Careers in Global Affairs

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.

Soham Basu, MPP'24

• Pre-Jackson: Atlas Organization, Lead Analyst
• Post-Jackson: U.S. Foreign Service

I came to Jackson wanting to build on my prior experiences in public sector consulting to better understand economic structures. I took classes such as Economic Development Policy and Central Banking and interned in the Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment team of the World Bank in Nigeria. In my second year, I brought these together through a thesis under the supervision of Jackson’s Amit Khandelwal, and funding allowed me to travel to Sri Lanka to deepen my 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, including Spanish and Russian, extensively in my current role.

Viola Fur, MPP'24

• Pre-Jackson: IDinsight, Associate
• Post-Jackson: Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Economist & Advisor

The Jackson School provided me with the opportunity to transition into a career in international public service at the UN. 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.

Eiichiro Takinami, MPP'24

• Pre-Jackson: Myanmar Survey Research, Director
• Post-Jackson: UN-ESCAP, Associate Expert Officer

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.

Claudia Wilson, MPP'24

• Pre-Jackson: BCG, Senior Associate Consultant
• Post-Jackson: BCG, Geopolitics, AI, Public Policy Consultant

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 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. Working with my thesis advisor, Ardina Hasanbasri, I explored maternal mortality in Nigeria and used research to inform policy from the ground up. Ardina’s mentorship also helped me to secure a position at the World Bank’s South Asia Chief Economist's Office. In a career using evidence and data to help governments design better policy, the combination of practical and theoretical skills I honed at Jackson guide my decision-making.

Bomi Okuyiga, MPP'23

• Pre-Jackson: UK Civil Service, Head of Analysis- Cabinet Office
• Post-Jackson: International Development Research Centre, AI for Development- South and Southeast Asia

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. 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 designed an independent study, 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 resulted in mentors and professional connections that have allowed me to continue learning and exploring the questions that brought me to Jackson in the first place.

Eva Martin, MPP'23

• Pre-Jackson: FEMA, Emergency Management Specialist
• Post-Jackson: Global Support and Development, Maritime Engagements Manager

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.

Jack Freed, MPP'23

• Pre-Jackson: The Cohen Group, Associate
• Post-Jackson: RAND, Research Scientist

The intellectual curiosity; leadership, research, writing skills, and connections I gained from my time at Jackson prepared me well to make a difference in my work. Jackson’s flexible curriculum challenged me to take courses in topics I was interested in such as Global Social Entrepreneurship, and unlocked thinking in different ways. I’ve found this ability to engage with subject area experts and make interdisciplinary connections to be invaluable in my work. I came to grad school because I wanted to gain the skills to center impacted people in policy-making decisions, and Senior Fellows 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.

Piper O'Keefe, MPP'22

• Pre-Jackson: Peace Corps- Sierra Leone
• Post-Jackson: U.S. Department of Energy, International Relations Expert- African Affairs

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.

Gal Komen, MPP'22

• Pre-Jackson: Office of the Prime Minister of Israel, Economic Policy Advisor
• Post-Jackson: The World Bank, Economist

I was 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.

Irene Eun Jung Oh, MPP'22

• Pre-Jackson: National Assembly of The Republic of Korea, Foreign Policy Legislative Assistant
• Post-Jackson: Asian Development Bank, Security and Emergency Services Specialist

Seiyoon Ko MPP '27 spent her summer on the Privacy & Data team at Center for Democracy & Technology in Washington, D.C., where she focused on consumer privacy and emerging questions around AI-driven advertising — including commercial content embedded in chatbots and AI interfaces, the harms it may pose, and the protections it may require. She also researched federal and state privacy legislation, connected vehicles, and the effects of AI on workers and consumers, engaging directly with advocates, industry voices, and policymakers across D.C. to help shape the debates defining tech policy today.

After serving as the U.S. delegate for the Reform of Global Governance track at the 2024 G20 Youth Summit, Hekmat Aboukhater MPP '27 returned in summer 2026 as chair of the Fragility, Conflict, and Violence track when the summit came to Washington, D.C. Over several weeks of preparation and a four-day summit, he worked with delegates from across the G20 to negotiate policy recommendations addressing conflict, governance, and youth engagement. "These young leaders will one day sit across from one another debating the world's most consequential issues, and I think we'll be in very good hands.”

Sarah Pieslak MPP '25 spent a summer in Nairobi, Kenya, as an intern with Fresh Life, a social enterprise that provides safe, affordable sanitation solutions in urban areas. She conducted a project to strengthen Fresh Life’s service delivery model and improve customer retention, conducting stakeholder interviews and defining the project through implementation and evaluation. She also designed and built a data analytics platform to optimize Fresh Life’s government and community relations engagements. "I loved the opportunity to work with a mature social enterprise and see concepts from my Jackson coursework — like results-based financing and systems change — in action."

Anthony Asuega MPP '25 spent his summer in Pago Pago, American Samoa, as an intern with the Coral Reef Advisory Group and the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources. The reefs in American Samoa are home to 800 species of fish, 200 species of coral, countless invertebrates, and four endangered species of sea turtle. Anthony helped develop a comprehensive coral bleaching response strategy, which involved coordinating scientific research, policy recommendations, and funding opportunities to actively protect American Samoa's coral reefs during future bleaching events.

Sherab Dorji MPP/MEM '27 spent her summer in her native Bhutan supporting the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation in Thimphu. In her role, she helped strengthen the monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems that underpin Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund investments, helping ensure international climate finance translates into durable, locally led adaptation and sustainable development outcomes. "This experience has also shown me that when resources are mobilized with purpose, they can turn national vision into real, lasting change for communities on the ground."

Isaiah Williams MPP '27 spent his summer as a policy intern at Centro Brasileiro de Relações Internacionais in Rio de Janeiro, working with the center's North America and Environment and Climate programs. The experience let him dig into Brazil's foreign policy debates over critical minerals and the energy transition, building on the regional expertise he gained as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama and the Portuguese fluency he developed through Yale's Brazilian community. "Conversations with diplomats, business leaders, and researchers give me an insider's view of what Latin American policymakers are wrestling with right now ... watching that unfold in real time is exactly the immersion I came to Yale for."

Shivonne Logan MPP '26 spent the summer at the UN World Food Programme's HQ office in Rome working on humanitarian policy issues within their emergency preparedness and response function. She led the initial steps of crafting new policy on emergency responses, helping kick off the two-year process of a policy formulation that will eventually be approved by member states and the executive board. "I'm particularly glad to have learned from a team whose members contribute expertise in migration, conflict, and peacebuilding at a critical juncture for the UN and the nation-state system."

For his summer internship, Dan Kent MPP '26 worked at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change in London, specifically with the Global Tech Partnerships team, which collaborated with governments and technology partners around the world to develop solutions to major public sector challenges. Dan focused on two main areas: partnerships-wide analysis and strategy, and further development of a specific partner tech offering. "Working with different individuals and functions across the organization was a fantastic learning experience that I’m sure I will draw from wherever I land after Yale."