Maxim’s experience as an IGP Student Scholar

Being a SIPA student means having opportunities to engage with a wide range of academic and extracurricular activities at SIPA and Columbia as a whole. In this blog, I would like to share my experiences from my time as an IGP Student Scholar, one of the best opportunities SIPA has to offer!

The Institute of Global Politics (IGP) is a new policy-oriented academic institute at SIPA, founded in 2023 by Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton and Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo. Every year, it holds more than 100 events, 30 expert roundtables, and 10 rapid response webinars. The institute focuses on five areas of impact - geopolitical stability; democratic resilience; climate, energy, and sustainable development; inclusive prosperity and macroeconomic performance; and technology and innovation.

The Institute annually hosts a cohort of Carnegie Distinguished Fellows who are composed of senior policy makers and renowned experts in their respective fields. The fellows are so unique that rather than naming just a few of them, I invite you to look at all of them here. I promise you it’s worth it!

As a current or incoming student, you can apply to become a part of IGP’s Student Scholars cohort which is composed of about 35 students. The application process is very competitive but don’t worry, even if you do not succeed, you will be considered to become a part of the IGP Student Circle, giving you various opportunities with the IGP as well.

IGP Student Scholars get priority invitations for various IGP-organized events such as roundtables and panels, but also social gatherings such as the Suffs Broadway Show, co-produced by Secretary Clinton. In addition, Student Scholars could sign up for office hours with the Distinguished Fellows anytime when they are in residence at SIPA.

For me, being an IGP Student Scholar was first and foremost an amazing opportunity to meet very smart people who were a part of the IGP cohort. Just recently, I had the opportunity organize an event to meet with Dylan White, the Head of NATO Liaison Office to the UN in a roundtable conversation about NATO in the 21st century. Combined with attending unique events, meeting globally renowned policy practitioners, and being able to access noteworthy research projects, I believe that applying to become an IGP Student Scholar is well worth the time!