Student Profile: Connor Christensen, MPP Class of 2023

“It's great to learn about stats and numbers and how groups are affected,” said Connor Christensen, “but seeing one story about how one person was able to have a better life because of a decision made by an organization or a policymaker is what motivates me.”

A native of Foreston, Minnesota, Christensen was the first in his family to earn a college degree—and his path to that degree took him around the world. “I knew I wanted to go to college, but after high school, I had no way to pay for it. So, I served in the U.S. Navy for five years, visiting more than 50 countries. That exposure led me to work in globalization. I wanted to make sense of how this world interacts.”

After the Navy, Christensen used his GI Bill to pay for college. “The fact that I was able to work hard for five years and get the government to pay for my college really paid off,” said Christensen. He chose to attend Saint Louis University's campus in Madrid where he earned his undergraduate degree in history. Following that, Christensen studied Turkish in Azerbaijan and then interned with the Organization of American States in Washington,DC. In 2021, Christensen was a Fulbright Scholar in Turkey. 

“My time in Turkey has had a huge impact on me. I lived in a small town and spoke to locals on their perspective of global issues. That experience really shed a light on the difference between how much of the world perceives things that many of us likely take for granted,” said Christensen.

Despite being well-traveled with significant experience, Christensen found himself facing challenges and less than ideal professional roles. "We don't always get our first picks for jobs, and we don’t always get hired. Sometimes you have to find a way to earn money while you plan for what’s next. I think that’s pretty important in life.”

What, then, led Christensen to pursue a Master of Public Policy at Harris? “While my work around the globe cemented my interest in policy, almost all of my experience was with the human element—and now I am ready to push myself into the numbers element. I’m eager to see how the fields of data and analysis fit with my cultural understanding to manifest real change, and that is where Harris comes in. No other public policy school I researched prepares students, especially those like me with non-quantitative backgrounds, like Harris does.”

Excited to be involved with the Harris community, Christensen has already accepted a placement as a staff writer for world affairs at the Chicago Policy Review and recently applied for an internship with the Chicago Council of Global Affairs. “I just want to work as hard as I can and learn as much as I can and make the best decisions for my future that I can.”

As of now, Christensen is not definitive on what that future may be—and he’s fine with that. “Part of me wants to work in the foreign service, and another part of me wants to work with NGOs. Wherever I land, public policy is a career where I can help people out, and that's what matters to me,” said Christensen.