Twenty-eight Princeton alumni participated in the Woodrow Wilson School’s pilot program, “Pathways to Public Service,” June 5–7 at the University. The workshop was for alumni who have “stepped out” of the workforce for several years to raise a family, and who are considering re-entering.

The three-day event was designed to provide information about working in the public sector and to encourage participants to consider this option. “Pathways to Public Service gave me a fresh perspective on where I might be heading and, quite literally, paths I could take,” said workshop participant Alison Keel ’85 of Gladwyne, Pa. “It was both informative and inspiring. I am confident that Princeton’s efforts here are going to yield new employees at all levels of government.” 

A WWS Steering Committee, chaired by Nannerl Keohane, the Laurance S. Rockefeller Distinguished Visiting Professor of Public Affairs, developed the workshop schedule. Participants took part in panel discussions and presentations featuring University faculty and staff members, as well as senior officials from various government agencies. Sessions focused on providing an introduction to the public sector at the local, state, and federal levels; information about how to search for government jobs and write a résumé; and networking opportunities, particularly in the form of panelists and speakers sharing personal experiences of balancing work and family.

“Your professional identity may already be clear to you, or defining it may still lie ahead of you; and it can surely change over time,” Professor Keohane encouraged the participants on the final evening of the workshop. “As you think about the future, then, honor the values you have chosen and pursued as you have stopped out to care for your family, but don’t underestimate the importance of your own professional fulfillment and what that can bring to you, your families, and your community.”

Pathways to Public Service successfully attracted Princeton alumni who are considering re-entering the workforce. “I believe the workshop was universally felt to be invigorating and extremely worthwhile,” wrote participant Kara S. Fulcher *97 of Greenville, S.C. “I enjoyed the intellectual stimulation provided by the speakers and panelists; I reveled in the camaraderie that developed among the participants who were a fascinating cross-section of Princeton alumni; and I deeply appreciated the enthusiasm, attention, and guidance provided by the staff and faculty involved in Pathways to Public Service.”