A few years ago, Naima Green-Riley wanted to start incorporating media training into one of her classes in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (Princeton SPIA). But when an already packed syllabus precluded enough time for a full day in the University’s Broadcast Media Center, Green-Riley, an assistant professor of politics and international affairs, turned to the school’s Graduate Career Development (GCD) office to find a solution.

The GCD staff and Green-Riley collaborated to bring two professional media trainers from Washington, D.C., to campus for a special daylong training session, which has turned into an annual offering. The trainers lecture on the fundamentals of navigating on-camera interviews before turning the lens on students. For the training, they play personas based on case studies tailored to their previous professional experiences.

This past fall, Simon O’Donnell MPP ’26 was eager to participate in the training. With 12 years of experience in the British Diplomatic Service under his belt, he had supported countless media appearances of colleagues but acquired little experience of his own in front of the camera.

“The training felt very realistic, and though I always find it very uncomfortable looking at myself on camera, it was useful,” said O’Donnell. “You’re able to notice things you don't realize are happening in the moment — vocal tics, phrases you don’t know are coming out of your mouth. I think it helps everyone appreciate how difficult this work is, and that these are learned skills that are worth their weight in gold.”

The impact of such a session is emblematic of GCD’s growing role to provide programming that meets the evolving needs of the School’s students and alumni. Although its bedrock services are traditional career guidance and preparation, such as résumé and cover letter reviews and interview preparation, the creation of personalized training sessions, thematic alumni panels, and other events highlight the innovative ways the office is supporting students on their way to gainful employment.

“SPIA’s office of Graduate Career Development goes to great lengths to make sure that our students are prepared for anything that might come their way throughout their public service careers,” said Director of Graduate Career Development Barbara Hampton.

Hampton and her team work with graduate students from the day they enter the program to the day they graduate and beyond. Alumni transitioning to new roles are offered the same suite of one-on-one advice and job search assistance as the students.

GCD staff believe that the ability for students to navigate their careers well is another core competency that they should master coming out of graduate school. The staff pilots new training sessions, panels, and other programs based on input from employers, alumni, faculty, and students. For example, GCD recently offered a mini course on understanding the federal budget for students who want to work in the federal government.

“We have a pulse on what the students really want and provide customized training,” said Amy Pszczolkowski, GCD’s associate director. “Most of our students have professional experience, but it varies. We’re here to help build upon that and advance them into their next steps of their career.”

GCD has proven nimble in its ability to pivot as the job market shifts and emerging industries and new ideas replace older ones. Computer programming sessions had supplemented Excel training well before the ascendancy of artificial intelligence, which is a current focus. A recent alumni perspective series on careers around artificial intelligence featured Princeton SPIA graduates now working on A.I. teams at the World Bank, a cleantech company called Omnidian, and the Artificial Intelligence Institute.

Alumni connections also shine during career day events in New York City and Washington, D.C., which in the fall included companies and organizations such as Meta, the Gates Foundation, and the Center for New American Security. “We have the most dedicated alumni in the world, and that makes my job fun because our alumni, who are experts in their field, are so willing to participate,” said Pszczolkowski. “That’s our secret sauce that makes us stand out.”

Graduate students are drawn to Princeton SPIA because of their focus on public service, and GCD estimates 85-90% of SPIA’s graduate students go on to serve in the public sector. Throughout their time at Princeton, GCD helps them maintain their direction toward impactful, public-service careers. One important action toward this end is helping students secure the summer internships required for all candidates in the Master of Public Affairs program. SPIA financially subsidizes all unpaid summer internships in the public and nonprofit sectors.

“It is a joy to be able to give the students these kinds of life-changing opportunities,” Pszczolkowski said. “Our students are going to change the world for the better, and whatever policy area they are working on, we know they are going to make an impact.”

Simon O’Donnell MPP ’26 (left) with media trainers Kim Abbott and Linda Roth.

Photo Credit: Amy Pszczolkowski, Princeton SPIA