attracted to RAND by the doctoral program’s unique balance of coursework and on-the-job training. I learned new skills in the classroom and had the opportunity to apply them on RAND research projects. This combination of academic study and direct application enabled me to hone research skills and build a strong portfolio of work. On-the-job training also exposed me to a wide range of research subjects and many different project teams. As a graduate from RAND’s graduate school, I will be able draw on these rich experiences and rigorous research skills as I move forward in my career.

Erin L. Duffy

Alum, cohort '15
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
I chose to study at RAND because I was looking for a graduate program that would give me the empirical tools for solving real-life problems and let me take my skills to the next level. At RAND I got an amazing combination of coursework and research on projects with an interdisciplinary view that allowed me to assess problems from a wider, more complete, and practical perspective. ... Through OJT my skills increased not only technically, but also through interaction with our clients, who ranged from academic researchers to foreign governments. RAND gave me the opportunity to pursue my research interests in the short and the long term. Moreover, all students here have diverse and astonishing backgrounds that contribute to the richness of the program and I learned so much from them.

Nelly Mejia

Alum, cohort '11
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
I remember working on OJT projects with a sociologist, computer scientist, and a physicist, and being able to take electives in things that were very far outside of my personal dissertation field but that opened my eyes to other problems in public policy.

Kay Sullivan

Alum, cohort '08
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
In many ways, RAND had an influence well beyond our academic and our scholarly leadership. ... I have always felt prepared because of the culture of excellence that was inculcated into all of us who were studying at RAND and who worked here at RAND.

Robert Otto Valdez

Alum, Cohort '80
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
Being a student at RAND builds a person's character and prepares people for their career; I stood on the shoulders of giants. RAND laid the foundations for the success that I have achieved since.

Nick Ramphal

Alum, cohort '02
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
Through my OJT, I had the opportunity to work with public and private sector clients, be an active member of project teams, attend meetings and conferences, and to contribute to the writing of proposals and RAND publications. My OJT experience provided valuable professional opportunities and mentoring to complement the school’s academic curriculum.

Jennifer Hicks Curtis

Alum, cohort '96
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
After working in both the healthcare and energy industries, I came to RAND because of the breadth and depth of the opportunities that the program offers. I can confidently say that the experience met my expectations. I found that the coursework leveraged the analytic framework from several academic disciplines, while the project work offered me the chance to engage in a wide variety of public policy issues. In fact, I would say one of the most challenging aspects of student life was learning to focus one's intellectual curiosity into one to two policy areas of interest. Pardee RAND is further distinguished by the level of professionalism and motivation it demands. The fact is clearly manifest in the composition of the student body. When I arrived at RAND, I was excited to meet individuals who shared a similar desire to improve public policy, but also offered a diverse set of experiences that complemented my own. I believe that the pool of RAND students represents one of the greatest strengths of the program and contributed to my overall learning experience during my time at RAND.

Christopher Lau

Alum, cohort '10
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
I got a great education at RAND. It's not just because I had good faculty, but also because I had great peers. And beyond the faculty, there were many researchers at RAND who were great mentors. It was a great experience, and the success I've had in my career is because of the foundation I got at RAND.

Neeraj Sood

Alum, Cohort '99
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
I came to Pardee RAND on a bet that applying a quantitative toolkit to real-world problems was the best way to prepare for a long career as a knowledge producer... What I didn't anticipate was that I would learn an even more important skill: to find the simplicity on the other side of complexity.

Evan Bloom

Alum, Cohort '09
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
As a student at RAND, my classmates exposed me to experiences and parts of the world I'd never imagined. ... By quirk of privilege and old age, I’ve been able to work with all the deans of this institution, for which I am grateful.

Jack Riley

Alum, cohort '88
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
What appealed to me and made me decide to come to Pardee RAND was that it was an advanced degree with a very applied focus. Not only could I learn policy analysis tools in my courses, but applied, practical experience was an integral part of the entire program. As a student, you are part of the RAND community, which is an intellectual candy store. With fascinating classmates, outstanding minds of all disciplines, and the myriad of outside speakers, it is ideal for RAND to be located so close to the beach—to provide some reprieve from the intellectual stimulation! The Friday afternoon beach volleyball games were a great way to start the weekend.

Brook Stearns Lawson

Alum, cohort '05
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
I’m here representing the underdogs of the students. I owe an immense debt of gratitude to the school and to RAND because so many people took a chance on me and mentored me.

Sai Ma

Alum, cohort '02
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
Dissertation funding support was crucial to me, to enable me to do things I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to do. Client funding can wax and wane—it tends to be cyclical—and I didn’t have a good sense of whether there would be funding for me to do work when I got to RAND. Because of the Cazier Initiative, I knew there was a dedicated funding line for students interested in sustainability.

Sara Turner

Alum, Cohort '15
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
Before arriving at RAND I already had seven years of microeconomics coursework behind me from previous degrees. I thought I had paid my dues to the study of microeconomics. Looking back, it is clear to me that my previous economics background had provided me with the skills to be a good theoretician but not with the hands-on skills I needed to be a good analyst or practicing economist. RAND classes take you beyond the theory. ... Other universities tend to present microeconomics as a set of abstract models which, at best, are applied to meaningless textbook scenarios. The applications given to us at RAND made me realize what a powerful analytic tool microeconomics can be in studying real policy problems.

Angela Hawken

Alum, cohort '98
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School

Faculty

RAND offers a unique opportunity for graduate students to gain hands-on experience in policy-relevant research while at the same time learning about research methods and policy analysis in small and engaging classes. ... RAND students' opportunities for mentoring from RAND researchers is enhanced by the extensive on-the-job training required of all students. I have been very impressed with the Pardee RAND students who I have worked with, in particular their analytic competence and intellectual curiosity. They play an important role in helping RAND carry out its mission of improving policy and decision-making through research and analysis.

Kathryn Pitkin Derose

Senior Policy Researcher (adjunct)
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
The range of experience and attitudes in my classes leads us all in unexpected directions. In addition to men, women, young and not so young, Americans and foreigners, we have social scientists and engineers, doctors and pilots, tender hearts and realists. Nobody gets to preach to their own choir. Because my tools are mathematical at heart, ... I mainly try to get across attitudes—skepticism about numbers that are given to you, but belief in the value of 'doing the math'.
Emmett Keeler

Senior Policy Researcher
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
RAND students are intimately involved in real public policy research and often make substantial contributions to their projects. The curriculum and atmosphere are strongly interdisciplinary. RAND provides a candy store of opportunities to affect public policy and the ideas that determine it while simultaneously working in an intellectually exciting not-for-profit organization that has a special working relationship with our government sponsors.

Paul Davis

Senior Policy Researcher
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School
RAND provides a truly unique graduate school experience. Unlike other Ph.D. programs in policy analysis, this one provides the added practical experience of on-the-job (OJT) training, making it stand out from the competition. As part of the tuition reimbursement plan, students are required to work for pay as team members on real-world research projects with RAND research staff. This benefit is not to be understated because future policy analysts with RAND backbones will be poised to make a difference!

Lisa S. Meredith

Senior Behavioral Scientist, RAND
Source: Perspectives on the RAND School