Carlene Nelson, a Dean’s Distinguished Fellow, is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration in urban and social policy at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). An Americas Scholar and Global Fellow in Urban Practice, she previously served as a Policy Intern and Community Liaison with the NYC Office of the Mayor, where she navigated the intersection of policy and community engagement. She holds a bachelor’s degree from NYU Gallatin, with an individualized concentration spanning politics, public policy, and Caribbean and Latin American Studies.