Pam Ranson

Pamela Ransom Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at Metropolitan College in the School of Public Affairs and Administration teaching graduate students public administration and policy, research methods and program evaluation from 2011 to 2025 . She also teaches public policy at Northwestern University School of Professional Studies, as an adjunct lecturer working with graduate students across the United States and around the world for the last fourteen years. She has a doctorate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Urban Planning and undergraduate degree Cum Laude from Harvard University in Philosophy.  She previously taught public policy and administration at Long Island University, School of Business, Public Administration, and Information Sciences in the Master of Public Administration Program for many years as both an adjunct and full time Assistant Professor.  She previously has been an adjunct and faculty mentor with other institutions of higher learning including Northcentral University and St Joseph’s University.  She served for over seven years  as Special Assistant for Environmental Affairs for the New York City Mayor and Manhattan Borough President David Dinkins,  and Research Scientist at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection at the end of the Dinkins administration. Following this she worked for over five years with the Women’s Environment and Development Organization with former Congresswomen Bella Abzug directing a program on health and environment, working on a range of global and domestic projects related to women that involved advocacy and organizing across the United States and around the world. She  also previously worked as Deputy Director of a Brooklyn based supportive housing program, Turning Point managing a range of housing facilities for youth, homeless and women. She has been a consultant for international, local, and nonprofit organizations, including serving as a team leader for the  UN Environment Program (UNEP) for several years conducting evaluations on large climate change projects in Brazil and Mexico, and as a consultant for USAID and New York City agencies such as the Medical and Health Research Association. After graduation from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, after working as a consultant for a firm in Boston conducting studies on issues such as single room occupancy housing for HUD, she served as Deputy Director of Town Planning for the Government of Jamaica, managing a team conducting an array of studies on issues such as industrial development and location across the island. She returned to the United States working in the planning department of Westchester county before moving to New York City to work  for the Manhattan Borough President and Mayor.  During her last year as an undergraduate at Harvard University and in the year following graduation from Harvard University, she worked co-director of the Harvard Africa Volunteer Program in Kenya that involved fundraising and preparation of volunteers serving in roles in East Africa and  teaching for a year in a community school in Limuru, Kenya. Dr Ransom worked as a consultant for the Huairou Commission and has been affiliated with the organization, and Board member for the National Congress of Neighborhood Women since 2010.  She is a longstanding member of the American Society for Public Administration.  In her early years during college she was lead singer in a jazz and blues band and has also been active as an artist  with her work displayed in various settings including Brooklyn Borough Hall and shows at Long Island University. She has numerous publications and conference presentations on issues ranging from environment, urbanization, housing, women, community engagement and health. She also has been featured in Who’s Who in America.

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