Master of Public Administration (MPA)
A native of Malaysia, Zai joins the MPA program from a background dedicated to public service and data analysis. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in Economics with certificates in Data Science and Political Science.
His dedication to civic engagement is demonstrated through volunteer work in both the 2022 Malaysian General Election and a local election in Madison, WI. His professional experience includes over a year serving as a Utility Rates Analyst with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. In this role, Zai provided analytical support for electric rate cases, conducted financial analysis, and drafted official regulatory documents. He also collaborated with other analysts and external stakeholders to research and summarize electric, gas rate policies, including a comparative analysis of solar distributed generation policies across several states in the US. This work solidified his passion for evidence-based policymaking, which led him to pursue the MPA program at UGA to deepen his expertise.
During his time at the MPA program, he will serve as a Research Assistant for two faculty members in the School of Public and International Affairs. Upon graduation, Zai aspires to pursue a career in government relations & public sector consulting or academia in public policy, with a long-term goal of applying his expertise to public policy in his home country of Malaysia.
