MACON, Ga. — Mercer University junior Nivea George was recently accepted to the prestigious Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute (JSI) at the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy (Ford School).
The PPIA is a national fellowship program that prepares undergraduate students for a master’s degree in public policy, international affairs or other related fields.
George, a political science major from Fitzgerald, said she is deeply passionate about policy, identity and community impact.
“This opportunity is a huge step towards the work I want to do,” she said. “This is an incredible opportunity to expand my policy knowledge and analytical skills while working with other like-minded students across the country.”
Over the seven weeks, fellows will engage in professional development, career planning and resume workshops while attending meetings with guest speakers and visiting cities throughout the area to learn from local leaders about policy initiatives. The Ford School’s PPIA program courses, including statistics, microeconomics and writing, focus on leveling up students’ communication and quantitative reasoning skills, which are vital to their success in graduate programs.
“Nivea has always been passionate about public policy and global affairs, making this a perfect opportunity for her,” said Dr. Phoebe Moon, assistant professor of political science. “Through the program, she will not only gain valuable experience in quantitative research—an area for which the University of Michigan is well known—but also connect with faculty and peers from across the country. I’m thrilled for Nivea to embark on this journey.”
At Mercer, George is a Jesse Mercer Scholar, Mercer REACH Scholar and Georgia REACH scholar. She has been named to the Dean’s List five times and is president of the Iota Eta chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
