Dr. Jackie Vimo is an Assistant Professor of Political Science and Law at Montclair State University, with over 20 years of experience in immigration policy and advocacy. Formerly a Senior Policy Analyst at the National Immigration Law Center and Advocacy Director at the New York Immigration Coalition, her research centers on social movements and state-level campaigns for undocumented immigrants’ rights. Jackie has taught at CUNY, the New School, Hunter, and the University of Kentucky. She holds a Ph.D. from the New School, an M.A. from UC Berkeley, and a B.A. from Barnard College.

Dr. Michael Leo Owens is a Professor of Political Science at Emory University. He is the author of God and Government in the Ghetto and Deadly Force and is currently working on Prisoners of Democracy. His research spans urban politics, policing, and carceral citizenship. Owens has served as chair of the Urban Affairs Association and is an editor for several top journals. He earned his Ph.D. from SUNY Albany.

Dr. Pengju Zhang is an Associate Professor at Rutgers University–Newark, specializing in public finance, local governance, and education policy. His award-winning research appears in top journals like National Tax Journal and Public Finance Review. He holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School.

Dr. Samantha MacBride, faculty at Baruch’s Marxe School, blends academic and public-sector expertise in environmental policy and urban management. With a Ph.D. in sociology from NYU, she explores topics from composting and plastics to the cultural meanings of waste—and recently, UFOs and tech belief systems.

Professor Thomas J. Main has been a leading voice on public administration, NYC governance, and the defense of liberal democracy. A Baruch College veteran since 1994, he’s an award-winning educator and prolific author currently focused on reforming the NYC Charter and improving government accountability.

Dr. Jenna Davis is a Postdoctoral Scholar at UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation, where she researches zoning reform and housing equity. Her past roles include Senior Policy Analyst at the Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness and research positions at the Citizens Budget Commission. She holds a Ph.D. from Columbia, a master’s from UMass Amherst, and a B.A. from Barnard College.

Dr. Carolyn Abott specializes in state and local politics, focusing on how public finance decisions affect inequality and accountability. Her work is published in top journals including American Journal of Political Science and Public Administration Review. She earned her Ph.D. from Princeton, and her forthcoming book explores the politics of public pensions.

Dr. Gang Chen is an Associate Professor at the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College and co-director of the State and Local Government Finance Project. His expertise spans public budgeting, pensions, and financial management. A prolific researcher, Chen’s work has earned funding from Pew, GASB, Spencer Foundation, and more. His scholarship appears in JPART, PMR, and other leading journals.

Dr. Neil Hernandez is a “pracademic” at Baruch’s Marxe School, combining hands-on government leadership with academic insight. Formerly NYC’s Juvenile Justice Commissioner and a U.S. asylum officer, he teaches management and researches policy implementation. His award-winning work explores how organizational structure shapes immigration enforcement and asylum adjudication. Hernandez earned national recognition for his historical policy research and remains committed to informed, equitable governance.

Dr. Christina Greer is an Associate Professor at Fordham University whose work spans Black ethnic politics, campaigns, and American public opinion. She’s the author of Black Ethnics and co-editor of Black Politics in Transition. A regular columnist and podcast host, Greer brings deep scholarly insight to public discourse on race and politics.