Spring Break is Here!
 Dear EPDers, congratulations on finishing your midterms! Now you get to enjoy a well-deserved break. We understand the stress and uncertainty you've been feeling, and how overwhelming the last few weeks have been for all of us. That’s why we decided to make this newsletter a wellness edition—to share some things you can do in New York City to disconnect from the news and truly relax. If you are traveling for your capstone, we hope you have a successful and enjoyable trip! Please reach out to the EPD team if you need anything. We are here to support you. Let us know if you need any specific accommodations or if you’d simply like to talk. (The email addresses and office hour sign-up links for the entire EPD team -- Jose Antonio, Jenny, Vida, Semon and Talia -- are included at the end of the newsletter.)
Enjoy your well-deserved break!
This week’s newsletter includes:
Aanchal Chittalipi is an inclusive policy and development professional with about five years of experience focusing on gender equality, research, and strategic planning. Currently in the second-year of her dual Master of Public Administration degree at the London School of Economics and Columbia University's SIPA, she is concentrating in Economic and Political Development and specializing in Data and Quantitative Analysis. Aanchal has led impactful initiatives focusing on low- and middle-income countries and her work includes designing gender-sensitive livelihood and public health programs for tribal communities working closely with public sector and community-based stakeholders in India.
Her research expertise spans mixed-methods approaches, including qualitative studies on gender, caste, and class dynamics in rural livelihoods and politics. More recently, she worked with ODI Global in London over the summer providing business development and analytics support to their social enterprise strategy and is continuing to work with them part-time on a global health investment research project.
Coming from a mainly non-profit background, she is leveraging and building on her skills in gender equity, impact strategy, and private sector mobilisation through her capstone project with Enabling Qapital, a Swiss impact asset management firm.
Reminder: This newsletter isn't just about sharing information with you—it's about building connections. We want you to get to know your peers and have opportunities to network. That's why we’re continuing with the EPD Student Spotlight as part of our newsletter. Please use this link to share your story and upload a picture of yourself. This is a great way for us to celebrate and learn about the inspiring individuals in the EPD community.
EPD Spring Virtual Career Series - International Economic Development
Date/Time: Tues, April 8, 1-2 pm
Location: Zoom | Register here
This event, featuring insights into International Economic Development, will provide valuable guidance for students interested in exploring careers in these sectors.
 Previewing the Fourth UN Conference on Financing for Development
Date/Time: Mon, April 14, 1-2 pm
Location: IAB 407 | Register here
The UN will hold its Fourth Conference on Financing for Development in Spain in mid-2025. Join us to discuss the many issues on the global agenda!
For U.S. and other students considering traditional development roles, times are challenging in the near term. However, there is reason to be optimistic about your career trajectory, even if your first job after SIPA may not be exactly as you imagined, and your SIPA network will be incredibly valuable in the years ahead. These were some of the messages from our experienced alumni faculty in our recent Breakfast Conversation on Development Careers in Uncertain Times. Don't worry if you missed it -- you can watch the recording here for amazing insights and support from our alumni faculty. (Please note the recording will only be available through the cloud for 30 days.)
Find your next move at the Career Pivot Social Impact Jobs Board, shared by the alumni panel. Other websites recommended by the panel included Devex (devex.com) and the Society for International Development -- US Chapter (sid-us.org).
For great insights regarding pivoting and the job search broadly at this time, consider connecting with Nick Martin and Wayan Vota (the author of the above career pivot newsletter). You can also connect with these alumni panelists on LinkedIn: Kevin Hong, Debra Jones, Barbara Magnoni, Sara Minard, Camilla Nestor, Tyler Radford, and Shravanti Reddy.
And don't forget about SIPA's Career Advancement Center (CAC) and its resources. This new webpage lists a range of events and resources to help SIPA students and alumni understand what is happening, identify opportunities and explore options. CAC career advisors are also available to support students and alumni with their internship and job search strategies. Schedule up to three 45-minute appointments each semester through SIPA Connect, and reach out with any questions, ideas or feedback to sipa_cac@sipa.columbia.edu.
St. Patrick’s Day: The New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade is an annual parade organized by the Irish Community of New York City to honor Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, while celebrating their Irish culture and heritage. For mroe information, click here.
New York Botanical Garden: The garden is home to over one million living plants, including themed gardens like the Rose Garden, the Native Plant Garden, and the iconic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. For more information, click here.
Harbor Line Cruise: You can book a sunset cruise or sightseeing boat tour that gives you an amazing look at the NYC skyline. For more information, click here.
 About the Podcast: How To Fail with Elizabeth Day is a podcast that celebrates the things in life that haven't gone right and what we might learn from them along the way.
Recommended Episode: "How to Cope with Feeling Overwhelmed"
In this episode, Hollywood heartthrob Luke Evans shares his wisdom on handling overwhelming situations and making life-changing decisions. He tells the fascinating story of a friend who left behind a high-powered CEO career to become a tour guide in Ibiza, proving that fulfillment can come from unexpected places. Luke also offers practical advice on relieving stress and opens up about why he considers himself "the worst" when it comes to romance. Beyond personal challenges, the conversation takes a deep dive into human resilience, exploring why some people appear heartless in the face of tragedy. Thought-provoking and candid, this episode truly goes there—delivering valuable insights with warmth, humor, and authenticity. Listen here.
José Antonio Ocampo, EPD Co-Director
jao2128@columbia.edu
Office hours: https://tinyurl.com/ocampo-officehours
Eugenia (Jenny) McGill, EPD Co-Director & EPD Workshop Director
em419@columbia.edu
Office hours: https://tinyurl.com/mcgill-oh
Vida Huimin Herling, EPD Concentration Manager
hh2655@columbia.edu
Office hours: https://calendar.app.google/HxfRugCoHHu4bq5C7
Semon Makar Zekry (MIA/EPD), Program Assistant
sam2481@columbia.edu
Office hours: TBD (email for appointment)
Talia Rosenberg (MIA/EPD), Program Assistant
tcr2135@columbia.edu
Office hours: TBD (email for appointment)
Your PAs,
Semon and Talia
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