UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State School of International Affairs is the latest member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA), joining an international network of schools recognized for their commitment to educational excellence in the field of international affairs.

APSIA—first founded in 1989 to bring together schools of international affairs to advance international understanding and help students and universities become agents of positive change around the world—is a global organization with member schools in North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East dedicated to advancing international understanding, prosperity, peace, and security with its member institutions.

“We are excited and honored to be recognized by APSIA as a program that is dedicated to helping our students become global leaders working to create a better and more prosperous world,” said SIA Director Scott Gartner. “This partnership will help us continue providing a transformative education for our students and continue working to foster international communication and cooperation.”

SIA was welcomed as a full member of APSIA on February 6, following an official vote by the deans of current member schools to formalize this new partnership. This is the latest step forward for SIA as the program continues to grow and gain additional recognition, including through a new partnership with the Peace Corps to educate returning volunteers and recognition from Penn State for the continued success of SIA students and advisory board members.