Capital Gains: RWU Students Forge Powerful Connections With Foreign Policy Leaders

WASHINGTON – In May, five Roger Williams University students, along with Joseph Roberts, Chair and Professor of Politics and International Relations at RWU, joined United States powerhouses in conversations about national security issues at the Foreign Policy for America Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C.

“This experience gets students exposure to people who are working in foreign policy and in a number of different capacities, allowing them to talk about those jobs and see the range of issues that are covered and how diverse their skill sets are,” Roberts said. “Down the road, my students might apply to jobs for or with these people and will be able to say that they’ve been to these kinds of events and have experiences that will help them in the long run.”

As part of the summit, the International Relations and Political Science majors from RWU heard from and networked with top leaders from President Joseph Biden’s Administration and Congress as well as representatives from the private sector and advocacy community about foreign policy and national security challenges. This was the first time RWU students attended the summit, thanks to the efforts of alumna Kristina Biyad ’16, who has degrees in Political Science and Economics from RWU. As the Outreach Director for Foreign Policy for America, a national nonpartisan organization, Biyad connected with Roberts to invite some of his students, recognizing the summit as an exceptional platform to showcase their talents and expose them to the field.

“As an alumnus of Roger Williams University’s Department of Politics and International Relations, I recognize how exceptional our students are. Hosting the students in Washington, D.C., where they could engage directly with elected officials and top foreign policymakers – including Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island – was an incredible experience. The event not only provided the students with invaluable exposure but also left a lasting impression on the elected officials and policymakers in attendance, who were thoroughly impressed by the talent and confidence of the RWU students. Witnessing them shine and excel in this unique environment, one that they might not often experience in Rhode Island, was truly inspiring,” said Biyad.

After arriving on May 19, students heard from the keynote speaker, Andy Kim, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey, before mingling and networking with policy-making professionals ranging from undersecretaries for defense policy and a former deputy secretary of state to national security advisors and senators including Whitehouse. The rest of the trip included panel discussions, roundtables, networking lunches, keynote conversations, and focused breakout sessions. On their last day, students visited Capitol Hill where they met with members of Congress (both House and Senate) and their staff to discuss the ongoing efforts to provide aid to Ukraine.

For Zoey Cormican, a senior from Rochester, N.H., networking with so many political leaders was an invaluable experience. “Through this summit, I was able to meet various influential members of Congress and gained connections on Capitol Hill,” said Cormican, a Political Science and Legal Studies double major with minors in Gender and Sexuality Studies, Psychology, and Professional and Public Writing. “This summit also introduced me to my first lobbying experience on Capitol Hill, which allowed me to be paired up with current foreign policy professionals and campaign directors to lobby Congress in support of aiding Ukraine.”

Students shared that the summit highlighted these professionals’ profound dedication to public service and an understanding of what public service entails. They learned about the various roles within foreign policy and the diverse pathways one can take to become involved and shape the future of foreign policy.

“Everybody there was really passionate about American foreign policy and what U.S. foreign policy looks like now and how they want it to change,” said junior Elena Sewall from Kutztown, Penn., a double major in International Relations and Spanish with a minor in Sustainability Studies. “One of my key takeaways was how dedicated to public service so many of those people are and how important public service is to them.”

Also at the summit, the students connected with members of the Next Gen group – professionals under 35 years old, working in various governmental departments – which provided a glimpse into potential career paths and practical applications of their degrees in Political Science and International Relations. The experience, orchestrated by Biyad, broadened the students’ perspectives.

“I gained a lot of perspective on paths that I can take as well as careers that I could have,” Sewall said. “There were a lot of people who had done a lot of different things and bounced around to a lot of different places; it was nice to see that instead of having to decide on one very specific career in foreign policy, international relations, or public service, you’re able to move between avenues and different career paths.”

Cormican said that she and her peers were able to apply their experiences from the classroom to engage in educated discourse with professionals about real-world issues including the war in Ukraine, NATO, delivering aid to Gaza, and trade relations with China. 

“This opportunity allowed me to learn from and network with hundreds of professionals over the course of three days, talking about complex issues ranging from economic policy through diplomatic relations to climate change and technological advancement,” she said. “I can truly say those three days allowed me to use the previous knowledge I gained through the Political Science major and apply it to current affairs with like-minded professionals and members of Congress.”