Ridwan Islam Sifat, M.P.P
PhD Candidate (ABD) in Public Policy
Orientation Advisor- UMBC Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising
The School of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
*ABD stands for "all but dissertation" and is a term used to describe a PhD candidate who has completed all required coursework and exams but has not defended their dissertation (or thesis)*
My love, my "I". You are not just a part of my life; you are the reason my heart still beats with hope. You are my calm in every storm, my strength when I feel weak, and the light that guides me through every dark moment. Every day, I make dua for you. I ask Allah to keep you safe, to keep your heart soft and full of peace, and to bring us back together soon in His perfect time. I pray for the day I can hold your hand again, look into your eyes, and tell you how much I missed you, not just in words but in every breath I took without you. Your love is a gift I never take for granted. Your smile brings peace to my soul. Your voice is my favorite sound. You are my greatest blessing, the person I thank Allah for every single day. I carry you with me in every thought, in every prayer, and in every plan I make for the future. You are not just my love, you are my home, my comfort, and my forever.
One life, one love, one heart, one person, it's always you
Ridwan Sifat is a Ph.D. Candidate (ABD) in Public Policy at the School of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where he also completed his Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.). He holds both a Bachelor's and a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Bangladesh University of Professionals. His academic training combines policy analysis and public management, providing a strong foundation for examining complex governance and service delivery challenges. Ridwan’s research broadly focuses on public and non-profit management, health systems and service delivery, policy implementation, and organizational behavior within public institutions. He investigates how administrative processes, institutional frameworks, and policy interventions shape access to essential services such as healthcare and social protection, particularly in resource-constrained settings. His work emphasizes the practical implications of public administration theory, assessing the efficiency, accountability, and responsiveness of government and non-governmental organizations. With a strong interest in healthcare management and policy, his current research explores how structural, political, and organizational dynamics influence health service access and delivery. He also examines the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies in public service systems, assessing their potential to improve policy outcomes and administrative performance.
Ridwan's scholarship has appeared in several peer-reviewed journals, including Politics & Policy, Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, Sexuality Research and Social Policy, Journal of Affective Disorders, Journal of Public Health Policy, The Lancet Psychiatry, Journal of Homosexuality, The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, and Journal of Social Service Research. His academic work draws from both field-based qualitative studies and policy-driven analysis, reflecting a commitment to producing research that informs effective governance and administrative reform.
In addition to his research, he served as a Lecturer at Northern University Bangladesh and is currently a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) at UMBC. His teaching and mentorship extend to various research labs and programs, where he guides students in research on healthcare policy, AI and public policy/administration, digital government, public management, and global public health issues. He has also gained extensive experience in research and professional roles, including as a research mentor at the Health Policy Research Lab and as a principal investigator and research fellow at the International Socioeconomics Laboratory.
He is an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Public Health Science. His dedication to public policy and management is reflected in his involvement with professional associations, including the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM), the Public Administration Theory Network, the American Political Science Association, the American Sociological Association, the International Public Policy Association, the South Asian Network for Public Administration (SANPA), Partners for Advancing Health Equity (P4HE), the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP) as well as his participation in numerous conferences and workshops on public policy issues.
He received the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellowship, Adam Yarmolinsky Fellowship, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Award, and the UMBC College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) Dissertation Research Support Stipend.
Ridwan Islam Sifat received a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the UMBC School of Public Policy.
"One example is Ridwan Islam Sifat, an M.P.P. graduated pursuing a doctoral degree at UMBC’s School of Public Policy who is researching healthcare disparities among intersex individuals in the United States. Sifat joined UMBC as an international student after earning both a B.S. and M.S. from the Bangladesh University of Professionals" - Catalina Sofia Dansberger Duque
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