Hi everyone! My name is Kennedy Baker, and I am a third-year Political science student with a minor in Law, Jurisprudence, and the State and a minor in Law, Ethics,
Nov 2024
Exploring SPIA clubs and programs
Hi everyone! My name is Kennedy Baker, and I am a third-year Political science student with a minor in Law, Jurisprudence, and the State and a minor in Law, Ethics,
Nov 2024
The Most Important Races on Your Ballot Aren’t at the Top
Leading up to the presidential election, many students (like myself) feel a compelling need to get involved and leave their mark on campaign season. However, there are several races up
Oct 2024
Demystifying the LSAT
Hi everyone! My name is Kennedy Baker, and I am a third-year Political science student with a minor in Law, Jurisprudence, and the State and a minor in Law, Ethics,
Oct 2024
Voting
Hi everyone! My name is Kennedy Baker, and I am a third-year Political science student with a minor in Law, Jurisprudence, and the State and a minor in Law, Ethics,
Oct 2024
Taking Religion in International Affairs in the Heart of Catholicism
Hi, my name is Makayla Bangoura! I am a third-year International Affairs major, and I recently participated in the GLOBIS SPIA a Firenze study abroad program in Florence, Italy. This
Oct 2024
A Beginners Survival Guide to SPIA
Hi everyone! My name is Kanika Patel, and I am a third-year international affairs major at SPIA. When entering SPIA, I was overwhelmed with the amount of opportunities offered here,
Sep 2024
My love letter to SPIA as a senior
Dear SPIA, As I look back at the past two years and my time in this school, all I can say is I have been given everything and more. When
Sep 2024
Women in World Politics– A Must-Take
One of the most rewarding classes I’ve taken so far is Women in World Politics. This course has broadened my understanding of global politics by focusing on the role of
Sep 2024
Careers in Public Administration
If you’re considering a graduate degree in public administration, you may be asking yourself what job opportunities might be available to you once you complete your program. Navigating your post-grad
Sep 2024
Title: SPIA a Firenze can be the perfect study abroad for you!
Hi everyone! My name is Kennedy Baker, and I am a third-year Political science student with a minor in Law, Jurisprudence, and the State and a minor in Law, Ethics,
Sep 2024
What Is Public Administration?
Public administration is a field of study and practice that deals with the management and implementation of government policies and programs. It involves the organization, coordination, and supervision of public
Sep 2024
A SPIA Trip Out West
Written by Anna Rose Powell 3rd year Majors: International Affairs, Spanish This past summer, I participated in the second year of SPIA’s National Parks Program (NPP) through GLOBIS. Over the
Sep 2024
Why You Should Join the Arch Policy Institute, UGA’s Student-Run, Non-Partisan Public Policy Think Tank
Hello! I’m Kyleigh Cook, a third-year SPIA student majoring in political science with a minor in Law, Justice, and the State through the UGA School of Law. After graduation, I
Apr 2024
Finding the Right Internship
It is hard enough to narrow down your values, future career aspirations, and, of course, your genuine interests when you arrive at UGA. As you approach the end of sophomore
Apr 2024
Senior Reflection on my Time in SPIA
As I approach my final weeks at the University of Georgia as a student, I find myself reflecting upon the profound impact my time here as a student, particularly within
Mar 2024
Exploring Internships with Laura Kelley
Hey everyone! I’m Laura Kelley, a third-year Political Science and Public Relations major at the great University of Georgia. I am grateful for the experiences the School of Public and
Mar 2024
SPIA 101: HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME AT UGA
College is a naturally nerve-wracking and overwhelming experience, no matter how much preparation and research you do before. I can guarantee that every student at the University of Georgia has
Mar 2024
Why SPIA?
Joining the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia was one of the best decisions I have made in college. The college has provided me with
Mar 2024
Studying abroad: Being a SPIA major in a non-SPIA program
I am studying abroad this semester through the Warnell College of Forestry and Natural Resources Discover Abroad program in Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Fiji. I am not a forestry
Feb 2024
Becoming a Global Leader: My Semester Abroad with SPIA
As an International Affairs major, I have always strived to be globally-minded. Before studying abroad, however, I had yet to learn just how rewarding global experiences could be, especially for
Feb 2024
Advice for Applying to Pickering/Rangel/Payne Fellowships
Hi everyone! My name is Clemencia El Antouri, and I am a 2024 recipient of the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship. The U.S. Department of State funds this fellowship
Feb 2024
The Best Internships Come From SPIA
As a student in the School of Public and International Affairs, I interned with a range of political organizations, including Greater Georgia, the Office of Governor Brian Kemp, and the
Feb 2024
Internships Are Closer Than You Think
Hello, everyone. My name is Valeria Campos, and I am a senior majoring in international affairs and journalism. I wanted to discuss the internship search with you all, which I
Feb 2024
Studying Abroad: What Dreams are Made For
We all know that the world is connected and that there is so much out there to explore and fall in love with outside of the borders of Georgia and
Jan 2024
Tips for Study Abroad
Many SPIA students, especially those majoring in International Affairs, express interest in studying or interning abroad yet may feel intimidated by the planning and logistics of pursuing a study abroad
Dec 2023
SPIA Offers Incredible Academic Flexibility
Being a SPIA student has given me the opportunities of a lifetime. I have been able to work at the United States Capitol, study at the University of Oxford, and
Dec 2023
Bridging Theory with Reality
While reflecting on my college journey, one course stands out as a transformative experience: POLS 4071 – Social Choice and Elections with Dr. Keith Dougherty. It was an intellectual ride
Nov 2023
A beginner’s guide to SPIA:
1. Take advantage of the SPIA community. Sign up for events! One event I attended was a meet and greet with the State Department, where I learned more about a
Nov 2023
I Promise, The 24 Hour Travel Time is Worth It!
As a fourth-year international affairs major, I have had so many memorable experiences with SPIA. One that stands out above the rest was studying abroad in South Africa two summers
Oct 2023
Why SPIA?
This is a big question, isn’t it? Why choose SPIA over all the other excellent degree programs that UGA offers? Why decide to dedicate your life to studying all of
Oct 2023
Why Taking Political Science Classes is Essential for Everyone:
As a double major and double minor, I have had the opportunity to take a wide array of classes spanning from Biological Anthropology to French Literature to Calculus II to
Oct 2023
On the Importance of Philosophy to Political Science
My name is Logan Sorrow, and I am a fourth-year student studying political science with a certificate in Applied Politics. I have had extensive exposure to the political world throughout
Oct 2023
If not Law School…
Hello! My name is Maggie McInerney, and I am a third-year SPIA student. I am majoring in Political Science with a minor in Law, Philosophy, and Ethics and certificates in
Oct 2023
GLIP? Yes, please!!
I’m Laura Kelley, a third-year political science and public relations student. One of my favorite experiences through SPIA has been the GLIP internship. I have always been an experiential learner,
Oct 2023
Advice for Incoming Students
As a fourth-year student, I have been blessed with many opportunities as an SPIA student. Hopefully, my experience here can give incoming Freshmen an insight into what it’s like to
Sep 2023
A Day in the Life of a SPIA Student
9:15 am: I leave for my first class and walk to the Miller Learning Center with my roommates. As a student in the Applied Politics program, I start my day
Sep 2023
Making Connections Through the Applied Politics Program
Hi everyone! My name is Niamh Dempsey, and I am a fourth-year Political Science and International affairs double major with a minor in Law, Jurisprudence, and the State. I also
Sep 2023
Study and Intern in Amman, Jordan
Hello everyone! My name is Clemencia El Antouri, and I am a fourth-year International Affairs and Romance Languages student. I am also a Security Leadership Fellow at the Center for
Dec 2022
Reflecting On My Experience in SPIA
By: Kelley Downes Hi! My name is Kelley Downes and I am a senior from Atlanta, Georgia. I am majoring in Political Science with an Applied Politics Certificate and minoring
Dec 2022
My Experience in the Washington Semester Program
By: Simi Kolodka Hi everyone! My name is Simi Kolodka, I am a fourth year student studying international affairs and Russian. This semester, I had the unique opportunity to study,
Nov 2022
Video Games as a Simulation Tool
By: Nick Markiewicz This semester, I decided to take ‘Global Simulation’ taught by Professor Berejikian, which used video games as an incredibly effective simulation tool. I have participated in many
Nov 2022
Starvation as War Tool: A Research Project with Dr. Carmichael
Hi! My name is Allie Maloney and I am a third year student studying International Affairs and Political Science. I came to UGA knowing that I was passionate about political
Nov 2022
Interning with the Council on Foreign Relations
By Emma Sorckoff Did you know that statistically speaking, it’s more competitive to secure an internship with the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) than it is to get into Stanford
Oct 2022
Take advantage of your professors in SPIA!
Hello everyone! My name is Connor Stockenberg! I just wanted to write a bit about how much I love all the professors I’ve had in SPIA so far and how
Oct 2022
Suite Life On Deck: Dawg Edition
Hey everyone! My name is Grace VanHooser and I am a 4th year studying Political Science with a minor in Spanish. I studied abroad in Spring of 2022 with Semester
Sep 2022
SINCERELY, YOUR FELLOW OUT-OF-STATE STUDENT
My name is Julianna Jurkiewicz, and I am a third-year student double majoring in International Affairs and Economics while studying for a Certificate in Legal Studies. Luckily, when I applied
Sep 2022
Finding my place on campus
Hello everyone! My name is Connor Stockenberg, and I’m a fourth year political science and international affairs major. Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: this is my last
Sep 2022
Studying Abroad in Stellenbosch
By Shekina Shindano This past summer I had the opportunity to study abroad in Stellenbosch, South Africa under the SPIA – Globis Partner: Global Studies at Stellenbosch University. Stellenbosch is
Sep 2022
SPIA and Human Rights
By Sydney Sanders The SPIA classes I’ve taken over the past three years have all ignited different interests in me. I came to realize that these seemingly unrelated topics could
Sep 2022
SPIA a Firenze Maymester
By Allie Maloney This past summer, I participated in the SPIA a Firenze Maymester study abroad program in Italy. This was my first time traveling to another country and it
Sep 2022
Lessons from a Transfer Student
By Ema Weeks I decided where I wanted to attend to college in April of 2020 when the world was on lockdown with ten options from which to choose, including
Sep 2022
My Summer Internship
By Hannah Skinner My name is Hannah Skinner and I’m a senior double majoring in Political Science and International Affairs. This past summer I had the opportunity to intern for
Apr 2022
Thank You for Supporting SPIA!
by Nicholas Byrd I love being a SPIA student because the school and professors are preparing me to be a strong global citizen and leader. I’m writing this blog post
Apr 2022
Best Study Spots for SPIA Students
by Niclas Hammontree The age-old conundrum of where to study. When it’s time to do some reading, or write a policy memo, or even finish some coding for a research
Mar 2022
My Time as an Oxford Student
by Anney Woodard This past spring semester, I participated in the UGA at Oxford study abroad program. The experience was unforgettable. I had the opportunity to learn in the Oxford
Mar 2022
Why You Should Join Model United Nations
by Allie Maloney This is my second year at UGA and my first year on the Model United Nations team. Last year, with COVID restrictions, I had a hard time
Feb 2022
Why You Should Apply to be a SPIA Ambassador
by Fernanda Flores Hello! My name is Fernanda and I am a third-year International Affairs major. Today, I want to write about the SPIA Ambassador program and the opportunities I
Feb 2022
Is WSP for You? – One Month In and Counting
by Taylor Talley Just a month ago, I moved into Delta Hall in Washington D.C. with 30 other students. I was nervous because I was only a sophomore, but excited
Jan 2022
An Internship with the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies
by Jaylin Small During the fall semester of 2021, I participated in the Washington Semester Program and interned at the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS). Under the supervision
Dec 2021
Introduction to Comparative Politics
by Jere Pearson As the summer drew to a close, I remember greatly anticipating the start of my sophomore year at UGA for many reasons. So many opportunities were being
Nov 2021
Why You Should Apply for the Richard B. Russell Security Leadership Program
by Rehna Sheth The Security Leadership Program transformed my undergraduate career. One fall day of my sophomore year, our Model United Nations Head Delegate, Meredith Van De Velde, sent a
Sep 2021
Interning on Capitol Hill for a Summer
by Jane Scarborough Every now and then I think back to how my life was a year ago, and it makes me smile. Man, I had no idea what was coming! Last fall, life
Feb 2021
Poll Working as a SPIA student
by John Oates One of the most interesting experiences I have had as a political science student has been as a poll worker. If you are like me you may
Feb 2021
The best decision I made for myself and my future
by Grace Kaldor I started at the University of Georgia about three and a half years ago now (wow!) as a different major, yet I knew at the time that
Feb 2021
Getting Involved with Research
Hi, everyone. My name is Alana Entinger, and I am a third-year International Affairs student. As mentioned in my previous blog that was posted on September 8, 2020, I created
Feb 2021
Dr. Carmichael’s Revitalized UN Practicum Class: Building Real-World Skills
Dr. Carmichael’s Revitalized UN Practicum Class: Building Real-World Skills By Rehna Sheth This semester, Dr. Carmichael restarted a class that hasn’t been taught in many years called United Nations Practicum
Feb 2021
INTL 4210: International Law: A Must Take
by Lauren Anders Once again, I find myself raving about the one and only Dr. Carmichael. This time I am here to rave about her International Law class that can
Dec 2020
Rediscovering the spark
by Anjali Patel My name is Anjali Patel, and I am a student majoring in International Affairs and Political Science within the School of Public and International Affairs, SPIA. As
Nov 2020
Why SPIA?
by Sarah Allen My name is Sarah Allen, and I am an International Affairs and Political Science double major with a minor in General Business. When I moved into my
Nov 2020
Alternate Plans in the time of COVID
by Jena Jibreen My name is Jena Jibreen, and I am a third-year student studying International Affairs and Psychology. My entire college experience has been very heavily centered on my
Nov 2020
My Favorite College Experience
by Lydia McCoy When I was a sophomore, I decided on a whim to apply for the UGA at Oxford study abroad program. To my delight, I was accepted into
Oct 2020
Finding a silver lining
by Elizabeth Carter Amid a global pandemic, finding silver linings can be difficult and feel a bit tone-deaf; but at a time when most everything seems to be falling apart,
Oct 2020
My Most Valued SPIA Classes
by Emily Gayle As a senior this year I have had a lot of time to reflect on my college experience. I have changed a lot for the better and
Oct 2020
So I am 3 months into the Applied Politics Certificate Program…
by Micah Nix In the final weeks of Spring 2020, before we were all abruptly sent home due to the pandemic, I was applying to be a part of the
Oct 2020
FINDING A SUPPORT SYSTEM THROUGH SPIA
By Alexa Kaemmerling Moving 10 hours away from home all by myself was not an easy transition. The first few months at UGA were filled with trials and tribulations, and
Oct 2020
Finding a Way to Help Others
by Valdina Tchoute From a young age, I have wanted to connect with other cultures — connect with the people, the language, the identities and even the tragedies that have
Sep 2020
Finding the importance of local elections
by Zoe Booth This year is a big year for elections. The presidential election and the contentious senate races dominate the news, but what a lot of Americans never even
Sep 2020
Securing an internship through SPIA
By Alex Donnelly One of my biggest goals as a student at the University of Georgia has always been to land an internship. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the
Sep 2020
Why Georgia’s MPA Program: Kim’s wRight Loft
Why Georgia’s MPA Program: Kim’s wRight Loft by Gerena Walker For many who have the bug of public service, they often choose undergraduate degrees in political science, economics, history, international
Sep 2020
Finding my home with Model UN
My name is Alexa Hernandez, and I am a third-year studying Political Science and International Affairs with a certificate in Applied Politics at the University of Georgia. Since my first
Sep 2020
RA in the time of Covid
by John Oates My name is John Oates, and I am a third-year political science student here at SPIA. If you are like me and you want to get into
Sep 2020
How SPIA Paid Me to Intern in Washington, DC
By Macey Myers Last fall, an email hit my inbox that would soon give me one of the greatest opportunities of my college career. Adam Paige, SPIA’s Internship Advisor, often
Sep 2020
Finding my place in SPIA
by Jaylin Small As a second-year student at the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), I want to be as transparent as possible with incoming freshmen and prospective SPIA
Sep 2020
What SPIA Class Should I Take Next?
by Rehna Sheth Unlike our peers majoring in biology or engineering, in SPIA there is no strict path of classes you must take. The obscure range of classes SPIA students
Sep 2020
Get involved with SPIA
by Alana Entinger My name is Alana Entinger, and I am majoring in International Affairs. In January 2020, I transferred to UGA as a sophomore. Although I did not get
Mar 2020
Certificate in Applied Politics – What I Learned
By: Julianna Isbitts Earlier this week, the names of students accepted in the 5th cohort of the Public Affairs Professional Certificate in Applied Politics were announced. As a member of
Mar 2020
A Georgia Scholars Tour Turns into a Story about Life Lessons
By: Anjali Patel Being a SPIA Ambassador definitely has its perks such as attending lectures with some of the most globally phenomenal speakers and sharing our love for SPIA as
Mar 2020
My UGA Mentor Experience
By: Elizabeth Carter My name is Elizabeth Carter, and I am a Double Dawg studying International Affairs and Policy. My interests include resource deficiencies, human-centered design, and partnerships for development.
Mar 2020
Why You Should have a UGA Mentor
By Urooj Ali During the Fall 2019 semester, I participated in the UGA Mentor Program. This was the first semester of the mentor program, and it was an amazing experience.
Feb 2020
Broadening My Perspective: Studying Abroad in Verona
By: Sarah Ensley I never changed my major. In May, I will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in political science major with a minor in history. There was never any
Feb 2020
The Washington Semester Program: The Best Semester
By Emily Gayle During the Fall 2019 semester, I had the opportunity to study and intern in Washington, D.C through the Washington Semester Program (WSP). As a SPIA student, this
Feb 2020
My Own Experience With War and Gender
By: Alexa Hernandez This semester, I am in War and Gender with the famous Dr. Gallagher, which is an international affairs class. Every week or so, we have to turn
Jan 2020
Course Spotlight: International Law with Professor Leah Carmicheal
By: Zoe Booth When you think of the “study of law” do you think of huge textbooks, hours of reading, and memorization? Before this semester, I did too. I am
Jan 2020
Education and Experiences: How SPIA Taught Me to Become a Student of the World
By: Katie Morris As a senior beginning my final semester at the University of Georgia, I can’t help but look back in deep appreciation at the many opportunities the School
Jan 2020
Challenging Yourself in SPIA
By: Joseph Suen One reason why I chose a major in SPIA was because of the interest I had in both law and politics. As I took more and more
Jan 2020
So Why a SPIA Degree?
By: Anjali Patel My name is Anjali Patel and I am a SPIA student. This is a highly bland statement I understand, but it is only the conversation starter to
Jan 2020
UGA at Oxford Experience
By: Samantha Gastelum The first summer after my Freshman year I participated in the UGA at Oxford program which I cannot recommend highly enough. Although I was taking INTL 4220
Jan 2020
Political Simulations Class Engages and Challenges SPIA Students
By: Lauren Anders Advanced Political Simulations, these three words will lead any School of Public and International Affairs student to the best course of their collegiate career. It has it
Dec 2019
Research opportunities within SPIA
My name is Stephanie Cannon, and I am a third-year undergraduate student studying international affairs and Arabic with a minor in Russian. I am also a member of the Richard
Dec 2019
The value of a SPIA degree
by Elise Tanyel “So… what are you trying to do with your International Affairs degree?” This is the dreaded question that I’m sure we all, as liberal arts students, have
Nov 2019
Don’t skip class kids…unless you get the opportunity to meet a hero
by Faiz Syed It was going to be a rough week ahead! I had a few major exams as well as some deadlines for my research. As I sat down
Nov 2019
SPIA and the opportunities it has to offer
by Zoe Booth While most people may view any regular listserv or mass email as just another message to dump into the trash folder of their school email, if you
Nov 2019
Experiential Learning Program Internship
By Karina Delgado I have always been very grateful for all the opportunities that the School of Public and International Affairs has presented to me over the past three years.
Nov 2019
Public Affairs Professional Certificate
by Abigail Chasteen SPIA is a place of endless opportunities. One of my personal favorite ways that SPIA presents opportunities to the student body is through the certificate options. I
Oct 2019
My Experience at the Spencer Frye Legislative Fellowship
by Taylor Evans From August 2017 to May 2018 I served as a Legislative Fellow for Representative Spencer Frye (D) of the 118th house district of Georgia. I started off
Oct 2019
Immersing myself in a new culture
By Karina Delgado I had many different experiences throughout my study abroad in Italy. I really believe this experience was like no other. I loved travelling with a group of
Oct 2019
A lecturer that goes the extra mile makes all the difference: A spotlight on Maryann Gallagher
by Zoe Booth The thing I most dreaded when I entered college were the big lecture halls. The impersonal, cold feeling of sitting in a room with over 100 people
Oct 2019
Learning through state-building simulations
by Alexa Hernandez While choosing to be a student of SPIA is a remarkable decision in itself, I, in an obviously biased manner, will go a bit further and say
Oct 2019
How SPIA is helping me pursue my medical career
by Faiz Syed One of the greatest experiences that I have had in college was interning at the Morehouse School of Medicine for the Satcher Health Leadership Institute. Dr. David
Oct 2019
SPIA helped me find what I am passionate about
by Ivana Motes When I first came to college, I really had no idea what I truly wanted to do with my life. This is very similar to many freshmen
Sep 2019
So you’re thinking about SPIA
by Cecilia Vu So you’re thinking about switching or adding a SPIA major. What do you do? Well, first thing is to actually know what SPIA is! SPIA stands for
Sep 2019
SPIA changed my life
by Abigail Chasteen When thinking about what SPIA means to me, I can’t help but remember the impact my favorite political science course has had on me as an individual
Sep 2019
Shaping my study abroad experience
By Marisa Hernandez While my study abroad experience was not through SPIA, I still emphasize the value in going abroad, especially as an international affairs major. Being able to see
Sep 2019
My Maymester experience at Oxford
by Jena Jibreen This past summer, after my first year at UGA, I was fortunate enough to experience a Maymester study abroad program at the University of Oxford. Though
Sep 2019
Professors that want to see you succeed
By: Alyssa Mora My time in SPIA has been considerably short compared to other students. When I came into college I was an Exercise Science Major attempting to go down
Sep 2019
Encontrando Mi Comunidad at the University of Georgia
By Ivan Ruiz-Hernandez Growing up in the suburbs of Metro-Atlanta, my exposure to Latinx literature and scholarly works was limited. The experiences that I had were normally curated by the
Sep 2019
The most magical place on Earth: Washington, DC
By Elizabeth Carter As a child, the quintessence of a summer well-spent would chiefly concern the success of a personal marketing campaign to my parents on a trip to Disney
Aug 2019
My summer abroad
By Alexa Hernandez This past summer, I was fortunate enough to travel with the School of Public and International Affairs to Verona, Italy, through their Maymester study abroad program to
Aug 2019
An internship in public service is eye-opening
By Lauren Anders As an International Affairs student, summer and the months leading up to it are full of anticipation. The community of School of International and Public Affair students
Aug 2019
Finding SPIA & Candler Hall using Google Maps
Not too long ago, I was standing at The Arch on Broad Street and needed to get to SPIA (School of Public and International Affairs) in Candler Hall. So, like
Aug 2019
Finding his passion in SPIA
By Joseph Suen I remember having a hard time deciding what to major in before arriving at the University of Georgia. Mainly, this was due to the fact that I
Apr 2019
SPIA around the world
by Zoe Li In my four years as a student in the UGA School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), I have traveled to over 25 cities and 10 countries
Mar 2019
Being a woman in SPIA
by Anayely Moreno As we realize that March is Women’s History Month, perhaps because your friend mentioned it, or the person in class who seems to have a lot of
Mar 2019
Finding a sense of community
By Margaret Beckley Coming into SPIA at UGA as a freshman, I knew I wanted to major in International Affairs and Political Science, but I did not realize that SPIA
Oct 2018
SPIA Student Mentorship Program
By Elizabeth Carter Starting this semester, a group of SPIA Student Ambassadors have started a Peer Mentorship Program for SPIA students. The purpose of the program is to facilitate relationships
May 2018
Internships: More Than a Resume Builder
By Amy Doehrman Each semester hundreds of students scramble to find the perfect internship- you know the one in DC, with a stipend that fills job opening with interns… We
Mar 2018
Listen to Yourself: Choose SPIA!
by Caroline Gustavson Deciding upon a school for my college career was extremely difficult even though I knew I wanted to be an International Affairs major. I had contradicting opinions
Jan 2018
SPIA at Oxford
by Hannah Ruby SPIA’s eight week study abroad program at the University of Oxford started on a dreary morning in early January. Everyone trudged from their bedrooms downstairs into the
Jan 2018
Apply to the UGA Undergraduate Admissions Internship
by Jay-Ce Heisig Want to give tours and admissions guidance to prospective bulldawgs? Apply to be an intern in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions! As an admissions intern myself,
Dec 2017
My Semester at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW (Well Close Enough Anyway…)
By Flora Patel I constantly tell others that “life starts at the end of your comfort zone,” to encourage them to step out of their safety zones and experience life.
Dec 2017
My Non-UGA Study Abroad Experience
By Eamon Gaffney As cliché as it sounds, studying abroad was the most enriching experience I have had the opportunity to partake in during my time in college so far.
Sep 2017
“What’s SPIA?” and Other Questions I’ve Answered About as Many Times as my 810
By Peyton Sammons “What’s SPIA?” and Other Questions I’ve Answered About as Many Times as my 810 As I embark on my 16th year of formal education, and 4th year
Apr 2017
My Only Regret
By Kimberlee John-Williams Everyone gets nostalgic in the months preceding graduation, and I am certainly not immune to feeling increasingly sentimental as my time in Athens comes to a close.
Feb 2017
How to Make the Most of Your SPIA Career
By Jesse Kerzner The fragility and value of time is often overlooked. Specifically, when it comes to the always too short, four-year, college career. So with that in mind, there
Feb 2017
One More Resume
By Peyton Sammons While many students spend the summer between their first and second years taking family vacations, or waiting tables at a local restaurant, I was running around my
Feb 2017
“Abbie, Yay or Nay?”
By Abbie Nash This past week in my Legislative Process class, we discussed what goes in to the decisions that members of Congress make. What influences the way certain lawmakers
Jan 2017
Law School Apps 101
By Chelsea Reese Thinking about applying to law school? It’s one thing to think about it- actually doing it is a whole different story! The process is long and is
Jan 2017
A Nice Home in South Africa
by Libby Ballou Kayamandi means “nice home.” If I had heard this before the summer of 2015, I would have pictured a mansion with many amenities. Yet, after my month-long
Jan 2017
What’s So Great about SPIA?
By Amaan Charaniya It’s not unusual for me to tell people I’m in SPIA and for them to quickly respond with, “what’s that?” Unfortunately, even among UGA students, SPIA hasn’t
Dec 2016
The Importance of the Unfamiliar
By Jacquelyn Harms Two years ago, I traveled to the beautiful country of Turkey to be an intern for a non-profit that worked with children with disabilities. When people asked
Nov 2016
Studying in South Africa
By Grace Walker Since day one, my professors in the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) have been teaching me vital lessons about the world and the way that
Nov 2016
My Reaction to the 2016 Election
By Grace Nelms This election season was long; I feel like I’ve aged a lifetime in the last year and a half. But, now it is over and now we
Oct 2016
Lessons in Applying to European Programs
By Olivia Haas The prospect of graduating is scary and, somehow, the semester is already almost over. And the feeling of approaching a finite end without a clear plan for
Sep 2016
Gaining Credit through SPIA for my Dream Internship
By Ariel Pinsky This summer I was able to receive 8 hours of class credit toward my Political Science major (with the help of my faculty advisor Dr. Josh Putnam)
Sep 2016
What I Wish I Knew as a SPIA Freshman
By Alex Corluyan Lots of students walk onto campus during orientation, look at the Arch, and can’t wait to finally walk under it 4 years later. That’s a mistake. Being at UGA
May 2016
Getting Out of My Comfort Zone
By Elijah Scott For my first thirty-six hours in Romania, I had met the national champion judo practitioner, realized that no one would accept US dollars or credit, was unable
Feb 2016
Teaching the Government how to Govern
By Elizabeth Holland Nestled behind the ancient oaks on North Milledge Ave. is a building where much of the behind-the-scenes action of Georgia government takes place. The Carl Vinson Institute
Jan 2016
MockDawgs
By Ryan Bolt As spring semester approaches here at the University of Georgia it marks the end of another great season competing with the undergraduate mock trial team. For those
Dec 2015
A Chance to Learn in Our Own Backyard
By Sara Beth Marchert The School of Public and International Affairs & the University of Georgia offer students an incredible opportunity to have a semester in Washington DC, interning in
Nov 2015
Happy Veteran’s Day
By Madison Turner As a nation, we take this day to observe, honor and recognize the bravest men and women in our country’s history– our veterans. From kindergarten to senior
Nov 2015
How SPIA Helped My Dreams Become Reality
By Rebeca Westmoreland Don’t get me wrong. This isn’t a heroic story about a hardworking student that realized all of their dreams after years and years of failed attempts. Far
Oct 2015
SPIA: More than Just a Liberal Arts Degree
By Patrick Jameson Cunningham The School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia has an incredibly diverse student population. When I walk into a class, I never
Sep 2015
Creating a SPIA Identity
By Tyler Leigh Wow! I can’t believe that in a few short days, I will be in Sanford Stadium, cheering on the Bulldogs for my last season as a student.
Jan 2015
Happy New Year
By Caroline Paris Paczkowski Dear Students, Parents, Alumni and Friends: Happy New Year to you and your families. As we enter 2015, I remain extremely optimistic about SPIA and its
Nov 2014
2015 Legislative Fellowship Program with Rep. Spencer Frye
By Paul Welch The Legislative Office of State Representative Spencer Frye seeks highly motivated undergraduate students, graduate students, law students and recent graduates to join our team and take part
Oct 2014
Lessons from Abroad
By Olivia Haas As a student of international affairs and history, past and current political and social climates have always fascinated me. I felt my education of the subjects could
Sep 2014
Using Faculty Expertise to Your Advantage
By Rachel Surminsky The University of Georgia has innumerable resources for its students but its most prominent is a strong and dedicated faculty. Faculty members make a student’s college experience
Sep 2014
Call for Applications: SPIA-Senator Isakson Public Policy Fellowship
By Paul Welch The Office of U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) at the University of Georgia offer SPIA undergraduate and graduate
Sep 2014
Class Notes for August
By Caroline Paris Paczkowski J. Lee Weems (M.P.A. 2004) has been elected to a two-year term on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors.
Jul 2014
“Model African Union” this Fall via the African Studies Institute at UGA
By Paul Welch The African Studies Institute is offering a new class under the Critical Issues in Contemporary Africa course number AFST 4200/6200 which will give students credit for preparing
Jul 2014
Class Notes for July
By Caroline Paris Paczkowski SPIA alumnus, Joshua Jones, is the president and CEO of Red Clay Communications, an Atlanta-based firm that advised the Dave Brat campaign for the Virginia Republican
Jul 2014
New Intro Classes in International Affairs Added for Fall: 1100, 3200 & 3300
By Paul Welch The Department of International Affairs has added new sections of INTL 1100 “Intro to Global Issues,” INTL 3200 “Introduction to International Relations,” and INTL 3300 “Intro to
Jun 2014
What’s An Elective? NMIX 2020 “Intro to New Media”
By Paul Welch Another in a continuing (and apparently sporadic) series of blog posts about good elective choices. Here we have a class from the Grady College of Journalism concerning
Jun 2014
Class Notes for June
By Caroline Paris Paczkowski SPIA alumnus, Don L. Pruitt Jr., was featured in the Athens Banner-Herald for his dedication to saving lives as a paramedic captain with National EMS. Read
Jun 2014
New INTL Courses Added to Fall Schedule: 4230, 4640, and More!
By Paul Welch The Department of International Affairs recently opened several new courses on Athena for the fall term: INTL 1100H “Introduction to Global Issues (Honors)” 9:30-10:45 TTH in Candler
Jun 2014
New INTL 4770 Added for Fall: “International Security Cooperation”
By Paul Welch Special Topics Course: International Security Cooperation taught by Allison Shelton This course synthesizes the IR sub-fields of international conflict and cooperation by examining how (and how
May 2014
Welcome to Summer!
By Stefanie A. Lindquist Many of our students and several faculty members are abroad studying in South Africa, Italy, China and Japan. Meanwhile, in the Dean’s Office, we are looking
May 2014
Class Notes for May
By Caroline Paris Paczkowski Congratulations class of 2014 for becoming SPIA alumni! Don’t forget to fill out an alumni profile letting us know where you will be next year! Lauren Pinson
Apr 2014
The New Face of SPIA
By Stefanie A. Lindquist Welcome to the newly renovated website for the School of Public and International Affairs! We think that you will enjoy reading about our faculty, students, and
Mar 2014
Class Notes for March
By Janet Recent MPA graduate Vasil Jaiani pens op-ed for Forbes about the West’s response to the situation in Ukraine. Jaiani now serves as senior management analyst for the District
Mar 2014
Southern Education Foundation Internships
By Paul Welch The Southern Education Foundation (SEF), http://www.southerneducation.org, is reaching out to tomorrow’s leaders through the 2014 Southern Education Leadership Initiative. Since 2004, SEF has placed over 165 students
Mar 2014
Russell Library to Host Nuclear Threats Panel This Week
By Paul Welch The Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies will host an event showcasing selected scholars discussing nuclear threats on Thursday, Mar. 6th from 5:30-7 p.m.
Mar 2014
Pi Sigma Alpha (PoliSci) Honor Society hosts a meet & greet on March 4th
Pi Sigma Alpha, the honor society for political science students at UGA, will host a “Meet & Greet” for all students on Wednesday March 4th at 4 pm in Baldwin