Spend a Day With Fred Lee, MPA '25, DAQA Specialization Program Assistant

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Hello! My name is Fred and I am a second-year MPA in International Security Policy/DAQA candidate at SIPA. I am also one of the Program Assistants for the Data Analytics and Quantitative Analysis specialization (soon to be Data Science for Policy concentration) as well as a co-president for the Digital Cyber Group. Join me as I walk you through a usual Thursday of mine!

Typically I wake up pretty early, around 5:30 or 6:00 AM. While this may not be the norm at SIPA (nor do any classes start before 9 AM), I am a bit of an early riser. For me, it is also very helpful in order to do a morning workout at Dodge Fitness Center before it gets too crowded! It is also a unique time to be on campus since it’s so quiet and you’ll get some amazing views of the sun rising on College Walk. After that, I’ll take a shower, eat some breakfast, and otherwise get myself ready for the day.

When I go to campus, I’ll head over to Publique Cafe to start doing some work since it’s pretty quiet and easy to focus in the morning. The typical workload includes reading, coding for projects, and writing policy memos. After that, I have a weekly meeting with the DAQA program directors where we plan events for students, discuss current & future curricula, and give student feedback to help orient the program in the right direction.

Then I finally get to go to class! First, I have Data Analysis for Policy Research Using R with Professor Harold Stolper. In this class,  we take a deep dive into R Studio to learn how to clean, manipulate, and analyze data effectively with a focus on using our insights to drive positive impact. Next, I have Computing in Context with Professors Adam Cannon and Aidan Feldman. This class focuses more on Python fundamentals and how to apply them to policy problems. I have really enjoyed these classes as they not only teach you the skills but also pair them with practical applications and projects that I can use later while job searching.

During the late afternoon, I have a bit of a break where I’ll eat lunch and spend some time chatting with friends. We usually go for a walk in the nearby parks, which is really special in the fall. There’s plenty of space and nothing compares to seeing the trees as they change colors. Depending on the day, we may even grab a quick coffee or bubble tea and sit down on the benches as we discuss classes, plans for the weekend, and anything else that crosses our minds. 

Finally, I have the last class of the day: Cyber Conflict & Cybersecurity in the Indo-Pacific with Professor Adam Segal. While this class starts late at 6 PM, it is absolutely worth it as we are able to get the insight of a professor in practice who is a leading expert in cybersecurity, China's local & foreign policy, and national security. In every class, a leader who specializes in a specific country within the Indo-Pacific region will come to share their expertise and then we will usually discuss further details, have practical exercises (like debates), and consider future trends.

After class ends and I say goodbye to the professor and my classmates, I’ll head home to make myself some food and get ready for my next day. Overall, Thursdays are my favorite of the week and I hope I’ve been able to provide some useful insider info on a typical day at SIPA!