Foreign Service Officer/Political Officer
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy
Abidjian, Cote d'Ivoire

"I chose to pursue an M.P.A. degree at WWS because I wanted to learn how to develop analytical skills to understand and promote viable economic policies that incorporate social welfare concerns with reality. Living in sub-Saharan Africa before attending graduate school made me want to understand how population dynamics like fertility and mortality trends, health and disease, and migration and immigration affect economic growth, political stability, and social welfare in the most underdeveloped countries.

"Completing the Demography Certificate has given me the tools to analyze many issues in my professional life, and ultimately has made me more passionate about improving healthcare and education in order to promote political stability and economic growth in the poorest nations. My professors were outstanding—they were as engaged in teaching the theory and methods as they were in facilitating discussion about policy and helping us carry out original research."