We are bringing the world to Princeton SPIA and enhancing Princeton SPIA’s presence in the world by cultivating a globally diverse academic community, fostering international exchanges of ideas, and strengthening our partnerships with government, multilateral institutions, and international organizations.

• Global community: We strategically recruit the best and brightest students and faculty from all over the world to ensure we have a rich, diverse learning environment representative of the world where our graduates will work. We also host events and meetings with alumni and various constituencies, strengthening our global network and fostering a sense of community among our graduates.
   
• International dialogue: We create opportunities for students and faculty to engage with international leaders and governing institutions through guest lectures, international policy trips, internships, and global programming. During the 2024 Dean’s Leadership Series, we hosted two heads of state and leaders from international organizations like the International Atomic Energy Agency, part of the United Nations system.
   
• Strong partnerships: We build deeper relationships with international institutions and partners, including governments, and enrich our outreach and academic programs through faculty and student collaborations with organizations like the World Health Organization. These allow us to contribute our expertise and enhance our global footprint.

We foster an inclusive and welcoming environment that embraces and celebrates diverse perspectives while increasing belongingness for all members of our community.

• Welcoming everyone: At Princeton SPIA, we offer an inclusive educational environment for all students and believe diverse perspectives strengthen everyone’s experience. We recruit students and faculty from across the United States and the world, seeking to create access and opportunities for all communities. Our 2024 incoming graduate class has the greatest number of different countries ever represented.
   
• Open dialogue: We foster constructive dialogue in a respectful environment where people can feel free and empowered to share different viewpoints. Inviting speakers from various backgrounds and with different perspectives enriches campus dialogue and helps broaden students’ understanding of global and domestic issues, better preparing them for the world they will enter upon graduation. Since October 7, 2023, Dean Amaney Jamal has convened constructive dialogues around the Israel-Gaza war, including public conversations with her colleague Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber, as well as several public events with experts on the Middle East.
   
• Student engagement: We organize weekly programming where students can share their diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives while discussing the intersections of D&I and public policy. We hosted 26 weekly dinners in 2023, with an average of 45 students each week. Conversation topics included decolonizing development, advancing birth equity, and activating civic engagement. Our events are open to all. Students also engage in diversity and inclusion conversations throughout their time at Princeton SPIA, beginning with the summer program and through events such as the Students and Alumni of Color Association’s annual symposium.

We elevate the reach and impact of our research and expertise by engaging with policymakers at all levels of government so they can make more informed policy decisions.

• SPIA in D.C.: Our Princeton SPIA in D.C. Center in Washington, D.C. allows us to facilitate faculty and student engagement with federal policymakers to provide them valuable insights and convene important conversations around policy concerns and evidence-based solutions. Guests and speakers at our SPIA in D.C. events include political leaders, federal officials, members of Congress and their staff, policy experts, thought leaders, journalists, advocates, and ambassadors.
   
• SPIA in N.J.: We recognize New Jersey as an ideal laboratory for connecting the theory and practice of public policy with multiracial democracy. Princeton SPIA is committed to working in our backyard, helping our community by working alongside local and state policymakers as well as organizations to tackle some of the biggest challenges in New Jersey, including government transparency and racial and economic justice.
   
• SPIA around the world: Our engagement with multilateral and international organizations through speaker workshops, policy taskforces, and events also extends the impact of our faculty and students’ policy research around the world. Examples include Dean Jamal discussing Afghanistan’s food crisis at a side event during the U.N. General Assembly, SPIA students advocating for racial justice at the United Nations Human Rights Council, and student policy trips to meet with policymakers and organizations in Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Japan, France, and Finland.

We strengthen the Princeton SPIA community by fostering meaningful connections among students, alumni, faculty, and staff through various events and initiatives. We are united by a demonstrated commitment to public service and positive change.

• Active alumni: We host gatherings around the world to maintain strong connections with alumni and build a bridge back to campus, to foster partnerships, and to maintain the strength of the Princeton SPIA community. We connect students with alumni and faculty for mentorship and professional development to help students navigate their academic and professional journeys.
   
• Engaged staff and faculty: We recognize the contributions of staff and faculty members to foster a supportive environment through appreciation events, training, and advancement opportunities. Our Diversity and Inclusion staff have hosted numerous staff workshops on topics such as collaborative feedback, academic freedom, digital accessibility, and religious inclusion. We have also established a Faculty Governance Committee to involve faculty in decision-making processes, ensuring that their voices are heard and valued in the administration of the school.
   
• Broad community outreach: We engage with the local community through service projects and partnerships, demonstrating our commitment to being responsible citizens and contributing to the well-being of our neighbors. SPIA in N.J. has hosted workshops with local health experts on the COVID-19 response in New Jersey, held legislative policy briefings, and led sessions on the future of journalism in the Garden State. We also invite local community members to our events to present opportunities for them to connect with the School.