Malcolm K. Oliver, Ph.D., MPA
 

Dr. Oliver is a very forward-thinking professor. He consistently forced us to ask the hard questions about organizations, public and nonprofit, and how to make them better. He taught us how to draw from our strengths and improve on our weaknesses.

We were also privileged to do study-travel to Cape Town ZA to study international governmental administration in both the public and nonprofit organizations. The cultural differences of problem-solving and critical thinking about improving the quality of life for those who had been marginalized through the apartheid system of South Africa gave me ideas to improve race relations here in America. This course was both inspirational and thought-provoking.

I also worked at the same institution that I receive my MPA from and we did a SWOT analysis that resulted in some improvements in the administrative operations. This showed us an excellent example of a textbook becoming experiential learning. It was also insightful in understanding the complexity of institutions and how much has to be considered when trying to implement change.

The exposure to the multifaceted complexities of administration under diverse situations was a plus in our MPA program. Dr. Oliver made sure our educational experience would open doors for our future in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management. I am currently applying many of those theories and techniques in my church's ministry!

I had my first graduate class ever with Dr. Oliver. It was very obvious he has a passion for government, which inspired me to make a career switch from the Non-profit side of Public Administration to Municipal Government. Lessons he taught our class about budgeting and public finance have stuck with me to this day.

Succession planning is so important and there aren't enough young people getting passionate about municipal careers, especially here in the NY Metropolitan area. Students interested in Municipal Administration would benefit from classes on issues such as Capital Planning, Contract Negotiations, and Land Use Decisions.

Dr. Malcolm Oliver is one of God’s glorious soldiers serving him as an educator, and mentor. As a former student, I witnessed his dedication and inspiration to challenge people to make a change, think outside the box and never settle for normal standards. Through lectures and assignments, he has been able to educate and build confidence in tomorrow’s leaders. His leadership is second to none, matched by his passion and true commitment to making the world a better place for all. I endorse him knowing that he will give 110% towards the mission.

As a former public administration student, I'm happy to say my educational experience has contributed to my knowledge of public service management. Working as a public service professional, I've gained the knowledge necessary to coordinate, direct, and implement government policies and programs. 

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As a Graduate Student at CNR, Dr. Oliver was welcoming and approachable. His love for academia was/is refreshing and can transfer into any career of his choosing. It is admirable he has chosen Public Service. Dr. Oliver's, ambition and passion for the improvement of our communities is a sure recipe for success. I applaud Dr. Oliver in all his endeavors and I will lend my support and knowledge of affordable housing whenever he needs it.

Dr. Malcolm Oliver is an exceptional educator. His educational prowess is only surpassed by his value, passion and willingness to help his fellow man. I learned about policy development and learned to incorporate my video and audio editing skills under Dr. Oliver's tutelage providing for an incredibly powerful tool. Dr. Oliver's positive attitude leads his students to believe in what they're studying to accomplish. It is through my experience in the MPA program with Dr. Oliver that I'm confident in my ability to lead, teach and influence on a level that enables me to be successful.

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Presently, I enjoy the fact that I'm crafting opportunities for minority youth to learn about policy development, project management, and advocacy. I look forward to teaching students how to use communications to advocate for policy changes and to develop messaging that will benefit their communities and people. Such programming needs as much support from public administrators, nonprofit organizations, after-school programmers, parent organizations, law enforcement organizations, and other stakeholders.

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Randal Hayes, MPA (2014), M.S., Adv. Cert., Education Programmer

Creating a ripple effect to help inspire and shape future leaders by mentoring, fostering an inquisitive mindset, and seeking value-based approaches to problem-solving are key elements to strengthening the nonprofit sector.

Dr. Oliver is an instrumental educator, a motivator and a detailed oriented person. His dedication and commitment can be measured by the lives he has changed and the years he has committed to education. He has the ability to bring change from the classroom to the community. As I embodied my career, Dr. Oliver's voice echo into my mind almost daily, "facts only the facts.

I thoroughly enjoyed the lectures given by Dr. Oliver when I was attending the College of New Rochelle. I particularly enjoyed and learned a lot through the study abroad program in Brazil, which was organized by Dr. Oliver. I had a chance to work on a comparative case study between the American public policy and the one in place in Salvador the Bahia ( Brazil).

Besides being an instructor, Dr. Oliver has been a mentor to all of us in his classes. He was a real life role model for me. He encouraged us to always give our best in our respective professional paths. Dr Oliver demonstrated outstanding leadership skills in the MPA program at the College of New Rochelle.

He definitely had a great impact in my life and contributed in growing my sense of accountability in this world.

An absolutely great individual who is committed to the profession of public administration but more importantly he cares deeply about service to people. (Dr. Oliver was my Department Head Supervisor at College of New Rochelle Graduate School Public Administration).

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I'm a pastor of a large urban church in one the poorest neighborhoods in the South Bronx, NY. What is needed is for professors to assist their students with making connections to urban communities of color so they have better hands on engagement with up and coming communities like mine.

Dr. Oliver is a genuine person and deeply cares about the causes he is interested in. His commitment, sincerity, and leadership during his doctoral coursework is testament to his current professional accomplishments. His conviction and dedication to public service is inherent in the activities he undertakes.

Karabi C. Bezboruah, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Administration, College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Arlington

Dr. Oliver’s passion for the field of public administration and urban affairs will be of tremendous value to any institution. As a fellow alum, I am familiar with Dr. Oliver’s scholarship interest in the field of public and urban affairs, his study abroad programs, and his invaluable service as an external examiner at the University of Cape Town.

Perhaps more importantly, Dr. Oliver enriches the educational experience of his students by placing them in the company of other students whose own experiences and background further deepen his students’ learning opportunities and outcomes. For instance, he recognizes that while study abroad is an integral component of the American college experience, minority students (particularly African-American students) however significantly lag behind in study abroad participation. Therefore, putting together unique groups of MPA students for trips to Africa have become an integral part of his teaching career.

His service to our peer-review system at the University of Cape Town as an external examiner over the years have provided a unique international perspective in public affairs for our graduate students. He is an embodiment of a true public servant.

Dr. Oliver was my professor when I was a student at National-Louis University. He is truly a trailblazer as evident by his vision and progressive leadership which cultivates an atmosphere of intellectual curiosity. His candid, unequivocal, and authentic presence allowed my colleagues and I to gain confidence as public administration students.

As a professional mentee of Dr. Malcolm Oliver, I’ve received life-changing advice regarding my career trajectory. The education I received has allowed me to boldly lead at a nonprofit university. Learning how to mitigate inefficiencies, develop talented employees, and strategically pivot to meet current needs and demands were all skills that evolved as an MPA student.

Dr. Oliver's candidacy for the ASPA District Representative is a logical "next step" in his legacy of successful involvement in local planning and community development; academic administration, teaching, writing and advising of Graduate and Undergraduate students; and, a visionary in pursuing public/private partnerships that have impact at the local level.

Dr. Oliver, Ph. D. is a "must have" resource with a results oriented focus that will help guide the ASPA into our "new normal."

Ray E. Willis. Former Director of Community Planning and Development, US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, Chicago (Region 5)