Everyone at the School of Public Policy would like to share our gratitude for those of our alumni who volunteered with us in 2023-24. This year alumni answered questions at careers panels, spoke at public policy seminars, shared your experiences with prospective students, and served as student mentors for the second year running – all of this, and much more, makes an incredible difference to our students and the wider SPP community.
Members of our community share their testimonials below about their experiences with our alumni volunteers:
Bakhtiyar M Salmanov (current student) – “I am immensely grateful for guidance I received from my mentor, Mallory Smith (MPA, 2019). Our sessions have been incredibly insightful, helping me build confidence and navigate the complexities of starting a professional career in the UK. Mallory’s advice and support have been invaluable, providing me with practical tips and a clearer vision for my future career path. I now feel more prepared and optimistic about pursuing my professional goals.”
Sarah Massey (Marketing and Student Experience Administrator) - "Having alumni who are willing to get involved with the SPP community after graduation is always a pleasure, and Vicente Stiepovich (MPP, 2023) is no exception! Earlier this year, he helped us with an online offer holder session for the MPP programme, and shared his valuable advice and insight into the programme. The offer holders found this so useful, and as staff we were grateful to have Vicente involved and engaging with the programme. Thanks Vicente for all your hard work and time!
Md Sariful Islam (current student) – "David Rinnert (MPA, 2014), my SPP mentor, played an instrumental role in navigating my professional development. Through his mentorship, I gained valuable guidance that enhanced my professional growth. His insightful suggestions and constructive feedback helped me to refine my professional development strategies. David also facilitated networking opportunities by connecting me with relevant professionals, which expanded my professional network and opened up new avenues for career advancement. His support and dedication were pivotal in my journey, making my experience in the SPP mentorship programme both productive and enriching. Inspired by the benefits I have gained, I am eager to give back and provide similar mentorship support to others in the SPP mentorship programme in future."
Claudia Yau (current student) – "Participating in the mentorship program has been an incredibly enriching experience. My mentor shared insightful thoughts on career decisions… This mentorship has not only provided me with invaluable guidance but also a real-world perspective that is crucial for my career planning."
Vanessa Rubio-Marquez (Professor in Practice at the SPP) - "When I think about our alumni Carmine Soprano (EMPA, 2022), two features come to my mind: “giving back to the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳" and “a true advocate for diversity". As a graduate from the Executive Masters in Public Administration (EMPA), Carmine has shared in several occasions his policy in practice experience with current SPP students, in the areas of trade, development and gender, mainly but not uniquely in Africa. He is a force of nature that easily and empathically communicates across cultures, taking advantage of his fluency in Italian, English, Spanish, French and Portuguese. "
James Cotter (current student) – "I would definitely encourage participating in the SPP Alumni Mentorship Programme. The conversations I had with my mentor reframed how I approached my job search post-graduation and provided me with a useful sounding board to develop and refine my thoughts on my post-MPA career options."
Anon (current student) – "The mentorship program was really useful to understand the type of experiences required in international organizations. Coming from outside that world of this type of jobs, my mentor was able to tell me about her own experience and contacted me with more people working in international organizations. She gave me feedback on cover letters and interviews. I really recommend it to any SPP student, we have a great network of Alumni and we will be too when we graduate!."
Doreen Thompson-Addo (Careers Consultant at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Careers) - "The SPP alumni community has proven to be an invaluable resource for current students exploring their career options. Their contributions have provided significant depth, real-time insights, and expert knowledge across a broad spectrum of industries and career pathways. Many of our career events, held in the evenings, feature alumni who generously volunteer their time to share personal career journeys and provide valuable advice to students. These interactions are highly valued and have led to increased confidence among students as they approach the job market, often resulting in job offers."
Hannah Shearer (Alumni Engagement Officer) – “In the high achieving environment of the School of Public Policy, the help of our alumni is vital to our community – not only in helping students make professional connections and insight, but in giving our students support, encouragement, and inspiration. Every year I am more impressed with the eagerness of our alumni to give back: participating in mentorship programmes, speaking at events, and even proposing new initiatives to enhance our community. Thank you to all of our alumni; I look forward to working with you in the future!”
Find out about our 2022-23 volunteers here.
Are you interested in volunteering with the School of Public Policy? Just get in touch at spp.alumni@lse.ac.uk if you are interested in finding out more about supporting our community.