Molly Hall is a first year MPP student at the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy. She graduated from Michigan State University in the United States.

Molly shares how she came from the United States to study in Erfurt, why she chose the Brandt School, and her future plans

One of the things that really sets the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy apart is our diverse student body. Currently, our classes are packed with people from five continents. This week, we share how one of these students got here, Molly Hall, a first year MPP student. Molly recently shared her story with her undergraduate alma mater, the James Madison College at Michigan State University. You can read the full interview here.

Molly spent time living in Munich as a child which sparked her love of Germany and international affairs, but she and her family returned to America early on. She studied at Michigan State University in the Midwest of the United States where she majored in international relations. She graduated in 2012 and turned an internship with the Michigan State Legislature into a full-time job. She then moved to Washington, D.C., to work in public affairs and consulting, including consulting for the US Department of Homeland Security.

After six years working in Washington, D.C., Molly decided it was time to pursue a master’s degree. Knowing she wanted a master’s in public policy, she looked around at several schools in the US but realized she would be better served with something abroad, where she could really develop herself alongside a diverse group of people.

She cites the possibility of building a network with policymakers around the world, the affordability of the program, the breadth of knowledge and connections that the professors have, and the focus on research at the Willy Brandt School as her main motivations for coming here.

The mandatory internship and the capstone project that all students complete in their third semester were also important. These requirements turn the theoretical into the practical. Particularly entrepreneurial students can also pursue the Commitment Award for a chance to turn their ideas to promote the social good into reality.

Of course, students don’t just get an education here. They bring their own perspectives, views and lived experiences and in doing so, enrich the program. Molly cites her management experience as helping her to create strong collaboration in group projects and cites her public affairs experience as giving her a lot to share during class discussions.

For Molly, she’s focused now on building up her understanding of cybersecurity and national security, with the hopes of transitioning from public affairs to a career either with a consultancy, think tank or the US government.

~ The views represented in this blog post do not necessarily represent those of the Brandt School. ~