Rajni Jaiswal, a student in Pace University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program and member of the Class of 2025, shared her experiences and motivations for pursuing public administration in a recent interview.
Jaiswal explained that she chose Pace University after considering other options, including Ivy League schools. She said her decision was influenced by family proximity and the university’s reputation. “Even though I once imagined attending an Ivy League school, when I received my acceptance letter from Pace, my brother, who lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, encouraged me to attend Pace because it was both close to family and well recognized. I now realize that Pace has given me opportunities I may not have had elsewhere—internships, conferences, and strong faculty support. After meeting Professor Gina Scutelnicu-Todoran, PhD, in my first class, I decided I wanted to take full advantage of the program and do my capstone under her mentorship.”
Originally from Calcutta, India, Jaiswal holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in political science as well as an MPhil in international relations. She noted her longstanding interest in public service: “Coming from a political science background, I’ve always been passionate about public service. Public administration allows me to serve communities directly and bring meaningful change.”
During her time at Pace University, Jaiswal has participated in research-oriented internships. She worked with the New York Public Library’s TechConnect Department on data analysis projects spanning two decades of programming data and also engaged with Bengali-speaking communities in the Bronx. Another internship at the Trust for Public Land involved GIS mapping for potential school playground sites and community outreach efforts.
She highlighted how these experiences were made possible through institutional support: “Pace has given me countless opportunities, from internships to conference funding to mentorship by faculty. I truly believe it doesn’t matter whether you attend an Ivy League or another school—what matters is how much the institution supports and values its students, and Pace does that wholeheartedly.”
Jaiswal’s research focuses on equity issues within public administration such as leadership diversity and pay disparities. She attended American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) conferences in 2024 and 2025; during the latter year she presented research on gender and racial pay gaps among women municipal officials in New York City and Westchester County. The study underscored ongoing challenges regarding representation of women of color in leadership roles despite similar responsibilities compared to male counterparts.
Her work has earned recognition including the 2025 SWPA (Section on Women in Public Administration) Scholarship Award and the 2025 SPOD (Section on Personnel and Organization Development) Scholarship Award from ASPA.
Beyond academics, Jaiswal serves as president of the MPA Student Association (MPSA) at Pace University as well as co-president of its International City/County Management Association (ICMA) chapter. These roles involve organizing events such as career panels with alumni.
Looking ahead, Jaiswal plans to pursue a doctoral degree: “As far as my career goals are concerned, my first priority is pursuing a PhD in public administration, and in the long term, I want to teach and continue conducting research.”
Reflecting on her experience so far at Pace University she stated: “I feel very lucky. The university has given me countless opportunities—from internships to conference funding to mentorship by faculty who have been very supportive and approachable. I truly believe it doesn’t matter whether you attend an Ivy League or another school—what matters is how much the institution supports and values its students—and Pace does that wholeheartedly.”
