MAAIS students tour PATH headquarters, Feb. 17, 2017
MAAIS students and MAAIS Director Jennifer Butte-Dahl sit with author and former government official Ted Van Dyk, Jan. 30, 2017
MAAIS students meet veteran journalists and former editors of The Seattle Times Jim Simon and Mike Fancher, Feb. 23, 2017
The UW MAAIS program — Master of Arts in Applied International Studies — combines political, business, diplomatic and military expertise to give students comprehensive jumpstarts on careers in international affairs. That ethos grounds the program’s course offerings, but it extends beyond traditional academia as well.
In addition to academic course work, students have multiple opportunities to meet and engage one-on-one with international leaders who are working on a variety of issues, from global health to education to sustainable development. Many of these leaders come from the MAAIS Civic Council, a coterie made up of corporate, NGO, political and security sector figures from globally influential companies and organizations.
Civic Council events have been ramping up in 2017’s winter quarter.
On Friday, February 17, the 2016–17 cohort visited downtown Seattle to meet with leaders from PATH, an organization similarly committed to bridging fields and disciplines. Students visited PATH Chief Strategy Officer and MAAIS Civic Council member Amie Batson, and several of her colleagues, at PATH headquarters to learn more about the organization’s development programs, strategies and innovation in the field of global health.
The PATH visit came at the heels of other Civic Council events, including a private discussion with author and former government official Ted Van Dyk, whose long career has spanned intelligence analysis, public affairs and policy. Recently, students also met with veteran journalists and former editors of The Seattle Times Jim Simon and Mike Fancher to discuss the future of journalism and its intersections with advocacy, democracy and community building.
Civic Council members bring their expertise and diverse perspectives to the MAAIS program through special lectures, field visits, simulations and group projects. These activities offer significant networking opportunities and help MAAIS students stay relevant and current. Learn more about the MAAIS Civic Council here.
