In Service of Humanity

A zip code can define one’s destiny and, for many, this means a lifetime of poverty. To move people out of poverty, governments will need to make policy choices that tackle barriers to economic opportunity, while emboldening people to be agents of change in their own communities. Today, we’re in a political moment ripe for change, which makes it crucial for leaders and policymakers to work together to seize the moment. This drives the work of James Ladi Williams MPA ’18, a research analyst in the Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center at the Urban Institute. At an early age, Ladi became keenly aware of how breakdowns in the provision of public services made life difficult for children and families in his home city of Lagos, Nigeria. In this episode of #Changemakers, Ladi discusses how a crisis of leadership holds back progress on addressing global problems. He reflects on his time at Princeton SPIA and how the SPIA community remains a source of insight, inspiration, and support. #Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA.

For more than two decades, Jeremy Barnicle MPA ’04 has been working at the intersection of policy, philanthropy, and social change. At Mercy Corps, he helped guide the organization’s global strategy, positioning the nonprofit as one of the most respected humanitarian organizations in the world. Today, he serves as executive director of Ecotrust, which works to advance social equity, economic opportunity, and environmental well-being for all. In this episode of #Changemakers, Jeremy reflects on how his time at Princeton SPIA — both as a student and later as a lecturer — shaped his approach to leadership. He also stresses the importance of showing up “ego free” in a job and putting in good, hard work with “great spirit,” while also demonstrating an ability to think big-picture. #Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA.

No day is the same for Larry Handerhan MPA ‘12 who serves as chief of staff for the D.C. Department of Human Services. In his current role, he manages external affairs and supports day-to-day operations for the Department’s $600 million budget and 1,100-person workforce.In this episode, Larry discusses how he learned to see across silos and connect work across departments so everyone can be more successful. Leaning on the SPIA alumni network, he often calls former colleagues when challenging or new situations arise. Finally, he encourages those entering the workforce to shed the idea of a perfect job, as there is a lot to be learned from a job that’s not everything one envisioned. #Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA.

Using new technologies like AI to improve humanity is at the core of Robert L. Gordon’s work. As chief growth officer of SBG Technology Solutions, Rob is using a multi-sector approach to bring technology to the masses.Throughout his career, he’s also learned how to be a thoughtful and strategic leader. He boils it down to three main tenets: know who is around the table (and their stakes and stands), be inclusive and transparent, and give people a voice. Finally - when in charge, take charge. #Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA.

Nathan Eckstein '16 MPA '20 most recently was the political and outreach director for a U.S. Congresswoman in Western Illinois who sought re-election to a fifth term. He fought with a small team to build support, turn out voters and ultimately secure a win in the most competitive environment the Congresswoman had ever faced.In this episode, he discusses life on the campaign trail (especially in unprecedented times) and what lies ahead for his career. He credits Princeton SPIA and the Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiative for providing him with support along the way.#Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA.

Dalia Katan '15 is the CEO and founder of Presently (www.getpresently.com), a social commerce startup that's helping people celebrate special occasions more meaningfully while also empowering conscious consumerism.In this episode, she gets into what motivated her to create Presently and how she uses her Princeton SPIA training to be an effective leader in today's changing world.#Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA.

For 200 years, the grand project of liberal internationalism has been to build a world order that is oriented toward progressive ideas. Today, this project is in crisis, threatened by illiberal challengers and nationalist-populist movements. A new book by G. John Ikenberry offers the first full account of liberal internationalism’s long journey from its 19th-century roots to today’s fractured political moment. He discusses "A World Safe for Democracy: Liberal Internationalism and the Crises of Global Order" in this episode. Ikenberry, a theorist of international relations, is the Albert G. Milbank Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University and co-director of Princeton’s Center for International Security Studies. He’s the author of eight books.

While climate change has been with us far longer than Covid-19, the response to the pandemic could present an opportunity to begin building a greener, more equitable economy. Yet significant roadblocks exist, from some people’s distrust of science to opposing political views on how to tackle the issue. Michael Oppenheimer joins Before the Ballot to discuss approaches — both regulatory and incentive-based — that in combination can work toward significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the next few decades.Oppenheimer is the Albert G. Milbank Professor of Geosciences at Princeton University and director of the Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment. ----Before the Ballot is a podcast series designed to educate voters before they cast their ballots this November. It features faculty at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. The show is hosted by Elisabeth Donahue, associate dean of public affairs and communications. It is produced and edited by Henry Barrett ’22 and B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer. Sarah Binder, communications specialist, wrote these summaries.

Several killings of unarmed Black citizens at the hands of police this year, most notably George Floyd, sparked nationwide protests, against the backdrop of a pandemic that is emphasizing racial and economic inequalities.Keith Wailoo joins Before the Ballot to discuss the events of 2020 — placing them within historical context and discussing what makes this moment unique.Wailoo is the Henry Putnam University Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University.ABOUT THE SHOWBefore the Ballot is a podcast series designed to educate voters before they cast their ballots this November. It features faculty at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. The show is hosted by Elisabeth Donahue, associate dean of public affairs and communications. It is produced and edited by Henry Barrett ’22 and B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer. Sarah Binder, communications specialist, wrote these summaries.

Whether to bring children back into the classroom — and how to do so safely — recently became the country’s biggest education issue. Yet, the pandemic is illuminating many longstanding issues in education policy, from budget shortfalls to disagreements over the goals of the U.S. public school system.In this episode, Jennifer L. Jennings discusses the need for policies, resources, and leadership to level the playing field throughout the decentralized U.S. education system — during and after the pandemic.Jennings is a professor of sociology and public affairs and director of the Education Research Section at Princeton University. ABOUT THE SHOWBefore the Ballot is a podcast series designed to educate voters before they cast their ballots this November. It features faculty at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. The show is hosted by Elisabeth Donahue, associate dean of public affairs and communications. It is produced and edited by Henry Barrett ’22 and B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer. Sarah Binder, communications specialist, wrote these summaries.