First EMIR in DC class reflects strength of unique degree program
Twelve students have enrolled in
this semester’s first-ever offering of the Washington, D.C.-based Executive Master in International
Relations degree, and together they reflect the extraordinary promise of this
unique midcareer program. In its first year, the program has attracted students
who represent such diverse organizations and range of experiences as National
Geographic; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of State; the
U.S. military; Congress; USAID; private multinationals in the pharmaceutical, agriculture,
and defense industries; charter school networks, and more. Students range in
age from 27 to 54. Two of them already hold PhDs.
“We’re thrilled to
welcome this diverse group of accomplished professionals to be among the first
to join the program” says Ryan O. Williams, assistant dean for Washington
programs at the Maxwell School. “They bring an amazing wealth of experience.”
The EMIR in DC is
offered through a unique partnership between the Maxwell School and the Center
for Strategic and International Studies. The 18-month program is the first and
only advanced IR degree offered by a major research university in collaboration
with a leading global think tank. It is intended for working professionals in
the D.C. area with at least seven years experience. Courses are taught in the
evening at CSIS by a combination of Maxwell School faculty and CSIS experts. 
“It’s a unique
opportunity for midcareer professionals in D.C. who want to advance their
careers and deepen their understanding of critical global issues,” says
Williams. “Some of the students want to switch career fields. Others want to
understand the global and foreign policy aspects of something they already have
a deep understanding of. And for some, it’s the thing that helps them get to
the next level.”
That’s the case
for Dan Myers, one of the members of the inaugural class. Myers wanted to
pursue an advanced degree without having to take two years off to complete a
master’s program. Myers, international policy manager for National Geographic’s
Pristine Seas program, wanted a degree that would not
only support his continued interests in international relations and foreign
policy, but would offer him a new skill set and way of thinking about the
world. “The EMIR program is perfect for me,” he says. “It will broaden my
perspective on the key international issues of the day.”
Sunil Casuba hopes the EMIR will enable a transition from his
position as an analyst in the cyber field to a career in international
development. “The Maxwell staff has
been enormously helpful, working with me on independent studies and internships
abroad to broaden my understanding of development issues and help shape my
career and interests,” he says.
For Will Stanton, a career educator, the program is a means
to examine how America's domestic public education crisis will impact our
nation's ability to project strength internationally, as well as explore new
opportunities in international relations not connected to education. “The
hybrid professional/academic model that the architects of the EMIR program are
designing has a chance to revolutionize certain aspects of adult learning and
professional development,” he says. “While many professional and academic
institutions skew towards learning that is either predominantly practical or
predominantly theoretical, the EMIR program is giving us a chance to explore
theory in practice rather than theory and, separately, practice.”
In their first semester, students are enrolled in courses
with some of Maxwell’s finest professors: Leadership Strategy in Global
Affairs, taught by University Professor Sean O’Keefe (a former NASA
Administrator, Secretary of the Navy, and deputy director of the Office of
Management and Budget); and Comparative Foreign Policy, taught by Maxwell
alumnus Chris Skaluba ’01 MAIR, who was previously a Europe/NATO policy
director for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Ultimately, students in the program choose from five areas of
specialization — global security and intelligence, foreign policy, global
markets, global development, or public diplomacy — and complete their degree
with a final-semester capstone project. That project is pursued directly with
CSIS experts, with the goal of researching and crafting an actionable
policy analysis and recommendation on a complex issue in their focus area.
“The complexity of today’s global environment demands an
interdisciplinary and practical understanding of the threats and challenges
facing the international community,” says Dr. John Hamre, CSIS president and
CEO. “We want to create a space where innovative ideas can surface and where
the next generation of leaders can start to contribute meaningful policy
ideas.”
The
EMIR in DC program accepts applicants on a rolling basis for fall, spring and
summer semesters. The priority application deadline for Fall 2018 admission is June
1. For information, visit maxwell.syr.edu/dc/emir or contact Williams at 202.888.6363,
rywillia@syr.edu.
04/03/18