Research-Driven Public Affairs Education

Cristina Stanica is an Associate Teaching Professor of Public Policy and Administration. Most of her teaching is in critical core courses that support the MPA and MPP programs, in particular Techniques of Policy Analysis and Principles of Public Administration, as well as electives such as Comparative Public Policy and Administration. The central theme of her teaching is active and practical engagement and learning, based on the principles of experiential, democratized, and interdisciplinary learning, inclusivity as part of a global mindset, and critical thinking. She explored New Public Governance practices in Central and Eastern Europe and is interested in administrative and rules burdens in street-level bureaucracy, coproduction, and trust in government.

Mark Henderson teaches courses in public policy, environmental studies, and Asian studies at Mills College, now part of Northeastern University. His research focuses on social and environmental policy problems in the United States and China, often using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). He has supervised over 200 graduate students working on community-based policy projects and now serves as the Oakland, California research director for Northeastern’s Community to Community (C2C) Impact Engine. He previously taught at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and Lanzhou University, China, and was a GIS analyst at MassGIS in Boston and at the U.S. EPA’s National Environmental Research Laboratory in North Carolina.

Abby Frisk has over 10 years of experience in higher education. She is passionate about assisting students as they work toward their educational and career goals. As an enrollment specialist for Northeastern University’s online graduate and certificate programs, Abby is dedicated to connecting with new and future students and supporting them during the admission process. Abby holds a Bachelor of Art in Business Administration from Dominican University.

Sharlene Juste is a proud Northeastern University CAMD ’13 alumna and a New York City native. Since graduating, Sharlene has fostered culturally aware and sustainable student communities across major global cities, including Boston, London, and currently, the nation’s capital. Before joining the Northeastern University Arlington team, Sharlene held student affairs and program support roles at New York University and The George Washington University. Sharlene’s global perspective is underscored by her study and work experiences in five countries across five continents.

Sharlene is excited to return to Husky Nation, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge and a passion for cultivating meaningful connections. As a leader, learner, and adventurer, she thrives on pushing boundaries and inspiring others to embrace the opportunities that come with a global mindset.

Etai Mizrav, PhD, is a professor, researcher, and consultant specializing in educational policy and inequality. His research investigates 21st-century drivers of educational inequality and discriminatory policies contributing to opportunity and achievement gaps.

Dr. Mizrav is an educational equity expert with experience in devising policies, conducting district reviews, addressing educator shortages, and diversifying teachers. He’s worked with domestic and international partners, designed tools for identifying equity gaps, and presented his work at national forums.

At Northeastern University, he teaches public policy analysis and education policy. He previously managed education policy and equity for the Washington, DC, Office of the State Superintendent of Education and was a Senior Researcher at the American Institutes for Research. He holds an MPP from Georgetown University and a PhD from George Washington University.