Although only a junior, Ayanna Hill is already reaping the benefits of her hard work and determination. She has been selected to participate in the Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Program’s Junior Summer Institute.
PPIA seeks to cultivate the next generations of diverse public service and international affairs professionals by investing in their education, essential skills, and networks to effect domestic and global change. Each year, PPIA seeks out high-potential undergraduate students from universities across the country to become PPIA Fellows and participate in an intensive, seven-week PPIA Junior Summer Institute hosted by one of our six prestigious university partners. Ayanna has been preparing herself for an opportunity like this since her first year at Tulane.
“During my first year, the previous Diplomat in Residence J. Nathan Bland, led his pilot program entitled ‘The Network,’ which connected young minority students across the central south (Louisiana, Oklahoma Mississippi, and Arkansas) with leaders across different fields under the umbrella of international affairs. Through working with Mr. Bland, I had the opportunity to host and speak with influential figures ranging from the Ambassador to Qatar Timmy Davis to the Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield.”
The experience also connected her with Tulane Alumni and Payne Fellow, Kyla Denwood. They co-led events and Ayanna helped Kyla in developing the Youth International Leadership Initiative. The goal of this program is to connect current college students and recent graduates interested in international affairs.
This year, Ayanna worked with a team at USAID through the Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) program. As an intern, she researched, interviewed, and developed a critical analysis of USAID initiatives to bring greater awareness of Black communities and concerns within Haiti and across other Afro-Diasporic countries.
These experiences helped give Ayanna the drive and the confidence to believe that she would be a strong candidate for PPIA’s Junior Summer Institute yet she knew it would be highly competitive.
“I honestly was extremely surprised when I received the notification that I was selected. Despite working for the past few years to gain a position in competitive political science programming I have received many no’s, but looking back now I am grateful for those tireless application processes because they have led me to this amazing opportunity.”
The tireless application process wasn’t one that she went through alone. Ayanna reached out to the Office of Fellowship Advising to guide her on this journey.
“The Office of Fellowship Advising was extremely helpful throughout my application process from reading and providing insight into how to improve my essays to meeting with me personally to craft a more cohesive story throughout my profile. Each meeting left me with insight and guidance which I used to improve my application and has brought me the success I have today.”
This summer Ayanna will participate in a series of courses selected to prepare her with a solid foundation in the sphere of public policy. She will also network with leaders across the northwest throughout the summer. After returning to Tulane in the fall she will utilize the resources provided to alumni of the program as she begins the application process for graduate school.
“I truly did not know if I would be able to attend graduate school as the financial barriers that I would face seemed insurmountable. However, this program provides me with greater hope that the possibility of attending graduate school is more than just a dream, but a genuine possibility.”
After graduate school, Ayanna is interested in pursuing a career within the federal government as a diplomat or cultivating her own international development-based non-profit.
