The Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy has become the first Ivy League school to join Service to Service, a partnership led by the Volcker Alliance and We the Veterans that helps schools of public service connect veterans and military families with public service education pathways and propel them into stable and impactful careers in public leadership.
"This powerful partnership builds on Cornell's longstanding commitment to active duty military and veteran students. At the same time, it elevates the crucial role that military veterans in public service careers can play in our democracy," said Brooks School Dean Colleen Barry.
The Service to Service initiative includes 12 schools of public service that are members of the Volcker Alliance Deans Summit, a collaborative network of schools that confer degrees in public policy, public administration, public affairs, and related fields. Service to Service schools will recruit veterans and military family members into master's degree programs at schools of public service, provide them with a meaningful cross-campus fellowship experience that encourages network building and professional development, and facilitate placement in state and local government jobs upon graduation.
"The Brooks MPA program has always had a strong veteran presence, informed and supported by our veteran alumni network. The Service to Service initiative will help to deepen these connections and create a more powerful career network," said Tom O'Toole, Executive Director of Public Affairs Programming. "We want to make it as seamless as possible for veterans seeking to build public service careers to get an Ivy League degree and obtain an impactful job."
Cornell University has been ranked the #1 Best College for Veterans in the past two years by US World News & Report and over 790 people have used some form of GI Bill benefit to attend Cornell during the past year. Veterans pursuing a Brooks School MPA degree can receive application fee and deposit waivers and the Brooks School imposes no limitations on the number of people using Yellow Ribbon benefits each year.
The Brooks School offers two interdisciplinary programs designed to prepare leaders for the complexities of modern public administration.
Zhaosong Zhou MPA '23 (left) and Mease Brockman MPA '23 (right) at the 2023 Student Veteran Graduation Celebration, marking their graduation and the presentation of their military stoles. Zhou, a military veteran, served in the U.S. Army Reserve as an Advanced Leader Course Instructor during his time in the MPA program. Brockman, also a veteran, served in the U.S. Army for 8 years before pursuing her MPA degree.
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a two-year residential program for early- to mid-career professionals, providing an applied learning experience that integrates insights from public policy, management, and data science. With internships, policy clinics, and a capstone project, the MPA equips graduates to lead and innovate across government, nonprofit, and private sectors.
The Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) is an 18-month, mostly online program tailored for mid-career professionals who aspire to drive solutions at the intersection of government, business, and civil society. The EMPA combines asynchronous and synchronous online coursework with two 1-week residential sessions, delivering advanced training in strategic leadership, economic analysis, and program management. EMPA graduates are uniquely positioned to tackle complex challenges that demand collaboration across sectors.
As a Service to Service member, the Brooks School will work to expand access to veterans and veteran family members through recruitment initiatives by partnering with participating schools of public service to develop strategies and materials, leveraging traditional recruitment channels as well as evolving partnerships with veteran-serving programs and organizations, and offering wraparound support and guidance to students to encourage retention and degree attainment. In addition to creating a seamless experience for veteran and military-connected students, the Brooks School will partner with state and local government agencies to facilitate placement of Service to Service graduates in high-need roles.
"Public trust in veterans is universal and unwavering across America. Importantly, that trust extends to military family members who share a strong commitment and sense of duty to this country," said Ellen Gustafson, co-founder and executive director of We the Veterans. "As Service to Service Fellows, veterans and military families will embark on postgraduate studies that build on their leadership skills, tap into their patriotism, and position them to bring that trust to influential civic roles."
Giles Morris is assistant dean for communications in the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy.
