Through the DC Concentration, Will Barrett (MGPS-DC ) found himself in the rooms where foreign policy happens. He took LBJ classes at night and worked by day, notably contributing to subnational diplomacy goals at Foreign Policy for America and gaining insights into federal government operations at the Department of State’s European and Eurasian Bureau. He graduates on Dec. 9 with a readiness to change the world. Here, he shares more about his graduate school journey.
Will Barrett, MGPS-DC
Policy interests: Fragile democracies, rise of authoritarianism, international security
Policy Apprenticeship: Foreign Policy for America and European and Eurasian Affairs Bureau, U.S. Department of State
"I came into LBJ hoping to gain both a comprehensive education and a community defined by their commitment to making our country and the world a better place," Barrett said. "I found that and then some. I felt connected and supported by a network of professors, alumni, and, of course, fellow members of my cohort. There was this palpable and earnest energy in every class I was in to wrestle with important topics and current events and engage with the coursework. The courses were structured with professional training in mind, and I feel totally prepared to handle any policy challenge in my future career."
“The DC Concentration gave me not only the opportunity to access the network and resources of the LBJ School but also to take part in policy apprenticeships that I would never have been able to do anywhere else.”
"The DC Concentration gave me not only the opportunity to access the network and resources of the LBJ School but also to take part in policy apprenticeships that I would never have been able to do anywhere else. I could fully have the “DC Experience” all while learning and growing along with my cohort.
I was able to engage in the foreign policy advocacy space by advancing the subnational diplomacy goals for my first policy apprenticeship, Foreign Policy for America (FP4A). I felt lucky to be a part of an organization with a mission I so passionately believed in. My second policy apprenticeship at the Department of State’s European and Eurasian Bureau has been an enlightening experience in how the Federal government operates and responds to crises around the world. I am so incredibly grateful for the DC Concentration for giving me the opportunity to pursue these apprenticeships and experiences."