Marquise J. McGraw is an economist with a keen interest in applying economic principles and methods to affect real-world policy outcomes. He serves as the director of SPA's top-ranked Master's degree programs in Public Administration (MPA) and Public Policy (MPP). Informed by his experience in government and academia, Professor McGraw teaches courses in applied policy analysis, including courses in statistical methods, economics, public finance, and cost-benefit analysis. In 2023, Professor McGraw received an Outstanding Teaching award from the School of Public Affairs.

Professor McGraw has had longstanding research interests in the areas of infrastructure and economic development, local labor markets, and public finance. Prior to joining American University, Professor McGraw served as an economist for the Office of Research, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, in Washington, DC, from September 2016 to September 2019. At the CFPB, he consulted with relevant stakeholders on fair lending supervisory exams, advised policymakers on the economic consequences of proposed regulatory changes, conducted cost-benefit analyses, and performed academic research. From 2007 to 2009, he was an economist in the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Aviation Policy and Plans, where he also conducted cost-benefit analysis. Professor McGraw has previously taught at the masters and undergraduate levels at several institutions, including the University of Maryland - College Park, Middlebury College, and the University of California – Berkeley, winning a Teaching Effectiveness Award from UC Berkeley in 2012.