Student Testimonials

IGP confers a new cohort of IGP Student Scholars each academic year, providing these select students with access to learn from and work closely with IGP Affiliated Faculty and IGP Carnegie Distinguished Fellows. Hear from past IGP Student Scholars about their experience and how they made the most of their opportunities.

IGP Student Scholar Profiles

Meet Jordanna Yochai, 2024–2025 IGP Student Scholar

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"IGP has exposed me to new perspectives, sharpened my critical thinking skills, and helped me refine my professional goals.

I have benefited from the advice and mentorship of IGP Carnegie Distinguished Fellows, Affiliated Faculty Members, and staff. Our conversations helped me understand how spending time in the region I study could take my career to the next level. I knew I wanted to do national security work, but IGP exposed me to different ways of doing that.

I forged a lot of important connections through IGP this year. It's so clear that the IGP Carnegie Distinguished Fellows and IGP Affiliated Faculty Members are driven by a desire to mentor students, and I have appreciated their candor and humility during our engagements. I got to work directly with a few of the IGP Carnegie Distinguished Fellows this year – conducting research, planning events, supporting their visits – and it was transformative."

- Jordanna Yochai

Meet Ayaan Ali, 2024–2025 IGP Student Scholar

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“IGP provides a wonderful combination of research, professional development, and policy education. You get to learn from some amazing associated faculty and distinguished fellows. I met with Randi Wiengarten, Chad Sweet, and David Shimer over the academic year and had the opportunity to ask questions in small, personal groups.

I anticipate a future career in public service, either as an attorney, academic, or policy analyst. IGP has event programming, office hours, and research opportunities that satisfy all of those career interests. I capped off the program with a research assistantship under Dr. Shimer, who works on global electoral interference. Conducting tangible, meaningful research has been one of the most fruitful experiences I've had so far as an undergraduate.

It's invaluable to have access to such a prolific group of faculty and affiliates—take advantage of that and learn as much as you can. Build relationships with other scholars in your cohort, attend as many events as possible, and keep an eye out for research opportunities to make the most out of the program. Being appointed a student scholar is a special designation: treat it as such!”

- Ayaan Ali

IGP Student Scholar Testimonials

"Being an IGP Student Scholar was a great experience in my final year of college! I learned from experts in the field and was exposed to new perspectives. I got to see the best of Columbia on display."

- Claudia Sachs
2024 - 2025 IGP Student Scholar

"IGP has been invaluable in general, but especially as a Student Scholar. It has been impactful and transformative to hear from present and former decision-makers, especially given the current state of world affairs, with so many pressing questions that often cannot be answered by textbooks or other class materials. I cannot recommend this program enough. It has been an honor to be a part of it!"

- Noa Fay
2024 - 2025 IGP Student Scholar

"Being an IGP Student Scholar gave me weekly opportunities to engage directly with some of the most distinguished policy practitioners in the U.S. and around the world, while also allowing me to meet motivated, passionate, and knowledgeable classmates."

- Maxim Visnovsky
2024 - 2025 IGP Student Scholar

Past IGP Student Scholar Spotlights