WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., Oct. 13, 2009 --Williams College senior Catalina Vielma '10 was awarded a Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship and spent eight weeks last summer in intensive study of public policy.

Students awarded PPIA fellowships spend their summers at one of the Junior Summer Institutes at UC Berkeley, Michigan, Carnegie Mellon, Maryland, or Princeton. Students take classes in economics, statistics, and public policy and analysis.

A political science major from Chicago, Ill., Vielma's interests lie in U.S. economics and politics, housing policy, and income equality. She completed her program with 16 other students at the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, which specializes in public policy. She studied economics and statistics with Professor Marc Wessel, cross-cultural communication with Professor Amir Anwar, and policy analysis with Professor Sylvia Brozutzky.

"I really enjoyed the PPIA fellowship," Vielma said.  "It gave me the opportunity to experience life at a big research university, so I know what to expect in graduate school," she said. "I think I also got some insight on what graduate schools in public policy are looking for in successful applicants."

PPIA serves to educate rising college seniors in public policy. It focuses its efforts on diversification, assembling a wide array of students representative of groups not always visible in leadership positions.

After their senior year, PPIA fellows are often recruited by schools affiliated with PPIA. The program works with more than 30 affiliated Consortium schools, including Brown University, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia University, and Harvard University. Fellows pursuing degrees at any of the affiliated Consortium receive a minimum of $5,000 towards their tuition.

The application deadline for this year's program for Williams students is Nov. 1.

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Founded in 1793, Williams College is the second oldest institution of higher learning in Massachusetts. The college's 2,000 students are taught by a faculty noted for the quality of their teaching and research, and the achievement of academic goals includes active participation of students with faculty in their research. Students' educational experience is enriched by the residential campus environment in Williamstown, Mass., which provides a host of opportunities for interaction with one another and with faculty beyond the classroom. Admission decisions are made regardless of a student's financial ability, and the college provides grants and other assistance to meet the demonstrated needs of all who are admitted.

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News: Laura Corona