Neeraj Mehta

In March, Neeraj left his position as a program officer at Nexus Community Partners, a nonprofit organization that helps to builds more engaged and powerful communities in the Twin Cities. He is now the director of community-based research at the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs. He is also a 2011–2014 Bush Foundation Leadership Fellow.

Why did you choose the Humphrey School?
When I attended the Humphrey School, I also was working full-time for a community-based organization in Minneapolis. I chose Humphrey because it allowed me to stay rooted in my community, develop a deeper understanding of our local context—our history, policies, etc.—while layering a broader, more national perspective on top of that and creating a strategic network of relationships with others in the community development field. Additionally, I received a scholarship that helped make my degree more affordable and accessible.

How is the Humphrey School unique?
One area that I believe makes the Humphrey School unique is the way in which Humphrey faculty members and students are able to be deeply connected and integrated in the communities and neighborhoods in the Twin Cities in relevant and important ways.

How did your experiences at the Humphrey School influence your career choices?
The education I received and the relationships I have developed at the Humphrey School have added value all along my career path. The relationships developed over my time at the Humphrey School continue to serve me in the field.