SPIA enters a new era with the establishment of a physical presence in the nation’s capital. Dean Amaney Jamal chats with Washington veteran Alan Blinder about the initiative.

With SPIA in NJ launching April 28, Dean Amaney Jamal took some time to chat about the initiative with Stacy Mann, its director.

Recently, a group of our Princeton students and faculty traveled to Sharm El Sheik, Egypt for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – or COP27. While there, the students had a first-hand opportunity to observe the proceedings of the largest global gathering on climate change.In this episode we talk with some of the students who went to COP27 as well as to one of their faculty advisors, to hear first-hand about their experiences in Sharm El Sheik, what they learned, and any...

Public policy influences all aspects of our lives, yet few people give much thought to how policy is made, let alone experience the policymaking process firsthand. A new one-year program — and the first of its kind in the nation — the Policy Advocacy Clinic at the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) educates students on the policymaking process and incorporates a clinical program where students work with lawmakers or advocates to advance a public policy issue. During this inaugu...

Within 30 years, Africa will be home to nearly 25% of the global population. As such, it’s poised to become a global power and is the focus of current global development finance. Kubik, co-founded by Kidus Asfaw MPA ’14, is an environmental tech company turning plastic waste into low-carbon buildings. Kubik’s focus on building environmental and economic dignity has made it Africa’s Startup of the Year. In this episode of the Dean’s Dialogue, Kubik’s CEO Asfaw talks with Dean Jamal about some ...

It’s been a year since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the Taliban’s takeover of the country. Since then, the lives of many Afghans, especially women and girls, have been destroyed. Under Taliban rule, human rights violations continue to mount, while the country reaches economic collapse. In this episode, Dean Amaney Jamal discusses the current situation in Afghanistan — and what hope remains ahead — with Amb. Adela Raz, director of the Afghanistan Policy Lab at the Princeton S...

Governments around the world are limiting their countries' engagement with the global economy. These anti-globalization attitudes are troubling, especially as the world faces multiple global crises requiring international collaboration from climate change to supply chain production.Layna Mosley and B. Peter Rosendorff join Dean Amaney Jamal in this episode of the Dean's Dialogue to disentangle the backlash against globalization and consider what’s ahead. Mosley and Rosendorff are based at the...

In today’s workplace, writing is an essential skill. Whether drafting a policy memo, an email, or even a tweet, succinct writing is the key to effective communication.Best practices for clear writing are explored in a new book by Martha Coven: "Writing on the Job: Best Practices for Communicating in the Digital Age,” published by Princeton University Press. In the book, Coven draws upon decades of experience in the public and private sectors — as well as in the classroom at Princeton Uni...

China’s intentions to become the world’s next superpower are clear. After decades of trade and investments with advanced democracies, the country is far richer and stronger today than ever before. At the same time, China remains regressive toward its citizens and aggressive toward countries abroad. How did we get to this point?The West and its allies underestimated the resilience and ruthlessness of the Chinese Communist Party, Aaron Friedberg argues. In a new book, “Getting China Wrong,” he ...

Millions of people around the world are forcibly displaced each year due to rising conflict, environmental threats, and socioeconomic turmoil. Many of these refugees, including people from Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, remain displaced, prompting action from U.S. and international governments. To recognize #WorldRefugeeDay, Amaney Jamal, SPIA dean, speaks with Eric Schwartz MPA ’85, president of Refugees International, in this episode of the Dean’s Dialogue podcast. They explore ...

Climate-driven migration is having global impacts, something Hélène Benveniste Ph.D. ’21 is acutely aware of thanks to her research. There are an increasing number of people who need to move and don’t have the resources to do so. Helping these hidden communities should be top of mind for policymakers.In this episode of #Changemakers, she discusses her research on climate change policy, as well as the challenges she faces as a woman in academia. She also shares advice for anyone considering a ...

​Equitable policies for families and children is a focus for Christina Henderson MPA ’12, at-large member of the DC City Council. In this episode of the Dean’s Dialogue, she discusses how to advocate for those who “aren’t often in the room” with Dean Amaney Jamal. Together, they cover policy issues like maternal and infant health, reproductive rights, and paid parental leave.Throughout the episode, Henderson stresses the importance of local government and reflects on the courses, faculty...

Thanks for tuning into the first episode of the Dean’s Dialogue podcast! April is Arab American Heritage Month, and to reflect on this diverse community, Dean Amaney Jamal sits down in conversation with Baher Iskander MPA ’22, a naturalized immigrant from Cairo, Egypt, with an interest in U.S. Middle East policy. Together, they discuss what it means to be Arab American, the representation of different faiths within the community, and the ways the Princeton School of Public and Inte...

Social Security remains beloved and holds bipartisan support among American citizens. Yet the program faces an insolvency crisis. By 2034, when the fund is projected to run dry, it’s estimated that 81 million Americans will face automatic benefit cuts of 20%.There is nothing complicated about fixing Social Security, according to R. Douglas Arnold of Princeton University. Legislators could simply raise taxes or they could cut benefits — by raising the retirement age, for example. What remains ...

Freedom of religion is a constitutionally protected right in the religion clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. By definition, this should reflect America’s diversity and cover all people equally — whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, agnostic, or atheist. In practice, however, Americans sometimes support policies that seemingly violate the civil rights of Muslims. Although the U.S. Census identifies Muslim immigrants of the Middle East and North Africa as white, they fac...

Kiersten Todt '94 is chief of staff at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which serves as the "quarterback" for the federal cybersecurity team, protecting and defending the home front. She graduated from Princeton in 1994 with her undergraduate degree. You can find her full bio here: https://www.cisa.gov/kiersten-e-todt In this episode, she talks about the power of perseverance and being open to different career paths. She believes you can learn as much from failure ...

President Joe Biden’s recent speech on voting rights signaled a commitment to helping preserve democracy, and today, Jan. 19, the Senate will debate and vote on legislation centered on voting rights protections. This issue is very much on the mind of Asha Rangappa ’96, a lawyer and CNN commentator. In this podcast, she discusses the necessary steps the U.S. must take to preserve democracy, including ensuring voting rights and building social trust.

Pierina Sanchez MPA ’14 is the daughter of immigrants and a lifelong resident of the Bronx. She was recently elected to the New York City Council to represent District 14. In this episode, she discusses issues of economic and housing inequality in her community, along with her hopes to bring more opportunity to District 14.* At the time of this recording, Pierina was running for office.

Whether it be earning a college degree, buying a house, or addressing income shortfalls, access to credit is essential for many people’s well-being and social opportunities in today’s richest countries. Yet, with credit also comes the burden of debt, which many are shouldering in an unsteady economic climate. But why are some people in some countries more indebted than others?Andreas Wiedemann seeks to understand this in his new book, “Indebted Societies.” Through detailed accounts of individ...

Dennis McBride MPA '80 is the 17th mayor of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin — his hometown. He's had a long career in government, law, and even public relations. In this episode, he discusses being a mayor during the tumultuous year of 2020. He advises those going into government to develop a "thick skin" and always play on your home field.