<p>For <a href="https://www.sps.nyu.edu/explore/degrees-and-programs/ms-in-global-affairs.html">MS in Global Affairs</a> student Laura Oleson, the <a href="https://www.sps.nyu.edu/join/graduate-admissions/graduate-scholarships/cga-fellows-program.html">CGA Fellows Program</a> has been instrumental in shaping both her academic experience and her evolving career ambitions. By easing the financial burden of graduate school, the fellowship afforded Oleson the space to fully immerse herself in coursework, explore new ideas, and deepen her understanding of global issues. “This has expanded my interests and the possible career paths I might pursue after graduation,” she tells us.</p> <p>Oleson currently works at the intersection of international education and human rights protection, a space where she sees the tangible impact of global policy on individuals’ lives. After she earns her master’s degree, Oleson hopes to advance in this field while exploring a new interest sparked during her fellowship: grantmaking.</p>

<p>“My current organization receives grants from foundations, so I see the impact of this work in my day to day,” she shares. “Because of this, grantmaking is a career path that I'm quite interested in pursuing.”</p> <p>One of Oleson’s favorite aspects of the fellows program was having the opportunity to connect with faculty in a more personal, conversational setting. She recalls a moment during a CGA Fellows meeting when she spoke with Clinical Professor Christopher P. Ankersen about his course <a href="https://www.sps.nyu.edu/courses/GLOB1-GC3064-responding-to-emergencies-in-the-global-system.html">Responding to Emergencies in the Global System</a>. “He was explaining the particular approaches that are commonly used in the field and that he applied as a practitioner himself—this sort of insight is really useful,” she says.</p> <p>“I would encourage them to apply,” says Oleson, of students considering the CGA Fellows Program. “Developing an open-ended project is a meaningful learning experience in itself.”</p>