Barbara Batycka MPA ’25

Growing up in Poland, political participation was always a part of daily life for Barbara Batycka, who came to the Brooks School to pursue a Master of Public Administration (MPA). Her interest in traveling and exploring new cultures fueled her desire to work in a diverse and international environment.

“The most rewarding aspect of public administration is the tangible impact on citizens,” she said. “Being able to champion causes, draft policies, and represent those whose voices are overlooked drives me in this field.”

At the Brooks School, Barbara’s coursework was grounded in practice. From analyzing economic policies in public finance to working on client-based projects in her capstone course, every class provided hands-on opportunities to apply the skills she acquired in the classroom. A semester in Washington, D.C., as part of the Brooks School’s Cornell in Washington program proved particularly formative. While completing a public policy fellowship at Google, Batycka took courses with former Congressman Steve Israel and Pulitzer Prize winner Sam Fullwood III.

“That experience gave me the professional grounding and network I needed to address real-world challenges,” Barbara said.

During her time at Cornell in Washington, Barbara became deeply engaged in technology policy with a focus on the regulation of artificial intelligence.

“With the emergence of AI, it’s vital that policymakers keep up with technological advancements while protecting data privacy,” Barbara explained.

Her goal is to return to Poland and contribute to drafting equitable AI policies at the national level.

Studying Public Administration at the Brooks School

Are you ready to build leadership and strategy skills required for addressing complex policy challenges and improving lives? The Brooks School offers an interdisciplinary, Ivy League Master of Public Administration degree that can launch or accelerate your mission-driven career across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Explore the 2-year residential MPA curriculum and application process here.