The need for well-trained public leaders has never been greater. At the University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government, we are committed to providing the knowledge, experience, and network to help public servants ignite meaningful change. We're writing to you today to both share the exciting opportunities Fels is providing to its students and to ask for your help in supporting these priorities.
Since 1937, Fels has prepared leaders for careers in public service. We continue that legacy with our small, selective Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree programs that combine foundational knowledge in data analysis, leadership, communication, and finance with practical, experiential learning opportunities. In 2024, we sent 59 public servants into the workforce, poised to make an impact at local, state, federal, and international levels.
During their time at Fels, these students completed individual capstone projects for nonprofit and government organizations spanning nearly every conceivable policy area, including environmental sustainability, artificial intelligence, criminal justice, education, economic development, employee training and retention, voter engagement, municipal contracting, health, and foreign investment. Eighteen students completed internships through the Fels Public Leadership and Service program, which provides externship stipends so that students can complete otherwise unpaid internships aligned with their career interests.
We continue to deepen our experiential learning opportunities through our newly created City Lab, directed by Professor Samantha Sangenito, which will provide data analytic support to Philadelphia City Council, and the International Development Policy Research Shop, directed by Professor Heather Huntington, which will provide monitoring, evaluation, and research support for USAID and the World Bank. Through both of these initiatives, students will receive one-on-one mentorship as they gain additional experience with applied policy research for local and global clients.
At Fels, career development is essential to our students' success. We offer experiences to learn from and engage with influential public leaders who are shaping policy and addressing complex challenges. On March 13, 2024, Fels welcomed US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to speak with our community about his career journey in public service and strategies for communicating complex policy. Throughout the year, students also heard from Mary Ellen Iskenderian, CEO of Women’s World Banking, Mitch Vidovich, Vice President of Government Affairs for Independence Blue Cross, Dr. Monica Taylor, Chair of the Delaware City Council, Sulaiman W. Rahman, CEO of DiverseForce, and Fels alum and Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, Cherelle Parker.
Among our most important priorities is making it possible for a diverse group of students to attend Fels because every exceptional student should be given the chance to benefit from the Fels curriculum, experiential learning opportunities, and career programming. Ensuring accessibility is made possible by providing scholarships upon acceptance, and we rely on the support of our community to make this possible.
I hope you will help us support more of our students by visiting our secure online giving website. If you have questions about giving, you may call Janhavi Chandra, director of annual giving, at (215) 746-8208. Your gift will fund student scholarships, expanding our ability to provide top students with the aid they need to succeed and ensure Fels remains the premier place for mentoring the next generation of public and nonprofit leaders.
Yours in partnership,
John Lapinski and Lauren Russell
Faculty Co-Directors of the Fels Institute of Government
