Interview with Alex Wheatley Class of '16 and Nathan Eckstein Class of '16 (Part 1): Insights from Graduate Students

Interview with Alex Wheatley Class of '16 and Nathan Eckstein Class of '16 (Part 1): Insights from Graduate Students

Preparing the Next Generation of Public Servants: The Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiative (SINSI) at Princeton University

At Princeton University, the Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiative (SINSI) is a graduate-level fellowship and academic initiative that is shaping the future of public service. The programme, which is associated with Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs and the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination, is designed to prepare high-achieving individuals for careers in government, international organizations, nonprofit sectors, and global public policy.

Nathan Eckstein and Alex Wheatley, both graduates of Princeton, are prime examples of the programme's success. Eckstein, who entered Princeton with an interest in public service, applied for SINSI after a summer internship with an embassy abroad confirmed his passion. Wheatley, on the other hand, was drawn to SINSI after seeing an advertisement and finding it an opportunity to explore various aspects of public health and learn from students with diverse experiences.

Both Eckstein and Wheatley found the transition from undergraduate to graduate school refreshing, particularly the MPA program at Princeton. With small cohorts and a practitioner's perspective in seminars, the MPA program offered a unique learning environment.

Eckstein's graduate school research focuses on synthesizing large qualitative and/or quantitative data into easily-digestible formats. His undergraduate thesis, while extensive at 125 pages, would have been lost on a policy-maker. In contrast, Wheatley's research involves deciphering and quantifying trends that can inform policy, particularly in community organizing, immunization strategies, and development assistance programs. His undergraduate research also involved exploring the spatiotemporal dynamics of a virus' activity in Mexico, with the goal of informing a vaccine rollout.

SINSI emphasizes the development of leadership skills and real-world experience in public service. It aligns with Princeton’s motto of “In the nation’s service and the service of humanity” by fostering expertise in governance, diplomacy, sustainability, and social equity among its fellows. Benefits to students include fellowship funding and academic support during graduate study, advising and mentorship from experienced faculty members, opportunities for internships, research, and fieldwork, and connecting with a network of scholars committed to public service and global impact.

SINSI scholars spend two years pursuing an MPA in the Woodrow Wilson School and two years in a SINSI fellowship with an executive branch department or agency. Eckstein's focus is International Relations, while Wheatley's focus is development with a minor in health. Both were interviewed as part of the Graduate Student Reflections: Life in Academia series.

In the policy realm, good research also has to answer the questions, "Why do we care?" and "How do we make this actionable?". However, good research sometimes has to compete with policy-makers' and principals' pre-held assumptions-and it doesn't always win. Despite these challenges, the scholars at SINSI are committed to making a difference in the world.

The SINSI Graduate Program is a scholarship program designed to prepare students for careers in the U.S. government. It is associated with Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs and the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination, which selects graduate scholars as part of SINSI fellowships. The programme is structured to provide selected scholars with advanced academic training, field advising, and professional development opportunities that prepare them for careers in government, international organizations, nonprofit sectors, and global public policy. Scholars benefit from faculty mentorship, rigorous coursework, and access to a wide network of policy experts involved in public affairs and international development. SINSI emphasizes the development of leadership skills and real-world experience in public service. It aligns with Princeton’s motto of “In the nation’s service and the service of humanity” by fostering expertise in governance, diplomacy, sustainability, and social equity among its fellows. Benefits to students include:

• Fellowship funding and academic support during graduate study
• Advising and mentorship from experienced faculty members in public policy and international affairs
• Opportunities for internships, research, and fieldwork to apply policy knowledge in practical settings
• Connecting with a network of scholars committed to public service and global impact.

References: [1] Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiative (SINSI). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.princeton.edu/main/sites/www.princeton.edu/files/pdfs/sinsi-brochure-2021.pdf [2] Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://wws.princeton.edu/ [3] Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ilsd.princeton.edu/ [4] Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiative (SINSI). (2021, November 16). Retrieved from https://wws.princeton.edu/sinsi

The Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiative (SINSI) at Princeton University, associated with the School of Public and International Affairs and the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination, is a graduate-level fellowship and academic initiative designed to prepare high-achieving individuals for careers in government, international organizations, nonprofit sectors, and global public policy, focusing on education and self-development.

The SINSI Graduate Program, a scholarship program that provides fellows with advanced academic training, field advising, and professional development opportunities, highlights the importance of education and self-development in fostering expertise in governance, diplomacy, sustainability, and social equity among its scholars, aligning with Princeton’s motto of “In the nation’s service and the service of humanity”.

Read also: