Princeton University’s 278th Commencement will mark a special anniversary for the graduates of Princeton SPIA’s Master in Public Affairs (MPA) program. The 2023-2024 cohort of the two-year program will cross the stage as members of the 75th anniversary graduating class, harkening back to the program’s origins in 1948.

For three-quarters of a century, MPA alumni have gone on to meaningful careers in federal, state, and local governments — here in the United States and around the world — NGOs and nonprofits, the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and countless organizations large and small that change the world for the better on a daily basis.

In celebration of the hallmark anniversary, MPA alumni from nearly every decade offer their advice to the newest graduating class.

What advice would you give to this year’s graduating MPA class?

 “In terms of looking for jobs, you don't have to make your career right out of the gate. You can start with something and then decide, well, this is interesting, but I think I'd rather do something else. You can change your career over time, and I think the sort of varied education you get at Princeton really helps you to be able to do that.”

— The Hon. Michael Owen MPA ’75 
Retired Ambassador to Sierra Leone

“Be proud of your commitment to public service. It's an admirable, incredible career that will leave you, as you get towards the end of it, really proud of what you were able to do. You will not make the most money of the people you know, but you may be the most satisfied in your sense of how you contributed to society, and I think that's really important.”

— Jennifer J. Raab MPA ’79 
President & CEO, New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute

“My advice would be that studying public policy is not a neutral act. It is an act that requires great personal moral courage, clarity, and a compass. People say you have to be neutral, but you cannot be neutral on basic human issues of dignity and respect and human rights. It's very  important for today's graduates to understand that they are carrying with them something much more than a degree from a prestigious university. They're really carrying a responsibility to have the courage to stand up and to stand for certain core values.”

— Kavita Ramdas MPA ’88
Senior Strategic Advisor, International Planned Parenthood Federation & Principal, KNR Sisters

“Stay in touch with your classmates. They are your best resource. They are all going to go on to do fascinating things. Not only will they be lifelong friends, but they will also be lifelong sources of inspiration, of career advice. That's one of the greatest gifts that you are taking from your SPIA experience; this group of people who are on your side and wishing you well and doing amazing things themselves.”

— Nancy Cordes MPA ’99 
CBS News Chief White House Correspondent

“This is a challenging time to be a public servant, but I have confidence that the graduating class will find ways to contribute. In fact, we need you more than ever. My best advice is to be flexible — what you went to SPIA to study may not be what you end up doing — immediately or ever. But the skills you learned there — impactful writing, solid analysis, and building consensus — will serve you well in many roles.”

— Richard Johnson MPA ’06
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Countering WMD Policy

“Go out and pay it forward. Princeton has given you so much. Use this experience wisely to make the world a better place.”

— Narong Silpathamtada MPA ’10 
Counsellor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand

“Stay curious. The world is much larger and more diverse than you think. Keep your eye out for opportunities you never planned to pursue. Optimism in humanity is a must.”

— Kidus Asfaw MPA ’14 
Founder & CEO, Kubik