This past weekend, several students from the School of Foreign Service attended the 9th annual Affairs of State Gala & Fundraiser hosted by the Young Professionals in Foreign Policy in D.C.’s City Center. This event is where D.C.’s next generation of foreign policy leaders converge for an evening of celebration, music, cocktails, and networking.
Membership within the Young Professionals in Foreign Policy spans over 70 countries and a network of over 10,000 young professionals, including those based in Washington, D.C., London, Brussels, and New York. Most members come from government agencies, media groups, nonprofits, and a wide variety of global institutions.
A select few Georgetown students donned their finest and joined D.C.’s other young professionals to network with a range of policy makers, government officials, and industry leaders. Among them included a Senior Fellow at the Center for Security Policy, as well as a retired Intelligence Analyst from the National Security Agency.
Nearly 400 rising leaders in foreign policy attended the State of Affairs Event – the largest gathering of mid-career foreign policy professionals of its kind. Jarrel Price, President of Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, said, “The new generation of foreign policy professionals have a lot to contribute and are clearly energized in the face of today’s complex, high stakes issues – many of which have been highlighted in this election year.”
Sarah Heck, an MSFS alum, remarked at how great it was to see such strong support from the Georgetown School of Foreign Service. Eleven MSFS students were personally invited to attend the Affairs of State event this year.
Washington, D.C. remains one of the greatest cities in the world for networking, foreign policy events, and mingling with change makers at America’s political epicenter. Students at Georgetown can take advantage of studying in the nation’s capital and are aptly situated for starting a career in foreign policy. They are able to develop a wide-encompassing network within D.C. by joining various foreign affairs clubs, dedicating their time to serving others, or networking within one of the city’s many conferences and forums. The opportunities and potential are endless.