Students experience new pathways and possibilities on annual D.C. career trip

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Students in the Penn State School of International Affairs (SIA) traveled to Washington, D.C., in late October for the school’s annual career exposure trip. Over the course of two days, the students had exclusive meetings with employees at prominent nonprofits, NGOs, think tanks, and private businesses, and networked with SIA alumni during a reception at the National Press Club.

A total of 36 master’s students participated in this year’s trip, which was led by SIA Director Dr. Mitchell Smith and Director of Career Services Grant Littke and included visits to Albright Stonebridge Group, CRDF Global, D3 Systems, International Republican Institute, and Kroll.

“It was rewarding to witness student excitement as they encountered potential career paths during our D.C. career trip,” Smith said. “Students learned of potential pathways they’d not envisaged before, affirming the value of the visits to prospective employers.”

CAREER INSIGHTS & EXCLUSIVE NETWORKING

For each stop on the trip, Littke coordinated meetings with members of the organizations who provided the students with valuable insights: how the knowledge gained at Penn State SIA can translate into various professional roles; what types of skills are most valuable for employers; tips for standing out as an applicant; and more. Many of the employees also described their career paths to this point, helping the students to envision their own future.

“The one-on-one conversations I was able to have with leaders within the organizations we visited was my favorite part of the trip,” said Alura Winfrey, a first-year master’s student. “In just a short amount of time, I was able to exchange contact information, hear about the skills and experiences they are looking for in new hires, and understand how their respective journeys to the careers they have now reflect my own.”

SIA has built strong relationships with the organizations included on the trip and many of them have, or have had, SIA graduates on staff. As a result of those connections, the organizations are eager to help SIA students—which makes for a particularly effective networking experience.

“This one of the best networking opportunities you can get while at Penn State,” said first-year master’s student Zachary Morrill. “The experience will both build your confidence and excitement for your future in international affairs. I definitely recommend this trip to future SIA students!”

Another first-year student, Marco Damasceno, reiterated the value of the networking aspect and how the trip opened him up to new and exciting career possibilities.

“This career trip to Washington, D.C., was an invaluable experience. It afforded a great opportunity to connect with the leading companies in a very warm and relaxed atmosphere for networking,” Damasceno said. “Meeting professionals and learning about their work in such a friendly environment was really inspiring and enlightening for me; it made me even more enthusiastic about the field and helped to shape my career aspirations.”

THE ALUMNI CONNECTION

The first day of the D.C. career trip was capped off with the school’s annual alumni reception, held this year at the National Press Club for the first time. A total of 37 SIA alumni attended, making it a near-even split between students and alumni at the reception—leading to a lot of energetic and positive interactions.

For students, the reception has the obvious benefit of connecting them with successful SIA graduates who can provide practical insights into life after graduation. But the reception also brings tremendous value for the alumni in attendance.

“It’s always good to see former students who return as alumni and share what they’re doing in their careers now,” said alumna Ashley Francis (class of 2011), an emergency manager at FEMA. “I also think it’s valuable for alumni to connect with current students because it exposes them to different or previously unconsidered paths. Plus, it’s always good to see how the program has grown over the years and how it continues to benefit students.”

And just as the students get exposed to new paths and possibilities, so too can the alumni learn from current students.

“It is great to hear about the professional interests of others, how they might gel with my own, and the different pathways that are possible to forge in the vast world of international affairs,” said alumnus Adam VanGorder (class of 2022), a data scientist at DevTech Systems. “I think our conversations allowed me to show what the combination of data science and international affairs looks like in a professional setting to students who have those interests but do not yet know the type of job they should be looking for. For me, it is helpful to hear what students are aiming toward to see if any new organizations have popped up that might be relevant to my interests.”

As a young program—SIA was established in 2007—the school is excited to see such strong participation amongst its alumni and hopes that the reception will continue to grow in the coming years.

“Our alumni networking event was a huge success,” Director Smith said. “I am deeply appreciative of our SIA alumni, who attended in large numbers and shared their experiences and guidance with current students in an informal, fun setting.”

The annual D.C. career trip is open to both first- and second-year master’s students at SIA, and over the years many students have participated in the trip in both years of their graduate studies because of the value it brings to their future careers.

“I think the trip is the essence of what SIA provides to students,” said Gwenna Keckler, a second-year master’s student. “You gain the opportunity to hear what companies want from you, the opportunities that exist for international affairs, ways to build your resume and experience, and connections that are invaluable to your future.”