The University of Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs partnered with the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA) to host a Public and International Student Advisor (PISA) Workshop for 27 advisors from around Minnesota on October 22, 2019.

With financial support from the Robertson Foundation for Government, The Humphrey School is one of three APSIA schools selected nationwide to host a PISA Network training. This workshop featured a comparative look at professional graduate degrees, advice on helping students discern the best fit for them in a global marketplace, and resources for the advisors to help their students better prepare an application to and find funding for graduate school.

An alumni panel featured John O’Connell, Program Director at Land O’Lakes Venture37, Rima Kawas, Regional Deputy Director for the International Republican Institute, and Andrea Martinez, Human Trafficking Legal Case Manager with The Advocates for Human Rights. It highlighted the broad range of career opportunities available to graduates in public and international affairs. Content was coordinated by the Humphrey School Office of Career Services in cooperation with the Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship program, which is housed at the School.

“Our interactive discussions helped talk through some of the barriers to students’ success, share resources advisors need to champion their students, and explain ways APSIA and graduate programs like ours can assist,” said Jen Guyer-Wood, Director of Career Services.“Area career counselors and academic advisors who help undergrads explore these areas were able to connect with each other and find tools for their toolkits."

The following institutions will now have at least one Public and International Service Advisor on campus:

Augsburg University

Carleton College

College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University

Gustavus Adolphus College

Hamline University

St. Cloud State University

St. Olaf College

University of Minnesota-Morris

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Winona State University

Launched in 2018, the Public and International Service Advisor (PISA) Network brings together undergraduate advisors across the United States to advance understanding of the professions of international affairs, public policy, and public administration on their campuses. The Network provides support for and recognition of advisors as they counsel students to pursue careers in all of these fields.

Read more about the August 2019 PISA training in New York.

The University of California, San Diego hosts a PISA training in San Diego on December 6, 2019.

APSIA hosts an online Advisor Webinar: Helping Students Prepare for the Global Marketplace on December 12, 2019.