With a tagline like “Social impact, down to a science,” it’s no surprise that the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy attracts faculty, staff and students who have dedicated a part of their lives to creating boots-on-the-ground social change. As of 2016, in fact, Harris Public Policy has been actively recruiting alumni of programs like AmeriCorps, Teach for America, the Peace Corps and the military, and on April 3 — National Service Recognition Day — Harris students with a background in service were invited to a dinner celebrating their efforts to impact communities around the world.
The first annual Service Dinner was held at Ida Noyes Hall. The event, attended by about 50 Harris faculty, staff and students, began with refreshments and networking, followed by remarks from Katherine Baicker, dean and Emmett Dedmon Professor at Harris, and a dinner.
“This is a key part of what Harris is and what Harris aims to be,” Baicker said during her remarks. “Students come to Harris with the desire to give back to their communities — you’ve done that already. We can't wait to see all that you'll accomplish with the tools you acquire at Harris.”
Two years ago, Harris became an AmeriSchool by matching the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, for which individuals who complete national service in AmeriCorps programs are eligible. This strategic connection with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that runs AmeriCorps and other service programs, has led to an increase in students with service backgrounds who apply to Harris.
“Becoming an AmeriSchool has allowed Harris to develop relationships with individuals who have already shown an outstanding commitment to service,” said Adam McGriffin, director of career development at Harris.
McGriffin himself served in VISTA for one year as part of a fire safety education program with the American Red Cross in economically challenged Chicago neighborhoods and suburbs. He says Harris naturally attracts service-minded individuals, so it seemed like a no-brainer to put forth dedicated efforts to recruit these types of students.
“We want to be intentional at encouraging young people who have dedicated a year or two of their lives to civic engagement and social impact at a grassroots level to apply to Harris,” McGriffin says. “That definitely aligns with what Harris is and who the type of students are that come here.”
In addition to recruiting students to attend Harris, McGriffin feels efforts should be made to build a strong network for them once they’re there. That was the idea behind the Service Dinner.
“We have this huge cohort now of 30 students who are national service alumni, we have eight staff members who are service alumni or military veterans. While they receive a world-class education that will give them the tools to continue their social impact, it’s important that we take time to honor their service and help foster relationships that will last a lifetime.”
Ausannette Garcia-Goyette, a Harris student who served in the Peace Corps from 2012 to 2014, says the Service Dinner was a great way to strengthen Harris’ network of service alumni:
“I appreciate the opportunity to have an event where we can connect and meet other people who have done a type of service," Garcia-Goyette said. "We end up talking about class assignments or all sorts of things, but we don’t always necessarily get a chance to talk about our experiences in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or whatever it may be.”
Sarah Claudy, a Harris student who is currently an active duty naval officer, says she feels the school is a perfect fit for someone like her:
“I recently did a call with a prospective student, and she was asking me what the cultural dynamic is among my classmates," Claudy said. "I think overwhelmingly our class is very service-oriented. As far as what is emphasized in our core classes, it’s a lot about actual social change for good and using data to come up with positive results.”
Jen Lombardo, assistant director for student affairs at Harris, served in Teach for America about 10 years ago. She says the steps Harris has taken to strengthen the network of service-minded individuals makes her excited to see how these efforts might grow:
“This is a great first step to trying to think about a community of service and what that means," Lombardo said. "Our tagline is ‘Social impact, down to a science,’ and this is one of the ways you can see that manifested. We’re attracting a community of people who really care about making our society more equitable.”
McGriffin sees becoming an AmeriSchool and launching the Service Dinner as good early steps in building a reputation for Harris as an educational experience in line with the values held by individuals who have served. He hopes this connection to the service community grows.
“This year we have 30 students who have served, and that number will only continue to grow,” McGriffin says. “When you combine the rigorous inquiry with a unique knowledge of what happens on the ground, you’ll see some astounding change agents working in fields across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The opportunities are limitless.”
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