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GWIPP March 2007 Newsletter Probably my worst quality is that I get very passionate
about what I think is right. Contents:
** New Website Design ** Contribute to the GWIPP Newsletter** Annual GWIPP Retreat – Marisa London, MPP '07
We held our annual GWIPP spring retreat on January 27th. The meeting sets the agenda for the next semester and gives GWIPPers and alumni a chance to meet outside of Van Munching Hall. In attendance were several new members in addition to the officers and an alumna, Jane Kim (MPP ’05). Jane discussed the history of GWIPP, as it evolved from a voice for female students at MSPP to its current mission as a professional development group. The previous semester’s successes were then reviewed, including the federal jobs alumni panel, the Buddy Program, the ‘Women in the Field’ Tuesday Forum, the monthly potlucks, and our GWIPP meeting speaker, Melissa Schober from Women’s Policy, Inc. Members then talked about what type of activities we should focus on this semester and what each individual could bring to the group. After lunch, we selected activities for the coming semester. We planned a combined Valentine’s Day internship panel and fundraising bake sale for February (see description of the results below). We will also be setting up a GWIPP discussion listserv for members and alumni that want to discuss general issues. In April, GWIPP will host a movie night open to alumni and current students, and the focus will shift to the year-end transition, selecting new officers, recruiting new students, and organizing a school-wide graduation picnic for May. Also, look for several others women speakers from all walks of life, throughout the semester. If you are interested in planning or participating in any of the events, as an alumni or current student, email us or visit our beautiful, new website.
GWIPP members gather on a chilly January morning for a strategic planning retreat. A Call to Action on Climate Change: Spotlight on Water Scarcity & Regional Security – Lisa Berardi, MPP '07
On April 22nd, the world celebrates the 37th annual Earth Day. Many of us remember commemorating this day as children, creating artwork out of recycled newspapers and magazines, or volunteering to plant a tree with like-minded “green” buddies. The spirit of creativity and reverence for our environment lives on as we assess the roles we play in the degradation of our planet. This year’s theme, A Call to Action on Climate Change, spotlights the reality of global warming as well as the implications for policy and security. The rise in global temperature has been linked to increased incidents of flooding and longer periods of drought, both of which contribute to scarcity of water resources. These events pose serious threats to human and ecological well-being, economic and social development, and political stability – all factors considered in defining a nation’s security framework. Since natural resources tend to be trans-boundary in terms of distribution and demand, the potential for friction to develop among communities over scarce resources threatens regional security. For example, along Africa’s Nile River Basin, the frequency and severity of floods and droughts produce unsustainable mass migration, widespread poverty, and erode state capacities both economically and militarily. Conflict ignites among upper and lower Nile riparian nations as they compete for water rights and diminished resources. The potential for water scarcity to erupt into conflict is not new. At the first UN Environmental Summit in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972, former United Nations Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali surmised that the next war in the Middle East, a so-called potential “flash point” for water conflicts, may be fought over water, not oil. [1] In 2000, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright theorized that water would be one of the principal environmental and security challenges of the 21st century. [2] This year, UNESCO chose Coping with Water Scarcity as the theme of World Water Day, further prioritizing the policy focus on resource scarcity in the context of international institutions. [3] According to former Secretary Albright, the lessons of Earth Day are based on the basic awareness that the planet's resources are finite, and water is the world's most indispensable resource. As policy students, activists, educators, and practitioners, we can contribute positively to strategies that respect the environment and preserve our security. For more information about Earth Day, visit http://www.earthday.org/default.aspx. [1] Muller-Kraenner, Sascha. “Conflict Prevention and International Nature Protection: German and European Approaches.” Ed. Marc Berthold. Linking Environment & Security: Conflict Prevention and Peacemaking in East and Horn of Africa. Heinrich Boll Foundation: 2004. 7-10. [2] “Transcript: U.S. Secretary of State Albright on Water Security.” Lecture at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. April 10, 2000. [3] “Coping with Water Scarcity.” United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. March 22, 2007. GWIPP Bake Sale a Success! – Marisa London, MPP’07
GWIPP held its post-Valentine’s Day Bake Sale on February 15 to raise funds for the year. The event was a smashing success, taking in $125! GWIPPers fired up their ovens and cooked a variety of delicious baked goods ranging from a decadent Oreo cheesecake to apple bread. Parked next to the vending machines, the sale drew in hungry students, faculty, and staff from both the Smith School of Business and MSPP. The money will be used to bring in speakers for the semester and support a spring graduation picnic (with alumni!). We want to keep the momentum going- GWIPP is looking to beat our bake sale fundraising total with alumnae contributions. Please help keep GWIPP alive for next year- send donations to GWIPP, c/o Maryland School of Public Policy, University of Maryland, 2101 Van Munching Hall, College Park, MD 20742. Favorite Recipes from the Bake Sale Meg Spearman’s Decadent Dream Bars (recipe
courtesy of a former EPA coworker) Elizabeth
McNicol’s Super-Yummy S’more Brownies (recipe
courtesy of the Food Network) Brownie: Topping: Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and heat oven to 325 F. Line an 8 x 8 inch baking pan with foil so it hangs over the edges by about 1 inch. For the crust: Lightly butter the foil with some of the melted butter. Stir the rest of the butter together with the crumbs, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Press the crumb mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, make the brownie. Put the butter and chocolate in a medium microwave safe bowl. Melt in the microwave on 75 percent power for 2 minutes. Stir, and microwave again until completely melted, about 2 minutes more. Alternatively, put the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1 inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl on the pan without touching the water. Stir occasionally until melted. Stir the light brown and white sugars, vanilla and salt into the melted chocolate. Add the eggs and beat vigorously to make a thick and glossy batter. Add the flour and stir until just incorporated. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the top is crispy and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out mostly clean, with a few crumbs, about 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and carefully position a rack about 6 inches from the broiler and preheat on low. Layer marshmallows across the top and toast under the broiler until golden, (keep an eye on it, it can go quick), about 2 minutes. Cool on a rack, gently removing the brownies from the pan using the aluminum flaps. Carefully separate any marshmallow from the foil and fold away. Cut into 12 (2-inch) squares. Debbie Lee’s Moist and Delicious Apple Bread 1 c. flour 1
c. applesauce Internship Experiences – Dana Coelho, MPP ’07
GWIPP held an informal “Internship Experiences” panel on February 21. We had students attend who were interested in finding internships and several there to share their stories and contacts. We exchanged information on jobs in federal and state government, non-profit advocacy and research organizations, and discussed some of the difficulties international students face when looking for paid internships. Hopefully those of you in search of opportunities for the summer and/or beyond found some good leads, and to those who shared, thank you! All of the internship forms filled out by current students are available in the Van Munching Hall Community Lounge and contact information for the panel participants is available online. Sorry we couldn’t put all the forms up, but hopefully you will appreciate the very candid responses in exchange. A list of internship resources is being maintained on the GWIPP website, in addition to our broader resources section, which highlights groups in the DC area prime for partnerships, research, and maybe a job or two! We are still interested in collecting stories, contacts, funding sources and job leads to share with current students and alumnae. Please consider filling out an internship experiences form, also available online. These can be filled out electronically and submitted to me (Dana) via email.
Students gather in the lounge to learn about internships
Meg Spearman and Marisa London share internship tips PSGA Update – Sanjana Ahmad, MPP’07
With all the snow and ice, your friendly neighborhood PSGA decided to go into hibernation this semester. Just kidding. We have actually been quite busy with a number of important projects, despite the snow days and cold weather. One of our big projects for this semester is analyzing the survey results from last fall. We presented some preliminary results to the Deans on Friday, March 2nd and hope to release a final "State of the School" report in April. PSGA has also been working closely with the administration to develop a "Mid-Semester Feedback" form to further improve the quality of teaching at MSPP. Students should have received a copy in their e-mail - fill it out for your classes (one for each class) and return to Karen Logan by March 28th. PSGA Activities:
The Bigger Picture, How Maryland Public Policy Alums are Affecting and Changing Policy - Shirley Hseih, MPP '04
Welcome to The Bigger Picture! This is a new feature in the GWIPP Newsletter that highlights the various careers and work of Maryland Public Policy Alums and, on a larger scale, how they think their current job is affecting policy and changing the world. The key is that no matter what the position is, what our Maryland Public Policy Alums are doing, or where they are, Public Policy Alums are continually making a difference in the world! If you have any questions, would like to contribute to or nominate an alumna for The Bigger Picture, please contact Shirley Hseih. Name: Madelyn Carpenter (MPP ’04, Environmental Policy) What are you currently working on? Although based in Fort Collins, Colorado, I am a part of the National Park Service’s Washington Office. I work with policies associated with the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies to study the environmental impact of proposed actions. This involves activities such as analyzing the impacts of building a new visitor center, developing a park operational plan, and allowing scientific research to occur. Most of my work involves coordinating with our regional environmental coordinators, to ensure that our policies and implementation are consistent across the service. Part of my job is to support the implementation of a new web-based compliance tracking system. This recently-developed system tracks a project, such as an environmental impact statement, from start to finish, and provides a one-stop shopping site for the public to access and comment on documents out for public review. I answer questions from parks and regions, test newly programmed system changes, and provide in-class training and other guidance materials or user support. The job involves a combination of knowing the federal and service-wide policies and helping to implement those policies on the ground through providing technical assistance and facilitating regional needs at the Washington level. How is your job affecting policy/making a difference? The Park Service is charged with preserving the natural and cultural resources of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. To do so, we must analyze the impact of our own actions and actions that may affect park resources and visitor experience. I support parks by convening regional coordinators, improving our project tracking system, and allowing the opportunity for the public to provide feedback on our proposed actions. Alumnae Updates Marybeth Frazier Mitts, MPM '87 Perri Leviss, MPM ‘93 Maha Armush, MPM ‘03
Maha with her mother during her swearing-in ceremony Joanna Patterson, MPM ‘03
Joanna Patterson in Sedona, Arizona Madelyn Carpenter, MPP ’04 Amalea Hijar, MPP ‘04
Amalea Hijar vacationing in England Carrie Cook Anderson, MPP ‘05 New Website Design! GWIPP would like to thank website design artist Eric White for his pro bono work on our website. Everyone can see the results of Eric’s creative talents—along with, as always, resources, our calendar, contact information, and a newsletter archive, at http://www.publicpolicy.umd.edu/GWIPPWEB/index.html. Special thanks also to Dana Coelho who helped bring Eric’s designs to life on our site and who regularly maintains the site’s content. Contribute to the Next GWIPP Newsletter The theme of the May GWIPP newsletter will be “transitions.” Have you recently moved, bought a house, earned a promotion, found a new job, or added another member to your family? How does life after grad school compare to your expectations? Why did you decide to get a master’s in the first place? What advice do you have for others going through the same thing? GWIPP wants your stories for the next newsletter. Please email Kristen Waters if you’d like to contribute a piece or if you’re willing to be interviewed about your experiences. Submissions are due by Wednesday, May 2nd. Upcoming Events Kathleen Kennedy Townsend Book Event
The Contribution of Women's Organization to the Advancement
of Women
Next GWIPP Potluck is March 25th: ALL Members and Alums are
Welcome!
All Current Students and Alums Are Invited to the MSPP Prom!
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