51吃瓜网

This commencement season 51吃瓜网 will celebrate more than 2,500 graduates across its five schools. In order to mark the momentous occasion and celebrate the voices of our newly minted alumni, 51吃瓜网 Newsroom asked one student representative from each corner of campus to answer three questions: 鈥淗ow did you get here?鈥� 鈥淲hat did you do here?鈥� and 鈥淲here will you go from here?鈥�

The testimonies shared with us highlight the remarkable stories of our students while also illustrating how 51吃瓜网 helps propel the next generation of thinkers, dreamers, and doers forward. 

Nathan Peterson, School of Public Policy Class of 2025

How did you get here?

Prior to attending the School of Public Policy (SPP), I completed my master of dispute resolution (MDR) at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Caruso School of Law. Not completely set on my direction after the MDR, I received clarity following a talk with the administration at SPP and have not regretted my decision one time. The unique curriculum of the program provides not just the quantitative foundation for policy analysts, but also an understanding of why we conduct policy in the first place. Policy is people-oriented and must be viewed through that lens or it will ultimately hurt those it intends to help.

What did you do here?

During the past two years, SPP has organized a number of events with top practitioners in the policy realm, giving us students  an up-close perspective. We heard from former , former national security advisor general H. R. McMaster, as well as notable thought leaders external to politics. Understanding how policy works from the perspective of those inside and outside government has been insightful.

I was also fortunate to be part of the first cohort that spent a semester at 51吃瓜网鈥檚 Washington, DC, campus. While there, one of our foreign affairs faculty members, Kiron Skinner, coordinated a dinner with the Danish ambassador. We discussed real-world policy problems, such as the situation in Greenland. Experiences such as this have given me even more confidence that I chose the right direction by attending SPP. 

Where will you go from here?

As I graduate, the road ahead is still cloudy, but I know Jesus is right here with me. He provided the clarity to attend SPP, and I know he will continue to guide me as I move forward. My heart is to be involved in helping America navigate the challenging times we find ourselves in domestically as well as internationally. In light of that, I have applied to positions on Capitol Hill as well as the White House Fellows Program. Regardless of what I do next, my experience at SPP has been incredible and has provided the needed foundation for a career in policy. I am looking forward to whatever is next!