Posted by BEN BEAUMONT – In conjunction with the fifth anniversary of the Clinton Presidential Center, six Clinton School students today discussed their work completing public service projects – both domestic and international – in the school’s Master of Public Service degree program.
Clinton School students Ashley Davis, Harvell Howard, Todd Moore, Nathaniel Owen, Sophia Said and Ali Turro each discussed how their projects have affected both them and the communities and organizations they have worked with. CLICK HERE to watch video of the panel discussion.
While the students learn public service skills through their Clinton School core courses, they also complete 30 percent of the degree program through three for-credit service projects:
Turro discussed her international project in Nyakagyezi, Uganda, with an HIV/AIDS orphanage; Moore discussed his international project in Shanghai, China, with the American Chamber of Commerce; Owen discussed his Practicum work on an urban renewal project around the campus of Arkansas Baptist College; Said discussed herPracticum work evaluating a leadership program for the STAND Foundation in North Little Rock; Howard discussed his Capstone project with the African American Male initiative at UALR; and Davis discussed her Capstone project with the William J. Clinton Foundation’s climate change initiative.
The students credited the Clinton School for preparing them both academically and practically for future careers in public service.
Said, who hails from Pakistan, said the school has helped her decide what she wants to do in the future and that she was drawn to the school because of the chance to complete an international project.
“I believe the school allows us to restore a connection between the future leaders of the U.S. and the rest of the world,” she said.
A first-year student, Owen said the school is helping him learn more about himself.
“Before I can be an agent of change in the world, I have to first understand who I am,” he said.
Clinton School student Sophia Said discusses her public service project work.