Pardee Students Connect with Policymakers and Alumni on Washington D.C. Trip
During Spring break, graduate students from Boston University’s Pardee School of Global Studies completed a dynamic five‑day educational visit to Washington, D.C., where they engaged with leading policymakers, practitioners, and experts working at the forefront of international affairs. The program offered students an immersive look into humanitarian action, global economic issues, peacebuilding, and defense‑related research.
The trip centered substantive discussions with policymakers and visits to prominent organizations, including RAND, FGS Global, FTI Consulting, CSIS, IMF, Center for Global Development (CGD), World Bank/IFC, and students heard from several representatives from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Led by Pardee’s Tsitsi Musasike, Professor of the Practice of Global Development Policy, and Nick D’India, Graduate Programs Advisor, students were given firsthand insight into how global communications strategy and advocacy shape today’s international policy landscape.
Students also connected with several BU alumni, including Dave Diaz (MA IR ‘02), Paul Nathanson (BA IR ’85), Adolfo Gatti (BA IR ’13), Lara Tennyson (MA IA ’20, Diplomacy Specialization), and Claire Coffey (BA IR ’17) who shared their experiences of working in the capital.
Students shared their appreciation for the chance to engage directly with practitioners and gain meaningful exposure to the realities of global diplomacy, security, economics, and humanitarian action. Isabel Layne (MA IR ’27) reflected, “Having the opportunity to hear directly from practitioners about their work and career paths provided a valuable perspective on the challenges and opportunities currently in the field. ”