Jerrin Glade Selected for the Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute

Congratulations to Jerrin Glade, a political science and strategic communication double major with a sociology minor, on being selected as a summer 2026 fellow for the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute at the University of Michigan's Ford School of Public Policy.

Understanding power and policy

Jerrin was initially drawn to political science by his desire to understand how power moves through institutions and how it directly impacts our lives. "Growing up in an immigrant family, I felt that policy was always present in our lives. During a heightened period of federal immigration enforcement, my father returned to Ghana," Jerrin reflected. This led to him becoming hyper-aware of how authority could spread and how it affected his family. "I had taken stability for granted, and I entered an era without my father, which I am unfortunately experiencing again." Political science; however, became a tool for me to understand how policy could lead to such outcomes."

At the beginning of his time at the University of Minnesota, Jerrin took an American public policy course, sparking his interest in social policy. He later gravitated towards a mix of immigration law and policy, while also having an interest in civil rights and the Constitution. Overall, Jerrin describes his interests as the intersection of public policy, law, and the use of political rhetoric.

Jerrin currently works as an intern at Tunheim, a public affairs firm, where he assists with drafting strategic communications materials and learning what it looks like to be at the intersection of communications and politics. He is also a part of the Human Rights Working Group at the University of Minnesota, through which he has the opportunity to discuss topical international issues with his peers. Following his undergraduate career, Jerrin hopes to pursue a dual degree of a JD and an MPP.

Breaking down barriers

The PPIA Junior Summer Institute is an intensive seven-week summer program, focusing on preparing diverse undergraduate students for graduate programs in public policy and international affairs. The courses students take through the program focus on leveling-up students' communication and quantitative reasoning skills.

Jerrin learned about the PPIA while scouring Handshake, an employment website for job listings primarily for college students, for opportunities related to social policy. When he applied, Jerrin doubted he would be accepted due to the program's competitiveness. Nonetheless, he received his acceptance while sitting in his civil liberties class. Jerrin was stunned when he left class and saw the acceptance email. "I had felt that programs like this were always meant for someone else, but to be in the program is crazy."

PPIA is an important opportunity for Jerrin because it breaks down barriers to graduate school that would have otherwise stood in his way. "As a first-generation, low-income student, furthering education is financially burdensome and complex," he said. PPIA provides graduate-level coursework in economics and statistics, policy analysis, along with structured mentorships with policy professors who can strengthen students' analytical thinking. This, combined with a $5,000 or more scholarship when applying to partner graduate programs, "makes this support invaluable." Additionally, being connected to an alumni network made up of more than 5,000 public service leaders across the country offers Jerrin a long-term community. "For someone navigating graduate education without generational experience, PPIA provides structure and direction."

Jerrin expressed that the political science program has helped to prepare him for this opportunity by teaching him how to analyze political structures. Moreover, all of the professors in the department care about what they teach and invite challenges. "I think that makes the best critical thinkers," he said. "That environment has pushed me to think more deeply about the law, public policy, and the kind of impact I want to have."