As shifting federal priorities reshape the United States’ role in world affairs, students are taking a closer look at how international work fits into their future careers. That interest brought the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA) to the School of Public Policy, where the School’s career services team hosted an information session introducing students to pathways in public service and diplomacy.
The conversation reflected growing student curiosity about governance, foreign policy and cross-border networks as federal job cuts impact the job market. The session offered a timely perspective on how nongovernmental and multilateral organizations complement public-sector work in addressing today’s global challenges.
Andrew Doll, managing director of programs and management at UNA-NCA, discussed how the association engages volunteers and professionals through committees on peace and security, sustainable development and international law. He noted that about 78% of Americans support the United Nations, emphasizing enduring public interest in multilateral cooperation even in the midst of political shifts.
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Students also gained insight into UNA-NCA’s Graduate Fellows Program, a competitive spring initiative in which 25 fellows from more than 100 applicants attend weekly in-person seminars with UN experts. The seminars tackle issues through a UN lens, including economic development, human rights, sustainable development, climate change and conflict prevention, pairing each fellow with a mentor to ensure that academic knowledge is linked to practical policymaking experience.
Throughout the session, UNA-NCA representative Ian Sloan MPP ’21, connected what he sees as four key principles he learned during his time as the School—critical thinking, stakeholder integration, data-driven analysis and ethical policymaking—to the skills needed for international engagement. Students provided examples of how these concepts come to life in their coursework: critical thinking in Assistant Professor Alec Worsnop’s class on civil conflict and military perspectives; Professor Susan Parker’s program evaluation and cost benefit analysis course; and Research Professor Tom Hilde’s environment and development class on clean energy transitions and human rights. Sloan noted that these principles prepare students for domestic policy challenges and also equip them to engage meaningfully with worldwide issues.