"While at Jackson, I had the opportunity to travel to four different continents for coursework, research, and travel. Using New Haven as a base to study the world, I developed my linguistic skills, research ability, and domain matter knowledge. I utilized my time to sharpen existing skills that complimented my past work experience all while pursuing new interests like starting Mandarin language study. In my second year, I wrote a thesis that focused on the intersection of domestic and foreign policy. Jackson funded my research work in-country while I also pursued independent language study for a less-commonly taught language to use in my research. I worked closely with three academic advisors who are leading academics in their fields. In my current role in the U.S. Foreign Service assigned to Hyderabad, India, I have been able to draw on academic and social experiences from my time in New Haven. Perhaps most importantly, my community has grown exponentially from my time at Jackson; I look fondly upon past memories and look forward to making new ones with my Jackson peers who are now positioned all over the world."

"I came to Jackson wanting to build on my prior experiences in public sector consulting to better understand the economic structures within which that work had been carried out. Benefiting from the flexible course structure, I took macroeconomics classes at Jackson and the School of Management, such as Economic Development Policy and Central Banking. For my summer experience, I interned in the Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment team of the World Bank in Nigeria, which confirmed my desire to work in this field. In my second year, I brought these experiences together through a thesis on international macroeconomics under the supervision of Jackson’s Amit Khandelwal. Generous funding allowed me to travel to Sri Lanka to deepen my thesis research. Outside the classroom, I also worked at the Economic Growth Center with Rohini Pande for two years. I use the knowledge and skills I gained at Jackson extensively in my current role as an ODI Fellow and economic advisor at the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan. Beyond economics, I was also able to study Spanish and Russian at Jackson, the latter of which is proving helpful in my current role."

“The Jackson School provided me with the opportunity to transition into a career in international public service at the UN. The balance between required and elective courses was ideal for tailoring my education to my career goals. Through the core economics classes and directed reading with professor Ardina Hasanbasri, I delved into topics in economics, to which I had limited exposure in the past. The writing programs led by David Morse were invaluable in learning how to craft structured and effective policy briefs. With support from Jackson and Yale’s financial resources, I conducted field research in Bangladesh, completed a summer internship at the UN, and visited Jordan, Senegal, and Algeria by taking elective courses with Senior Fellows Shoshana Stewart and Bisa Williams. These experiences were instrumental in starting my work at the UN through the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) program. What I treasure the most is the personal connections formed. Thanks to the small cohort size, I had the chance to connect deeply with my classmates. I often look back at photos and find us gathered around a meal (often hotpot) in one of our apartments in New Haven, sipping coffee in a desert in Jordan, or enjoying homemade crispy chicken in Bangladesh. These shared moments remain some of my fondest memories, and I look forward to re-connecting with everyone and the Jackson community.”

“When I came to Jackson, I was interested in U.S.-China relations and initially thought that I was going to focus on trade because of my private sector background. Throughout the degree, I was increasingly exposed to and interested in AI policy, which has become a huge facet of U.S.-China relations. I’m now at the Center for AI Policy, a DC-based non-profit, where I’ve written research reports on the open source AI community in China, as well as how AI safety testing is compatible with U.S. innovation and military primacy. I’m incredibly grateful for Jackson's flexibility, which enabled me to explore different interests and find a pathway that suits me. In my first year, classes like Senior Fellow David Rank’s “China’s Rise and the Future of Foreign Policy” and professors Paul Kennedy and Arne Westad’s “Relations of the Great Powers since 1890” provided a framework to think about U.S.-China relations. In my second year, I applied this framework to the topic of AI policy, taking a year-long practicum with Ted Wittenstein. As part of the practicum, I travelled to Beijing and debated AI policy with Chinese students and later, in Taipei, heard from Taiwanese officials about cross-strait relations. I also took Chinese language classes throughout the degree, including one on newspaper reading, which recently came in handy for some primary source research. Much of the work I do today is informed by my experiences at Jackson, where I had unparalleled access to experts in these topics and was lucky enough to be guided by thoughtful mentors.”

“The beauty of the Jackson experience was the freedom I had from the very first semester to shape the curriculum towards my personal goals. Having worked as an economist in the UK government, I knew I wanted to expand my practical international experience, particularly in development policy. Courses like Clare Lockhart’s Policy Design and Reform and Program Evaluation at SOM were invaluable opportunities to go beyond academic theory. I advised an operational World Bank team and developed an evaluation plan for a UNESCO institute in Kenya, and still draw upon the frameworks I used and connections I made to this day.



“In my second year I was among the first cohort of Jackson students to pursue a thesis. Working with my advisor, Ardina Hasanbasri, to explore maternal mortality in Nigeria was an informative exercise in using research to inform policy from the ground up. Ardina’s mentorship also helped me to secure a consultant position at the World Bank’s South Asia Chief Economist's Office. As I continue my career using evidence and data to help governments design better policy, it’s most definitely the combination of practical and theoretical skills I honed at Jackson that will guide my decision-making.”

"I came to Jackson wanting to answer big questions about how public organizations learn and respond to crises in a world that is increasingly complex, particularly in the face of climate change. Being able to take the classes of my choosing that would help me answer these questions was a true gift, and I often found myself borrowing and synthesizing concepts across courses as disparate as Philosophy of Science for the Study of Politics with Prof. Ian Shapiro, Emerging Environmental Governance with Senior Fellow Jessica Seddon, and Policy Challenges in the Sahel with Senior Fellow Bisa Williams. I was also able to design an independent study to focus on my more niche interest of decision making, which contributed to my summer experience at World Food Programme, and strengthened my professional perspective. The relationships with faculty and fellows gained from small class sizes have also proved meaningful; even after leaving the classroom (and Yale), I've found mentors and professional connections which have allowed me to continue learning and exploring the questions that brought me to Jackson in the first place." 

"Jackson was the perfect place for me to develop both my professional and intellectual goals. I came to Yale wanting to transition my private sector experience in political risk analysis and government relations to a social impact role in government or a non-profit following graduation. Jackson classes taught by Bisa Williams, Dave Rank, and Jessica Seddon were especially influential in helping me think through this transition. At the same time, the program afforded me the flexibility to take classes that were of personal and intellectual interest, including "Globalization Space" in the School of Architecture, as well as "Relations of the Great Powers since 1890."
 
The resources and attention Jackson provides to each student are, in my view, unique among professional schools. With Jackson's support, I was able to pursue an internship at the UN in Geneva, an experience that helped me secure my first job working at an investigative non-profit in Washington, D.C." 

“The intellectual curiosity; leadership, research, and writing skills; and connections I gained from my time at Jackson prepared me well to make a difference through my work as a policy analyst and PMF in the federal government. Jackson’s flexible curriculum challenged me to take courses in topics I was interested in but knew little about (such as SOM’s Global Social Entrepreneurship course) and think in different ways. I’ve found this ability to engage with subject area experts and make interdisciplinary connections to be invaluable in my work at the Department of Energy. Additionally, the hard skills I gained in my courses — especially Ambassador Rank’s lessons in memo writing — prepared me to make valuable contributions almost immediately. I came to grad school because I wanted to gain the skills to center impacted people in policy-making decisions, and Senior Fellows such as Oby Ezekwesili and Clare Lockhart gave me practical approaches to doing so which I employ in my day to day work. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Jackson exposed me to a strong network of alumni who have helped shape my career trajectory and life-long friends who help me be the best version of myself.”

"The personal curriculum I built at Jackson included classes in international political economy, history of aid and development, and data analytics. This mix of classes exposed me to a breadth of knowledge about trends in the global economy. It deepened my understanding of the complexity in implementing economic policies in different local contexts. Moreover, it provided me with tools to think critically about economic strategies that governments and communities follow all across the world, and evaluate them humbly, using both quantitative and historic reasoning. Perhaps most importantly, my studies helped me to identify role models and platforms of influence, through which I could work on the policy challenges I’m passionate about. Upon graduation I joined the World Bank’s private sector development arm - I feel that my studies at Yale both inspired and enabled me to pursue this unique opportunity."

"The flexibility of the curriculum allowed me to take courses not only at the Jackson School, but also in the Political Science and History departments, the Law School, and School of Management. This interdisciplinary learning gave me a broader historical, social scientific, and strategic lens to ask big questions and examine global security challenges from various perspectives.

"I was also able to gain a wide range of experiences at Jackson that helped me successfully transition into international civil service from the military. Teaching and research assistantships, summer internship at a prominent think tank, and leadership experiences at various student organizations were invaluable in navigating my transition and provided me with necessary skills and confidence to successfully perform my job in the United Nations.

"Last but not least, I also found a community of dedicated mentors and peers at Jackson who provided support and advice every step of the way, challenged me with new ideas, and encouraged me to move beyond my comfort zone. I’m immensely grateful for their guidance and support throughout my Jackson journey."