The Institute’s student body includes recent graduates of colleges and universities from the United States and around the world and a mix of mid-career professionals from government, the armed forces, industry, and foreign embassies and governments, whose various perspectives enrich the classroom experience.
Meanwhile, IWP alumni are bringing their insights learned at IWP to leadership and management positions in such crucial organizations as the FBI, CIA, DIA, and Secret Service; the Departments of Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, Justice, State, and Treasury; the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard; Congressional offices, think tanks, academic institutions, and government contracting corporations.
Read the latest news and updates on IWP students and alumni
Lawrence Buckley (’07) has been promoted to the FBI’s Senior Executive Service, where he is serving in the Intelligence Branch as Senior Director on the staff of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB). |
“If you are willing to go 100%, the school will meet you at 200%, whether it is through financial help, the professors, even the administrators.” |
“I am looking to apply my knowledge, rather than develop theory… When I talk about issues in the federal system, my professors understand where I am coming from.” |
“I kept all of my notes and I have them in my desk right now; I’ve carried them around the world with me… My experience learning at IWP has molded me into the leader I have become.” |
“Dr. Streusand’s Geography and Strategy and General Jajko’s Military Strategy courses both provided an opportunity to explore the Marine Corps’ operational and even strategic role as force projector throughout the world.” |
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“Whether it is the art of diplomacy, economic thinking, or warfare, my classes have solidified my drive to dig deeper into world politics. They have made me want to become a practitioner in this field.” |
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“I was able to have a higher impact than my GS grade allowed, and that was a testament to my experience and education at IWP.” |
“I have found a lot of overlap between my career and school, both while at IWP and now.” |
“All the theory in the world doesn’t prepare you for a role as an analyst. You need to know what the practicalities are. The strength of IWP is that they use the theories to apply from a practitioner’s role.” |
“The IWP program helped me prepare for work in a civilian role supporting national security.” |
“Walking into the State Department, I had a lot more knowledge of the topic I am working on than quite a few of my colleagues, even those with M.A.s from well-respected – even Ivy League – schools.” |
“IWP helped me understand that execution without a strategy, direction without a clear vision, and leadership without virtue, strains the maintenance of peace.” |
“My IWP education was helpful in being able to have that perspective of where you are within the [intelligence] cycle and knowing how it all comes together.” |
“If you are looking for a focused education in intelligence, statecraft, and diplomacy, and if you want to feel like your professors care about you individually, IWP is your best bet.” |
“All of the classes I took at IWP help with my work. I still hear concepts and terms at work that I go home and read about in books I was assigned in my IWP courses.” |
“[Attending IWP] has been among the best decisions I have made so far.” |
“In Dr. Thomas’ intelligence class, he emphasized the tension between the executive branch and legislative branch… I feel like that’s my everyday life now.” |
“One of the great things about IWP is the freedom to engage in civil discourse even when you don’t see eye-to-eye with professors.” |
 “[My classes at IWP] gave me the opportunity to deal with reality and how the international system really works.” Amb. Federico González Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Paraguay Read more |
“I cannot say enough about IWP. I truly enjoyed my time… I have learned so much more I wish I could have learned when I was younger and in the prime of my career.” |
“IWP gave me a general understanding of the national security apparatus…Many people come to my profession from other fields, and they have no idea what agencies make up the Intelligence Community or how the Department of Defense works. I was exposed to that.” |
“The education here provides a foundation for anything that you could possibly want to do in intelligence, national security, or the diplomatic realm.” |
“IWP really instructs on the dignity of the human person, and if that’s not foundational in your policy, your policy is flawed from the get-go.” |
“Even though I had knowledge from working with an actual spy, [my course at IWP] introduced me to the whole realm of academic thinking and experience of the IC with all these different spies.” |
“What IWP has really helped me with is to get in the mind of what a policy maker or senior official has to deal with on a day to day basis.” |
“IWP has the most qualified professors, most highly motivated students, and the greatest visiting speakers of any grad school.” |
“Having an intelligence degree has given me more perspective on the threats that are out there and the mindset of our adversaries.” |
“When I went back to Estonia, I became the first ever U.S. Desk Officer in the Estonian Foreign Ministry.” |
“I cannot estimate how much I have changed since coming to IWP…both in understanding the reality of broad topics, but also in experiencing other countries and people.” |
“It is really interesting to see the techniques and the statecraft and the vocab and knowledge that I’m learning in [my IWP] classes and how it is applicable to my current job.” |
“Based on my time at Kings Point and in the Marine Corps, in every class, I have learned something that I could relate back to my previous experiences.” |
“IWP is such a unique learning experience because the administrators and professors are so accessible… IWP as a whole pushed me to the career I have today.” |
“I can honestly say [IWP] almost completely altered the lens with which I view the world… IWP broadened by field of vision drastically.” |
“Working in anti-money laundering is a fascinating field… I know I am making a difference every time I go into the office.” |
“It has been a wonderful experience learning from such accomplished yet humble people.” |
“The critical thinking and analytic skills within the Institute of World Politics BSAP program will serve me well in the future.” |
“Often, the student sitting at the left or right of you is somebody who is already in intelligence or public service.” |
“IWP classes weren’t pushing an ideological point of view, but was a measured point of view based on years of experience. It was a very different take than I’d been used to.” |
“My IWP studies absolutely impact how I approach my profession. Understanding the intelligence life cycle has been an important key to success in all my roles.” |
“I can safely say almost every class at IWP has helped me in various ways so far in my career.” |
“[The professors and students] liked what I brought to the table, and would often agree that I had a valid point… It’s more gratifying to argue successfully against people with differing views than those with similar views.” |
“I knew attending IWP would be a useful experience, and helpful to my career…but it far exceeded my expectations, and proved to be much more interesting and beneficial than I had imagined.” |
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“I looked at a lot of schools that had national security and/or intelligence programs… IWP’s faculty with real world experience convinced me to attend.” |
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“I took many intelligence-related courses at IWP… The area knowledge I gained at the Institute has also been very valuable.” |
“I want to make an impact locally and in my state, and help others become state senators, representatives, and governors. I will continue to employ the things I learned at IWP.” |
