The value of a Masters from SPP extends far beyond graduation: how the MPP Alumni Council fosters community

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Photo Caption (L-R): Members of the Master of Public Policy Alumni Committee; VP External Faith Stewart, Co-Chair Jake Fuss and Chair Alexia Hill.

Graduating from the School of Public Policy (SPP) at the University of Calgary is more than just earning a master’s degree — it’s also about becoming part of a community beyond the classroom.

Alexia Hill and Jake Fuss, alumni of the Master of Public Policy program, are proof of how the connection between graduates continues to impact careers and lives long after graduation day.

Alexia, who was part of the Class of 2023, and Jake, from the Class of 2018, are now collaborating to breathe new life into the Master of Public Policy Alumni Council (MPPAC).

As a policy school, there’s a natural synergy and encouragement for students and alumni to have their own governance bodies. The Council was founded in 2016 to foster connections between alumni and students. After a promising start, activities slowed and then stopped during COVID-19.

Alexia and Jake, now Chair and Vice Chair of the Council, recognized the importance of reigniting these connections and decided to get involved.

“There is a lot of benefit in fostering connection and creating lasting relationships,” says Alexia. “The world of policy is vast and being involved in the MPPAC gives people the chance to learn from each other, ask questions and hear about different sectors and perspectives. It provides insight into opportunities that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.”

The Council’s primary function is to maintain three crucial relationships: supporting alumni, engaging current students and strengthening collaboration with the School.

“For me, the best part of the Council is the sense of community and having a network of people with similar backgrounds,” Jake says. “In policy, even though we specialize in different areas, there is often crossover that results in collaboration opportunities. It allows you to grow and develop both as a professional and individually.”

As Alexia, Jake and other members of the Council continue to revive the MPPAC, their goal is to create a more dynamic community of alumni and students who forge long-lasting connections. Ideally, students not only earn their academic credentials from SPP but also establish the network they need to succeed in their careers.

For students, it means access to mentorship, career opportunities and a support system that aids their professional development. For alumni, there are tremendous benefits from connections to a vibrant community through networking events, professional growth resources and opportunities to support the next generation of leaders.

This is an exciting time for the School, with the ongoing Canada Productivity Initiative, new areas of focus and an emboldened commitment to fostering innovation and growth—making it more important than ever for students and alumni to stay connected and involved as the school moves forward. The Council is keen to engage across these initiatives and areas of focus such Fiscal and Economic Policy, Energy and Environmental Policy, Health and Social Policy, International Policy and Trade, and Canadian Governance Policy. This, coupled, with the Graduate Programs Expansion Project will see deeper alumni engagement and an important new chapter in alumni relations at the School.

The Council’s biggest event each year is the MPPAC Annual General Meeting and Student Alumni Mixer in the fall. Alumni and students can learn about the year’s achievements, upcoming events and new initiatives as well as meeting the newly elected leadership.

Elections are held annually for positions on the Council but Alexia and Jake stress there are always opportunities for anyone who wants to get involved without a formal role. While the MPPAC is for the public policy program, students and alumni from the Sustainable Energy Development program at SPP are welcome to join.

Other events, including student-alumni mixers and alumni panels hosted by the student association, allowing current students to learn from those who have already navigated the policy landscape.

“It’s inherent in the policy world to want to work and learn with others,” says Alexia. “Policy is very community-based; it’s about relationships, it’s about people and it’s about how we shape our communities together. That’s why the MPPAC is so important; it helps foster a space where policy professionals can collaborate, exchange ideas and strengthen the bonds that drive meaningful change in our society.”

Students and alumni can stay connected by joining the MPP Alumni Council LinkedIn page or by contacting the Council at mppalumnicouncil@gmail.com.

 

MPPAC Team:

  • Alexia Hill, Chair MPPAC and Senior Economist, Market Surveillance Administrator
  • Jake Fuss, Vice Chair MPPAC and Director of Fiscal Studies, Fraser Institute
  • Faith Stewart, VP External MPPAC and Account Manager, AdFarm
  • Brayden Greenstein, VP Internal MPPAC and Policy Analyst, Government of Alberta
  • Dylan Rama, VP Communications MPPAC and Policy Analyst, Government of Alberta