April 18, 2024
International Affairs student attends career event at White House
Just 20 students, out of more than 860 who applied, were invited to attend the panel event, Women in National Security Careers.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Jennifer Garcia Ruiz, a second-year master’s candidate in the Penn State School of International Affairs (SIA), was one of just 20 graduate and undergraduate students nationwide invited to attend a Women in National Security Careers panel event at the White House on March 28, 2024.
The U.S. National Security Council (NSC) organized the event in cooperation with the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA) in celebration of Women’s History Month.
Graduate students from APSIA institutions and undergraduate students connected through the Public and International Service Advisor (PISA) Network were invited to apply. More than 860 students applied for the opportunity, from which the White House selected attendees.
Garcia Ruiz, who said it was a “distinct privilege” to be selected, received financial support from SIA to help cover travel expenses.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude for SIA's support in facilitating my participation in the NSC panel at the White House,” Garcia Ruiz said. “I found the experience to be incredibly insightful and inspiring.”
Whether it’s a national security panel in the nation’s capital or a prestigious international conference, SIA supports its students who are seeking career-building activities outside the classroom.
“On behalf of SIA, I'm pleased that we were able to help Jennifer take part in such a wonderful professional development opportunity,” said Dr. Mitchell Smith, SIA director and professor of international affairs. “We are proud that Penn State School of International Affairs was represented at this important event on women in national security. Jennifer was a worthy representative of SIA, with the wisdom and acumen to fully benefit from the experience.”
“A Significant Milestone”
The students in attendance gained career advice from the three panelists: Mason Clutter, chief privacy officer and chief FOIA officer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS); Sarah Beran, NSC senior director for China and Taiwan; and Lauren Stephens, chief of staff at the Peace Corps.
Garcia Ruiz said that the panelists focused their remarks on career trajectories, mentorship advice, and navigating professional environments as women in traditionally male-dominated fields. A mixer following the panel provided additional opportunities to network and learn about various career paths in national security, diplomacy, and related fields.
Along with gaining practical career advice, Garcia Ruiz said her attendance was “momentous” because of her background as a first-generation U.S. citizen, as well as the first member of her family to attend college.
“My participation in this event marks a significant milestone for my family, as a first-generation student attending a White House event,” she said. “I particularly resonated with Sarah Beran's experiences as a first-generation professional, navigating the unique challenges associated with reaching her current position.”
During her time at SIA, Garcia Ruiz has pursued concentrations in Middle East studies and humanitarian response, and was a graduate research assistant for Professor Sophia McClennen. She also worked as a bilingual intern at Penn State Admissions Strategic Partnerships and completed an education abroad program in Amman, Jordan, in fall 2023. While in Jordan, she completed an internship at the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan. She plans to graduate with a Master of International Affairs degree from SIA in May 2024.