EU and the World recently returned from a study trip to Washington, DC. After undergoing a competitive application process, a total of 10 GSPIAns were selected to participate in the trip, which was organized by the group's executive board: Maryna Duane, Andrew Stark, Gabriela Gavrila, Jingwen Fu, and Kira Pronin.

The trip's first stop was the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. GSPIAns met with the Chief Economist of the Delegation, discussing current economic crises facing the EU, and the Intern Coordinator at the Delegation. Next, the group traveled to the Danish Embassy and met with the Deputy Chief of Mission. With Denmark as the current holder of the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, embassy staff provided a unique insight into what it means for a country to hold the presidency, its influence on diplomatic missions abroad, and the differences between Eurozone and non-Eurozone countries' presidencies.

The group then visited the Romanian Embassy, meeting with the Deputy Chief of Mission and the Head of Cultural Affairs, and discussed what accession has meant for one of the EU's newest member states. Participants then ended the day by taking part in an Alumni networking dinner at GSPIA's DC office. Bryan Marcus (MPIA ’02, FSO, Department of State) and Susan Kamerer (MPIA ’10, Communications Specialist - Technical Writer, Parson's Construction) provided personal and professional insight into navigating the job market in DC and beyond.

This trip would not have been possible without generous support from GSPIA's Fund for Student Initiatives, the Dean's office, the University of Pittsburgh's European Union Center of Excellence & European Studies Center, Jessica Hatherill (GSPIA's Associate Director of Alumni Relations & Career Services), and Carolyn Ban (EUaW faculty advisor).