Nineteen undergraduate students hailing from universities across the United States attended the annual Junior Summer Institute (JSI) at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs this summer.
Over the course of seven weeks, the students — from institutions including Howard University, University of Mississippi, and Bowdoin College — sampled academic and social life at Princeton SPIA to better understand what it takes to pursue a career in public service.
Now in its fifth decade, JSI offers a pathway for rising college seniors from underrepresented communities to develop the skills they will need for graduate study and careers in public policy. Many participants return to Princeton SPIA to pursue a Master in Public Affairs (MPA) in subsequent years.
“I was always interested in grad school, but I didn’t know what that meant. That’s how it was when I entered undergrad, too, just being a first-generation college student,” said Samantha Urena Padilla, an environmental sciences major at the University of California, Berkeley, who hails from Riverside, Calif. “This really helped me gauge how I could enter the public policy space and get a master’s degree.”
Between courses on statistics, economics, research, and domestic or international policy, the students also had moments to forge bonds with one another and the broader School community. They attended lunch talks with faculty, practitioners, and Dean Amaney Jamal; networked with incoming graduate students; and participated in a spirited game of kickball with students, staff, and faculty.
Student presentations capped off the program, with the participants presenting policy solutions to a wide range of domestic and international problems. Many of them investigated issues of relevance to their communities, such as funding inequities impacting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Mississippi, the long-tail impact of urban redlining on educational inequality, and the lack of access to healthcare and safety protections for domestic workers.
“This year’s cohort showcased a commitment toward public service through volunteerism, mentorship, and policy advocacy,” said Ariel Matos, associate director of diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Princeton SPIA. “They represent the future of domestic and international public affairs practitioners.”
2026 JSI students and staff.
Photo courtesy of Ashley Byrne, Program Coordinator, Diversity & Inclusion