Jingzhuo (Gisa) Zhang

Full Name: Jingzhuo (Gisa) Zhang

Grad Year: ​2025

Degree/Program: ​MPPA

Current Title: Field Interviewer

Current Employer: University of Michigan

What is the core mission of your role, or what is a major project you are currently working on? As a Field Interviewer for the New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey, I meet people from all walks of life and learn about their housing experiences through in-person interviews. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is being involved in the very first stage of the research process. Instead of working with data after it has been collected, I get to hear people's stories firsthand and understand the experiences behind the numbers. It has shown me how meaningful good public policy begins with listening to the people it serves.

Could you share the story of how you found this position? Did a specific networking contact, internship, or program resource help open the door? During my job search, I participated in career workshops and networking events through UMass, where I learned about HigherEdJobs as a resource for positions in higher education and public service. I also spoke with alumni and professionals who understood my career interests and encouraged me to focus on education-related organizations. Their advice gave me a much clearer direction, and I eventually found this position through HigherEdJobs.

Is there a specific skill, methodology, or lesson from your degree that you rely on to do your work successfully? One of the biggest lessons I took away from the MPPA program is that good public policy begins with listening. Before data becomes numbers in a report, it begins with real conversations and real people. Every interview reminds me that listening carefully, building trust, and understanding different perspectives are just as important as the data itself.

Looking back, what was a pivotal moment, favorite class, or faculty mentorship during your time in the program that directly shaped how you approach your career today? My favorite class was Negotiations because it taught me practical communication skills that I continue to use every day. Whether interviewing residents, building trust with people from different backgrounds, or navigating the job search process, the lessons from that class have been incredibly valuable. 

My favorite mentor was Professor Bridgette Davis. Through working with her on a research project, I learned the fundamentals of academic research, from reviewing literature to organizing information into meaningful insights. That experience strengthened my research skills and gave me a deeper appreciation for the work behind good public policy.

If you could give one piece of advice to a student who is on the fence about starting a graduate degree in public policy, what would it be? If you're on the fence about pursuing a graduate degree in public policy, I'd encourage you to take the first step. The program is about much more than learning policy. It teaches you how to think critically, communicate effectively, and approach problems from different perspectives. Just as importantly, don't be afraid to explore opportunities outside the classroom through internships, research, and networking. I found that what I learned in the classroom shaped the way I approached those experiences, and those experiences, in turn, gave me a much deeper understanding of what I had learned. They truly reinforced each other.