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Greetings PPIA community,
As we bring in the New Year, I want to take this opportunity to mention some key accomplishments of 2016 and provide a snapshot of what to expect in the New Year.
We are happy to announce the addition of three new board members, Richard Xavier Corral, Dorene J. Martinez, and Sekou Kaalund. They are three PPIA alumni with backgrounds in finance, consulting and international development, and carry with them invaluable experience and a rich history of supporting mission-driven organizations dedicated to social change. We have great confidence that they will strengthen PPIA during their tenures. Please join me in welcoming our new board members. For their full bios, please visit our Leadership page.
Although it may take years to affect policy, it takes a single day for PPIA to impact our communities, as our Public Service Weekends provide an opportunity for young people to explore the pathway to pursuing careers in public service. Last year we hosted 170 students at three Public Service Weekends hosted by Carnegie Mellon University, Indiana University - Bloomington, and Binghamton University. Students across the country had the opportunity to explore careers in public service and international affairs, participate in workshops, and gather insights from accomplished leaders in public service. We will be hosting two more Public Service Weekends at the University of California San Diego (April 22-23) and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (November 3-5). We are in the final stages of securing host sites for even more Public Service Weekends in 2017. Lastly, we will hold our Public Service Expo on July 14, 2017, at the Marvin Center at George Washington University. The expo is free and open to all who are interested in graduate programs, public service careers and internships.
Over the past many months leading to the Presidential transition of January 20, we have witnessed a good deal of public rhetoric that has effectively questioned the relevance of principles that animate the work of our public and international affairs institutions. Whether it is use of reason, analysis, and scientific method in addressing public policy issues, civility in the public dialogue, or promotion of diversity and inclusion in our society and our programs, it may be more important than ever that we work to strengthen organizations like PPIA. For this reason, I want to express my most sincere thanks to our graduate school consortium members, donors, and leadership in supporting a new generation of leaders in public policy and international affairs.
Sincerely,
Eric Schwartz
Chair, PPIA Board of Directors
Dean, Humphrey School of Public Affairs
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| PPIA Alumni: Share your story |
Dr. Sophal Ear
PPIA 1994 (Princeton University)
Associate Professor of Diplomacy and World Affairs, Occidental College
How did PPIA impact your career?
PPIA was transformative. I was 19, a junior at Berkeley, clueless, and stumbled on a poster with return cards to request applications for different Junior Summer Institutes. One stood out: Princeton. Why? It was near New York, and who didn't want to hang around the Big Apple? I had no idea what public policy was. PPIA meant lifetime friendships, friends like the late Rev. Clem Pinckney and MacArthur Genius Jose Quinonez, and so many more. That Summer, I learned to write policy memos; I learned game theory; I fell in love with Princeton. And of course, Princeton led to my MPA and to the World Bank, where, during my JSI I was asked "what would you like to do?" and I said, not knowing what I was talking about "Be a Governor of the World Bank". Little did I know it meant being a Finance Minister. But still, I got to be a Consultant at 22 years of age at the World Bank, working on social protection, basically welfare policies, even though I'd just been on welfare a couple of years earlier. It all started with PPIA.
Throughout your professional experiences, what achievement are you most proud of?
Getting my PhD from Berkeley after the World Bank and working for the United Nations Development Programme in East Timor, publishing my Columbia University Press and co-authored Routledge Books days from one another; joining Occidental College as a tenured faculty member, getting called out as a know-nothing Professor of Diplomacy and World Affairs in a speech by the Prime Minister of my native country who has ruled for nearly 32 years and didn't like my critical analysis of Donald Trump's candidacy, whom that Prime Minister endorsed. It's a badge of honor. I must be doing something right.
What advice would you give to your students or recent JSI alum who are pursuing a career in international development?
Yes you can! You can make a positive difference in the lives of others through international development, but remember, you do not have a monopoly on all the expertise. Locals have expertise too. Respect them. Listen to them. Treat them the way you would like to be treated. It's just the Golden Rule.
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Cynthia Salim
PPIA 2008 (Carnegie Mellon University)
How did PPIA impact your career?
PPIA gave me an insightful view into the world of public policy in a very condensed amount of time. From guest speakers to quant-heavy courses, we got a glimpse of all the ways we could make change. And of course, I made life long friends through PPIA. They are still some of the most impressive people, activists and policy professionals I know.
Throughout your professional experiences, what achievement are you most proud of?
I'm most grateful for the opportunity I've had to try my hand at impact through various sectors. I started as a policy associate for an NGO in Geneva, Switzerland before launching Citizen's Mark in New York. Working in both the public and private sectors has given me empathy and a much better grasp on how to affect change from wherever we stand.
In light of the recent Presidential election, women's rights and empowerment are at the forefront of media and political agendas. What plans do you have for your organization and how do you envision Citizen's Mark's role in advancing the status of women around the world?
Women's advancement is certainly a timely movement, and Citizen's Mark's role is to flood the fashion industry with more images of strong, smart, women on the rise. I started Citizen's Mark because I noticed that so few brands portray women as credible and competent people. We need to see women in that image in all parts of society, including fashion and pop culture, in order to truly internalize this dimension of women that has been out of view for so long.
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| Join us for our 15th Annual Graduate School and Career Fair |
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Friday, July 17, 2017
3:00 - 6:00 PM
Marvin Center, George Washington University
Free admission
Held in the nation's capital, the PPIA Public Service EXPO serves as a creative commons for prospective applicants to public policy and international affairs schools, for individuals seeking public service careers and internships, and for strengthening a community of diverse individuals. Learn more about our expo here!
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| Important Dates |
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UC San Diego Public Service Weekend
Application Deadline: Feb 20th
April 22-23, 2017
Public Service Expo
Friday, July 17, 2017
3:00 - 6:00PM
Humphrey School (UMN)
Public Service Weekend
Application details TBD
Nov. 3rd - Nov. 5, 2017
Questions? E-mail us at [email protected]
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Public Service Weekends 2017
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The University of California, San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy, and the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs will be hosting Public Service Weekends in 2017. Do you know a motivated student inspired to work in public service or international affairs? Encourage him or her to apply to one of our Public Service Weekends.
Saturday and Sunday, April 22-23, 2017
La Jolla, California
Apply to attend this free student conference co-sponsored by UCSD, PPIA, and NASPAA. The conference is designed to equip you with the skills necessary to find your
place in the public service sector.
This 2-day interactive weekend will expose up to 30 students to the many options for a public service career. As a participant you will explore what a career in public and international affairs looks like, network with like-minded individuals, as well as gain the practical experience needed to hone your
skills and passions towards actionable change.
University of Minnesota - Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Friday through Sunday, November 3-5, 2017
Minneapolis, Minnesota
More details coming soon!
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| PPIA welcomes a new cohort of Fellows! |
PPIA extends warm congratulations to the recently selected 2017 cohort of Junior Summer Institute fellows! We've admitted over 100 college juniors from a national pool
of 600 highly qualified applicants. This JSI cycle represented 45 US states, and over 400 universities here in the US and abroad. Please join us in congratulating this incredibly diverse array of students, and all who have been a part of this program as it continues to be a cornerstone of our mission.
This application cycle was one of the most competitive to date, and while you may not have been selected as a Fellow, there are many ways for you to become involved with PPIA and in your respective communities. We encourage you to keep in touch and attend one of our events such as the Public Service Weekends, our Expos, and various events hosted throughout the year. We and the wider PPIA network are always available to support you as you craft a path towards a career in public policy and international affairs.
2017 Junior Summer Institute Hosts
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New members of our Graduate School Consortium
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