Shaping the future of public service starts with diverse, talented undergraduates

Each year, the Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA) hosts a variety of free, in-person conferences for undergraduate students across the United States. The Public Service Weekends “introduce undergraduate changemakers to the broad range of opportunities available in public service and international affairs,” said Estevan Daniel Delgado, PPIA program executive director. PPIA has supported efforts to increase diversity in graduate studies in public policy, international affairs and public service for more than 40 years. 

In November 2023, Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy and School of Foreign Service (SFS) jointly hosted a PPIA Public Service Weekend focused on “Diverse Voices in Public Policy & International Affairs.” Nearly 30 undergraduates, representing four-year colleges and universities in Georgia, Massachusetts, California, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, New York, Florida, Illinois and Nevada, participated in programming on Georgetown’s Hilltop Campus. A majority of the participants were from underrepresented racial groups and more than half were first-generation college students.

“We were so excited to host once again a dynamic and accomplished group of diverse undergraduates on our campus,” said Julie Ito , director of admissions at the McCourt School. “Programs such as PPIA’s Public Service Weekends allow us to connect early with talented groups of students who can play a role in shaping the future.”

Over the course of three days, students engaged with international relations and policy experts from the McCourt School and SFS, explored careers in public service and participated in professional development activities, including a networking lunch with alumni and current student leaders.

“Each participant brought a unique perspective to our weekend of programming on campus,” said Trish Makovsky, assistant director of admissions. “The students posed extremely thoughtful questions to Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, who served as our keynote speaker for the weekend, and McCourt School faculty members Wesley Joe and Nuku Ofori , who facilitated a case study discussion which examined the conflict over a minimum wage in Seattle.”

“We hope that our programming will encourage attendees to seriously consider graduate school and potential careers in public policy and international affairs,” said Ito.

View the comprehensive PPIA Public Service Weekend program here.