Alumni Profile: Max Wagner, MPP’24

Maxwell Wagner, MPP’24, is a Policy Analyst at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. His interest in making an impact through policy, Wagner said, began with a job he had after earning his BS in business administration from Northeastern University.  

“I was working at Sunwealth, a clean energy investment firm, and part of my job involved sharing the stories of those who benefited from solar projects. One project I’ll never forget was on the rooftop of a food pantry and delivered $400 in annual energy savings. After asking what $400 means to the organization, the Executive Director said that many of their patrons are unhoused and come in wearing wet socks. The pantry provides a fresh pair to anyone in need. ‘$400 doesn’t sound like much,’ he said, ‘but it buys a lot of socks.’” 

That experience, Wagner said, sparked his overall interest in public policy. “I realized that state, local, and federal policies have a huge impact on what projects get built in an urban environment…and who benefits from them.” 

That interest subsequently led Wagner to pursue his Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree from Harris. “I wanted to learn both data analysis and storytelling, and the Harris emphasis on data really interested me—especially as someone who came from a business school. Since I noticed a lot of jobs I was interested in required coding experience, I wanted to make sure that I went to a school that valued both technical and soft skills.” 

Harris, Wagner said, definitely provided the skills he needed to make his impact. “In my role as a Policy Analyst for CMAP, I use the data analysis skills I honed at Harris in my day-to-day work. Honestly, there’s no way I would have gotten this job without the skills I learned at Harris.” 

One project Wagner said he is particularly passionate about is shaping CMAP’s Regional Transportation Plan, which serves as a roadmap for Chicagoland’s long-term transportation priorities. “I analyze regional trends to help develop strategies for meeting the future transportation needs of residents. And the analysis I do,” he added, “regularly relies on R, data visualization, and cost-benefit analysis skills.” 

While at Harris, Wagner said he also appreciated the importance of community, getting involved with Harris Student Organizations such as the Urban Policy Student Association (UPSA) and the Chicago Policy Review. “My work with UPSA helped me find a community within Harris that shared my interest in transportation and housing policy.” 

Wagner also credits his time at Harris with refining his interest in urban planning. “I had a fellowship in my second year with the Mansueto Institute, and a big component of that fellowship included a research project about the impact of local zoning policies.” 

Now, as a Policy Analyst for CMAP, Wagner said he is making the impact he had been seeking. “My work is exactly what I hoped to do with my policy degree.”