Spiders travel over spring break to the Capital and United Nations
Student Experience
During a recent Spider Road Trip, led by political science and global studies professor Stephen Long and organized by the International Education and Career Services offices, 20 students spent a week visiting the nation's capital and the United Nations in New York.
Spider Road Trips, a signature program of UR's Career Services, allow students to connect with employers and alumni working in fields that interest them. In the past, these trips included finance, marketing and communications companies in New York, consulting in Washington, D.C. and technology companies in Silicon Valley. This year marked the first to focus on international affairs.
"Spider Road Trips are an excellent way for students to learn about a variety of career opportunities," said Provost Joan Saab. "I am so glad we added one with an international focus this year, and I am so happy that I could join the students in both D.C. and New York. There are so many possible avenues for our global Spiders to explore."
Along with Provost Saab, Associate Provost and Executive Director of Career Development Damon Yarnell met up with the students as they broadened their view of future job possibilities.
To the Nation’s Capital
Whether they were traveling on foot or taking a quick shuttle ride around Northwest D.C., the students spent a day learning about careers in advocacy and public policy at nonprofit organizations such as the National Geographic Society and the Congressional Hunger Center. They also visited the Atlantic Council, a think tank focused on solutions to global challenges, to gain exposure to Washington-based policy advising. At the World Bank on H Street, students learned about the intergovernmental organization's role in funding development projects abroad.
"We were talking with real, day-to-day employees of these organizations. And quite often, we talked with younger employees who could connect with our students and who remembered what it was like to first enter the job market,” Long said. “Our students found that recent grads were open and willing to discuss the pros and cons of their work and what they did to get there."
The road trip also offered students a chance to meet with Spider alumni at Old Ebbitt Grill for conversation and networking. "It was amazing," Long said. "There were tons of people there. The students were thriving in that environment and received very positive reviews from the alums.”
Sophomore Evan Jordan said he gained insight. "It's always heartening to see professionals succeed who, just a few years ago, were in the same place I am now," he said.
Junior Kalina Kulig, a philosophy, politics, economics, and law major, said the trip helped further her interest in working for a think tank.
"We met with organizations doing a range of interesting projects and received advice on how to get into those fields from experienced professionals," Kulig said. "The trip improved my knowledge of the different career options in international relations and helped me connect with several organizations where I may want to work."
New York Bound
A highlight of the trip to New York City was a four-day training session led by the World Federation of the United Nations Association at U.N. headquarters. There, students met with multiple humanitarian organizations daily and participated in discussions and interactive exercises that provided them with an insider’s view of international policy.
One simulation, entitled Greening the Globe, required students take on the role of different stakeholders creating and reacting to sustainable development goals for the United Nations.
"One student represented private industry, while another represented a government skeptical of the development goals. A third student took on the role of a U.N. moderator,” Long said. The three students were tasked with devising likely responses from the stakeholders given the parameters.
“They did that in front of U.N. staff and then received feedback. It was interactive, not just a series of lectures,” he said.
This year’s international Spider Road Trip was so successful that it may become a regularly scheduled occurrence. "The students made a great impression on the employers that we met. They did a fantastic job representing Richmond," Long said.