Diversity Visit Day Reflections from Current Students

Diversity Visit Day is open to students of all backgrounds and presents an opportunity for prospective master's students to connect with current students and alumni, engage with faculty, and learn about the support offered at Harris for individuals from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in U.S. graduate programs and first generation college students.

In this blog, first-year students Andrea Kimpson and Ella Montgomery write about their experiences at Diversity Visit Day.

Jordan Parker, MPP Class of 2026

Experiencing Diversity Visit Day was a critical moment in my journey to becoming an MPP student at Harris. I remember walking through Hyde Park, getting lost along the way, with cold autumn-afflicted feet and butterflies in my stomach. I wondered, not about what I would learn over the weekend, but whether I belonged in an environment as coveted and ivy-ridden as the University of Chicago. By the end of the first day, I knew I would be supported by a diverse network of Harris students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Diversity Visit Day is the best opportunity to discover Harris’ international community of leaders in policymaking and social change.

Andrea Kimpson, MPP Class of 2025

As a woman of color, Diversity Day was an important experience to learn about Harris and how diversity is supported and infused throughout the school. I learned about how Harris supports students as future policy professionals and as people, working to honor and create spaces that are reflective of the diverse experiences students bring to their graduate programs. The programming, interactions with current students, and connections with alumni from similar backgrounds was very impactful and influenced my decision to attend Harris. Without Diversity Day, I would not have known what Harris had to offer or had the opportunity to picture myself in this space!

Ella Montgomery, MPP Class of 2025

My objective in attending Diversity Day was to suss out Harris’ willingness and ability to facilitate a community that I could see myself joining. What I experienced made me seriously consider pursuing a public policy degree at this school. I met faculty, current Harris candidates, alumni, and prospective students, all of whom brought a unique perspective and set of skills that made me excited to see what possibilities would result from these people—myself included—being in a room together. I talked with applicants that were currently in positions I wanted to work in later in my career, along with fellow fourth-year university students working on research projects like I was. I’m roller coaster buddies with one of the latter for our upcoming Six Flags trip. Diversity Day was an excellent opportunity to see that there was a place for me at Harris.