Amalea Jubara ’22, a double-major in economics and public policy, has been named a (PPIA) Fellow to attend the Junior Summer Institute (JSI) program for summer 2021 at Carnegie Mellon University.
“Amalea Jubara's acceptance into the JSI Fellowship Program is a great example of how St. Kate's students are being recognized at the national level for their academic achievements and commitment to public service,” says Associate Provost Lynda Szymanski, PhD, who oversees the Office of Scholarly Engagement.
Each year, over 600 applicants compete for 150 seats across five national JSI host schools. Selected students exhibit leadership that is needed to make a positive impact serving the public good. The prestigious seven-week program is fully-funded and prepares undergraduate juniors for graduate studies and careers in public service. Students take intensive courses, participate in research activities and public policy analysis, build leadership skills, and make professional connections.
“PPIA-JSI is a perfect program for student leaders who are driven to solve complex social issues,” says David Eber, director of admissions and financial aid for at Carnegie Mellon. “The PPIA program brings together cohorts of young problem solvers with diverse perspectives and engages them in the kind of data-intensive, human-centered public policy work that we do here at Heinz College.”
Jubara is the third St. Kate’s student in a row to be accepted into PPIA:
- Jubara’s friend Zaynab Abdi ’20 made history in 2019 by being the first Katie to attend JSI. “I am grateful for getting the opportunity to learn from PPIA alumni and mentors about their accomplishments,” said Abdi. “It was great for young leaders like us getting to hear about the opportunities that are out there for us to open doors to our future.” She now runs her own organization, Youth Coalition for Social Justice.
- Kai Tiede ’21, also Jubara’s friend and classmate, was the second Katie to attend JSI and gained collaborative research skills in the summer of 2020 that have prepared them for current research projects they are working on with professors Marina Gorzig, PhD, and .
Both Abdi and Tiede have used their PPIA experiences to create a clear vision of their careers and explore graduate school options in public policy and international affairs.
The world of fellowships is not new to Jubara. Marina Gorzig, PhD, her faculty advisor and professor, recommended Jubara to be a last summer, where she realized her passion for demography and population studies. Jubara says it was the guidance of the St. Kate’s Economics and Political Science Department along with the support of the Abigail Quigley McCarthy Center for Women and the Multicultural and International Programs and Services office (MIPS) that encouraged her to look at her individual interests and develop critical analysis skills through an interdisciplinary lens.
“This accomplishment is a testament to Amalea's academic and service record as well as to the rigor of the Economics and Political Science Department curriculum and the supportive faculty who are committed to preparing students for these opportunities,” says Szymanski.
At PPIA, Jubara will be on the specialized data analytics track. She looks forward to using the tools that PPIA will offer her and the academic skills she will build to explore different post-graduate paths to continue bridging academics and activism. “My goal in the future is to be at the intersection of social science and social issues,” Jubara says. “I am eager to use my research skills to analyze discrimination and disparities to assist in breaking down oppressive socioeconomic systems and better inform equitable urban policy.”