Chizobam Nwagwu
Chizobam Nwagwu 鈥�18 spent an intensive seven weeks as a at the University of Minnesota鈥檚 Humphrey School of Public Affairs. The summer institute program鈥攚ith its three graduate courses, networking opportunities and site visits that showed career possibilities鈥攃emented her goals for her future.
PPIA is a summer program hosted by various institutions across the country that promotes the inclusion of underrepresented groups in public service and advances their leadership roles throughout civic institutions. The program is designed to encourage participants to apply to graduate school in public policy, public administration, international affairs or a related field.
鈥淭his experience reaffirmed my intention to pursue a graduate degree in public affairs. More importantly, I learned how I could combine my passion for public policy and science in graduate school,鈥� Nwagwu says. 鈥淕oing to graduate school no longer seemed like this far off thing that I hoped to do, but something I was more determined to do than ever.鈥�
Nwagwu, a member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program, is majoring in policy studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and neuroscience in the College of Arts and Sciences鈥攖wo areas of study that she melded during her time at 黑料不打烊.
鈥淚n high school, I was very interested in psychology but also chemistry. Neuroscience was an interesting combination of the two,鈥� Nwagwu says. 鈥淎t the same time, I was fascinated by the conversations surrounding mental health and public policy.鈥�
Nwagwu became interested in opportunities that would help her explore her interest in graduate school and learned about the Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute (PPIA JSI) through one of her policy studies courses and the (CFSA) office. She worked with the CFSA director, Jolynn Parker, on her application, where she was able to receive feedback on her personal statements.
Benefits of the summer institute include all costs of the program, including housing, travel, tuition, supplies and meal vouchers, as well as a small stipend and a one-time graduate scholarship to any of the PPIA partner institutions.
鈥淎s a summer fellow, I was able to get exposure to what a graduate-level public policy program entailed. For seven weeks, we took three graduate-level public policy courses,鈥� Nwagwu says. 鈥淲e also visited several nonprofit organizations and local businesses to learn about the different careers Humphrey alums pursued.鈥�
Nwagwu wants other students who are thinking about graduate school for public policy or international affairs to seriously consider this program as an option to learn more about graduate work and the possibilities out there. The deadline for applying to next summer鈥檚 institute is Nov. 1.
