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Lauren Quillian, MPA 2010: Second year MPA student, Urban Policy concentration
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Lauren Quillian graduated with a B.A. in Spanish and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. She worked for two years on a Donor Advised Giving program for United Way international. Immediately prior to SIPA she was working for a USAID international development contractor DAI. With DAI, she did a 4 month assignment in Equatorial Guinea.
What has been the best part of your SIPA experience?
My favorite part about SIPA has been getting to know all the students that go here. I have learned a lot from the people I have met and made some fantastic friends. I like the community that is created out of a very diverse group of people.
SIPA features lots of events for students to attend. Is there any interesting presentation that you have attended that you could comment upon?
My favorite presentations have been those from the Mayor’s Forum. I enjoyed watching Mayor Bloomberg and Mayor Johnson, the mayor of Karachi, and the mayor of Accra.
How did you obtain your internship?
I got my internship through networking with SIPA professors and students. In fact, it was the wife of my economics professor, who is also a SIPA alum, who put me in touch with my future supervisor.
What advice would you give a first-year student?
Come prepared to meet a lot of people and take a lot of initiative to get what you want.
Can you describe the learning environment at SIPA? For example, have you been required to do a lot of group work?
For the most part, I have found the learning environment very collaborative. I have done a lot of group work and individual work, and enjoyed both of them. I do think it is up to the individual to make sure they take the opportunity to learn the material, and not just study for the grade.
[July 2010]