Princeton SPIA brings leaders from across fields to campus, exposing students to the numerous paths to public service—from CEOs of foundations to heads of thinktanks to policy advocates and practitioners.

Through fireside chats and panel discussions with thought leaders representing views from across the political spectrum, the School not only broadens students understanding of career possibilities but also models constructive dialogue—a critical skill for policymakers at all levels of government and in all sectors of service.

Princeton SPIA’s Graduate Career Development team is actively preparing students to thrive amid a changing federal landscape. Through coffee chats and career panels on campus and in Washington, D.C., students are building meaningful connections—supported this year by more than 100 alumni who volunteered their time and expertise. Expanded career counseling and close collaboration with our MPA students ensured summer internships for all, many beyond the federal government, at organizations such as the World Bank, the International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, and the mayoral offices of Chicago and Detroit. Looking ahead, a new online career platform will provide students and alumni with enhanced tools to connect with each other and potential employers.

Training the next generation of public service leaders is Princeton SPIA’s top priority. Even during uncertainty in the federal government, the School and its students remain committed to public service, with alumni serving proudly across all three branches. 

New courses reflect the changing landscape, covering philanthropy, artificial intelligence, and tech policy. This year, former Dean Cecilia Rouse, now president of the Brookings Institution, will teach a course on the evolving role of the federal government.

With so many alumni living and working in the nation’s capital, the Princeton SPIA DC Center has become an invaluable resource and hub for policy discourse, networking, dialogue, and professional growth. A new public-service themed series has featured alumni events such as “Princeton In Service of the Nation and Humanity: What’s Next?” and a "Conversation on Contemporary Constitutional Issues  with Professor Deborah Pearlstein. The Public Service Series has also featured alumni-led salons exploring pressing topics such as federal budget cuts and future of public institutions, the role of American diplomatic soft power, and economic justice after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. SPIA alumni participants in the Presidential Management Fellowship and other service-oriented groups have likewise convened at the Center, further strengthening connections across the alumni community in Washington. In addition to SPIA classes visiting the Center each semester to engage with policymakers, many public and private events at the Center are open to students; if you are interested in an upcoming event, let us know here.

In welcoming speakers from around the world, sending students abroad on policy workshops and taskforces, and educating students from around the world, we are demonstrating that public service isn’t restricted to the domestic realm. There is a significant international dimension, as well, as captured in our commitment to be in service to humanity. From a year-long focus on Asia to student trips to Cuba and El Salvador to faculty reflections on the Munich Security Conference, to cite just a few examples from the past year, our students engage regularly with global issues.

Service is a calling, but it doesn’t have to be a sacrifice. At Princeton SPIA, every graduate degree is fully funded, with all tuition and fees covered and required summer internships for our Master in Public Affairs students also supported. Even during changing global circumstances, the world will always need highly trained public servants. Our investment in you recognizes that enduring need. Click here to learn more about our programs and admissions policies.

Do you have a story of resilience to share? Are you an alum willing to support fellow Princeton SPIA graduates or current students? Do you need professional career guidance? Let us know!