Two BSOS Juniors to Participate in Prestigious Public Policy and International Affairs Summer Program
This summer, BSOS students Jennifer “Jay” Rubio and Amy Rivera will be participating in the prestigious Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute Fellowship Program, which offers selected students interested in public service careers the opportunity to participate in intensive classes at a leading university, and learn what is needed to obtain a master’s or joint degree in the field following their undergraduate studies. The program was launched in part to combat lack of diversity in the field of government, service, and policy.
Rubio will attend the junior summer institute at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, and Rivera will attend the institute at UC Berkeley’s Richard and Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy.
Rubio, who is of Mexican and Salvadoran descent, is a Government and Politics major on the International Relations track working toward earning an East Asian Studies Certificate. She houses a deep interest in Asian language and culture, and seeks to help promote access to international opportunities for more students, regardless of income or citizenship status.
“I'm grateful to be one of the 24 students participating in the PPIA program at the University of Michigan,” she said. “Receiving the PPIA fellowship means a lot to me as I can continue my journey to providing students with global experiences to promote and bridge U.S.-East Asia diplomatic relations among people.”
After the PPIA program, Rubio—who has also been involved in the Japan America Society of Washington, D.C., Global Fellows, and the Global Communities Student Association—will study abroad in Taiwan in the fall, and is looking forward to applying skills earned during PPIA to her future endeavors.
Rivera, a Government and Politics and Criminology and Criminal Justice double major with a minor in U.S. Latinx Studies, is working to pursue criminal justice and immigration reform through law.
“I am so honored to have received this award,” she said. “It means a lot to be able to have the opportunity to receive the mentorship and resources that I need to become the best advocate I can be for my community.”
Rivera is also of Salvadoran descent. That’s part of the reason why she nurtures a passion for ensuring that future generations of immigrants do not have to face the challenges her family has, and why, through her participation in PPIA, she hopes to gain the skills necessary to become a lawyer, and connect with professionals that will help inform her transition from undergrad to law school.
Another part has to do with the courses she took while at UMD.
“My Criminology and Criminal Justice courses, particularly 'Race and Crime', have greatly impacted my want to become a lawyer by pushing me to think about the historical context and the long-term impacts of the issues that I care most about,” Rivera said.
Rubio had a similarly inspiring experience, highlighting how GVPT curriculum and faculty members acted as the catalyst to enter the PPIA program.
“Courses such as ‘Uncertain Partners: U.S. and China’ taught by Dr. Scott Kastner, and ‘Global Issues’ taught by Dr. Virginia Haufler in the Global Communities program allowed me to expand my knowledge of global relations and use it in my Global Fellows program, which further pushed my desire to work in the foreign affairs realm,” explained Rubio. “These experiences inspired me to apply to PPIA and other global [and] international-related programs.
Published on Wed, May 4, 2022 - 8:29PM