Maxwell School IR programs selected to host APSIA Public and International Student Advisor Network Workshop

SU’s Maxwell School undergraduate International Relations program along with the graduate Department of Public Administration and International Affairs will partner with APSIA (Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs) to host a “Public and International Student Advisor (PISA) Network” Workshop on Wednesday, August 14th.

What is the PISA Network?
The Public and International Service Advisor (PISA) Network brings together undergraduate advisors across the United States to advance understanding of the professions of international affairs, public policy, and public administration on their campuses, much as other disciplines’ pre-professional advisors do.

The Network will provide support for and recognition of advisors as they counsel students to pursue careers in all of these fields. It will serve as a communication channel between campuses and APSIA, as well as with NASPAA and APPAM where appropriate.

This past Spring APSIA, with a funding partner, the Robertson Foundation for Government, solicited proposals from APSIA schools throughout the US to host PISA Network Workshops on their campus, with outreach to college advisors in their areas. The Maxwell School of Syracuse University is one of three schools selected nationwide to host a PISA Network Workshop. This half-day workshop will bring together 30-40 undergraduate staff/faculty advisors from a dozen central New York colleges and universities.

I was fortunate to present the opening session at the pilot PISA Network training in Washington, DC in July 2018.  I engaged with advisors from a variety of schools from the DC area on the landscape of the field of professional graduate programs in International Affairs, Public Policy and Administration.  We had a very stimulating discussion and it was clear they were interested in learning more.  I look forward to our event later this month.

The PISA Workshop
The half-day Workshop will feature 1) a discussion on the variety of professional graduate degrees available, how students can discern the best fit for them given their career goals; 2) an alumni panel highlighting the amazing career opportunities available to graduates interested in public and international affairs; 3) resources for the advisors to help their students better prepare for application to and funding graduate school; and 4) an interactive discussion with the advisors on what they see as the barriers to their students success, resources they need to best advise and champion their students, and ways APSIA and graduate programs like ours can assist.

Registration is free and open to faculty and staff advisors from colleges across central New York.
TO REGISTER

This workshop is made possible by the Robertson Foundation for Government, APSIA, and the Maxwell School’s International Relations Program and Department of Public Administration and International Affairs.

APSIA brings together the leading graduate schools around the world, which specialize in international affairs. We strengthen our members and affiliates by gathering information and sharing ideas. We connect prospective students and employers to our member schools, so that they can capitalize on the skills an APSIA education provides. We collaborate with other higher education institutions and the professional international affairs community in order to address common problems.

APSIA helps students, schools, organizations, and partners transform themselves into more effective agents of positive change.

The Robertson Foundation for Government (RFG) addresses the critical need for highly qualified, commited, globally aware individuals to serve the public as national leaders in roles that relate to international issues, foreign policy and national security. The foundation seeks to support outstanding graduate students who represent diverse backgrounds and perspectives, with a common embrace of government service as a future calling.

By supporting their education through academic fellowships and funding for government internships, RFG enables fellows to emerge from graduate school without financial burden so that they may pursue federal careers with complete dedication.

Professional development programs and networking continue for alumni to support ongoing career advancement in public service leadership roles.  

Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs partners with the RFG to support 2-4 Maxwell School – Robertson Fellows enrolled in our top-ranked MA International Relations and MPA programs each year.