Philip M. Nufrio, Ph.D., a long-time full-time member of Metropolitan College of New York’s School for Public Affairs and Administration faculty, retired on December 3, 2021. Current and former students, fellow faculty, members of the college’s administration, and Professor Nufrio’s friends joined the celebration on the college’s Manhattan campus.
Dr. Nufrio’s passion is infectious. If he has an idea, a project, an issue in need of attention, or a cause worth fighting for, you could pretty much count yourself in because there is no escape from “Team Nufrio.” His passion for Purpose-Centered Education resonates with every student. He teaches them the knowledge and skills to achieve their purpose while learning to be leaders in their workplaces and communities.
Dr. Nufrio photographed (center) at Commencement with Pi Alpha Alpha honors students.
We haven’t heard the last from the professor that so many students and alumni affectionately call “Dad” because of the great care and attention he dedicated to every student that sat in his classroom. In November 2021, Dr. Nufrio launched Dr. Phil Nufrio’s Government Corner on Facebook, where colleagues, alumni, and students are invited to share their thoughts on current and historical events and all things government and public affairs. This real-time site posts current, regional, and national topics requiring attention and action.
The MCNY Community wishes Dr. Nufrio the best as he moves on to his new role as Professor Emeritus. Our world is better because of all that he brings to the table.
(Short videos and photos from the December 3 event are available for viewing on the MCNY Flickr page.)
About Philip M. Nufrio
Dr. Philip M. Nufrio has been an educator for nearly 35 years. He has been a consultant and policy analyst for the U.S. government, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the National Bureau of Standards, and President Jimmy Carter’s Presidential Reorganization Project. He also worked as an organizational development specialist at Kaiser Permanente Healthcare.
In June 2020, he was elected as a national delegate to the Democratic National Convention and was the 2021 Democratic candidate for Ocean County (New Jersey) Commissioner. During this same time, he continued his work on the effects of climate change by publishing “The Human and Financial Toll of Hurricanes: Climate Change, Flood Mitigation, and the Effects of Superstorms on Low Income and Working Middle-Class Families.” His family was a victim of Superstorm Sandy. This experience drives his passion for bringing much-needed attention to the storm’s ravages on his community and the East Coast. He has also organized and presented, with members of the U.S. Congress, on numerous Superstorm panels at 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019 national American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) conferences.
Dr. Nufrio is a lifelong member and national officer for ASPA. Since 2009, he has convened a national sub-committee of public administration professors’ annual student capstone panel presentations at the organization’s national conference.
Nufrio with President Joe Biden
Dr. Nufrio has authored two books: Applied Statistics for Public Policy and Organizational Culture Change: A Study of the National Government. He is an international scholar in public policy and administration with published reports and articles in Public Administration Quarterly, The International Journal of Public Administration, and Public Administration and Management and was a participant in the 2018 “Biden Challenge Conference: Restoring the Middle Class” at the University of Delaware. He also published two articles in 2020 for the Biden School on criminal justice reform and economic equity for the middle class.
MCNY MPA Faculty and Alumni presented at 2018 ASPA Conference: Rafiu Laguda, MPA, Tania C. Moreta, MPA, Dr. Philip Nufrio, Dwayne E. Hackett, MPA, Dr. Pamela Ransom, and Kassiana Parris, MPA
Since 2003, Dr. Nufrio has been an active member of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the Global Standard in Public Service Education. In 2014, he was selected as Outstanding Pi Alpha Alpha National Faculty Advisor of the year for his work in promoting and sustaining the scholarship of his students. Dr. Nufrio is the founder of Metropolitan College of New York’s chapter of the Pi Alpha Alpha honor society (Pi Alpha Alpha is the global honor society for Public Affairs and Administration). He also serves on the national Pi Alpha Alpha board for NASPAA.
2020 Zoom Pi Alpha Alpha Induction
Nufrio receives MCNY Crystal Award at 2016 Commencement
In 2016, he was awarded MCNY’s Crystal Award for Outstanding Service (one of the college’s highest honors). In 2018, he was inducted into the Essex Catholic High School Foundation Hall of Fame for his lifelong work in serving higher education; and the New Jersey and New York communities.
Dr. Nufrio received his Ph.D. in public administration from Rutgers University, his MPA from the Maxwell School, Syracuse University, and a B.A. from Rutgers University.
