A group of talented college students successfully concluded a “crash course” in global policy late last month, hosted by the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
The two dozen rising seniors spent two weeks at the Humphrey School as part of the NextGen Service Summer Policy Academy (SPA), which is designed to equip undergraduate students with the skills, networks, and experiences they will need for impactful careers in public affairs.
The Academy is a new initiative led by the Volcker Alliance in collaboration with the Humphrey School, the University of California, Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, and the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance.
It was a busy few weeks for the 75 participating students. In late June, they went to Washington, DC, for a week of activities such as site visits to federal agencies, panel discussions with public servant leaders, professional skill development, leadership training, and visits to national museums. Then they split up into three groups and spent the next two weeks at one of the three host schools.
Emphasis on global policy
The Humphrey School’s 24 students came from colleges in eight states and various backgrounds. They engaged in hands-on training with an emphasis on global policy, led by Humphrey School faculty and public service practitioners.
They also visited nonprofits, businesses, and cultural centers in the Twin Cities metro area, including the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) and the Guthrie Theater.
“We welcomed this group of students for two weeks of immersive programming—filled with deep discussion, hands-on site visits, thoughtful mentorship, and a whole lot of learning and laughter,” said Humphrey School Dean Nisha Botchwey. "This program reflects our commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers in policy and governance while expanding access to leadership training.”
One hands-on highlight was a day-long International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise (ISCNE) that challenged and inspired the students. The exercise was a simulation of strategic negotiations in the Arctic region among various countries with an interest in the area. The students were divided into teams representing those countries for a role–playing exercise that illustrated how diplomacy works.
“Our goal was to provide these students with an intense and impactful introduction to career opportunities in the world of global policy,” said Humphrey School Director of Admissions Michael Massad. “Several guest speakers provided concrete examples of career pathways and plenty of wisdom on what it means to work in the global policy sphere.”
Noting that most SPA students come from a range of underrepresented backgrounds, Massad said the program is important to “ensure that the makeup of our future policy leaders reflects the diversity of the communities they will eventually serve.”
'Life changing' experience
Rachel Leatham, the Humphrey School’s director of Career and Student Success, was impressed by the students’ interest in public policy and making meaningful change.
“It was a great opportunity for us at the Humphrey School,” she said. “Many participants have said it was a life-changing experience. In these three weeks, they showed up, participated, and took the training and information to heart.”
Indeed, participants who were surveyed afterwards described the SPA as exceptional, informative, and useful as they plan out their career paths.
“There was so much value in hearing from individuals who have lived through events that my peers and I can only read about or study,” said one student.
Another said that “every single speaker was incredible. They were highly engaging, responded very well to all sorts of questions, and told us useful information about their career trajectories. NextGen SPA managed to get me excited to wake up at 6:30 in the morning.”
This is the first year of the NextGen Service Summer Policy Academy, and the partner schools are already planning for next year’s event. Based on the reception from this year’s participants, Dean Botchwey is looking forward to hosting again.
“This year’s students aren’t just preparing to lead—they are leading,” said Botchwey. “They asked bold questions, built a supportive community, and showed us what public service, at its best, can be: hopeful, caring, and deeply impactful. It’s been an honor to be one of the hosts of this powerful experience.”
