SU's Alexander Earns PPIA Fellowship

SALISBURY, MD---Like a great chess player, Chase Alexander is already looking five or six moves ahead in his life.

As the second Salisbury University recipient of the Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute (PPIA JSI) Fellowship, the junior from Gaithersburg, MD, has set himself up for a successful senior year, followed by graduate school.

The fellowship gives Alexander an opportunity to participate in the graduate school preparation program for undergraduate juniors committed to public service careers, along with $5,000 to help defray the cost of graduate school.

He learned of the program by attending a PPIA Public Service Weekend through Carnegie-Mellon University – one of six campus hosts for the PPIA program – last summer. With the help of Dr. Kristen Walton in the Office of Fellowships, he was able to garner acceptance to the JSI at the University of California, Berkeley, which will be held in a virtual format this year.

“Chase is one of our most impressive students at Salisbury, who has already won two fellowships – the Boren to Morocco and Project Go to Jordan – before this year,” said Walton. “The PPIA is one of the best scholarships for opening doors both for graduate school and for employment in the public sector after graduation.”

Alexander long has been drawn to public policy regarding terrorism, and the roles of technology and the internet. He hopes to play a part in finding a way to defend against terroristic radicalization while continuing to allow free speech and keep the internet open to all.

“I’m really looking to expand my knowledge and skills and develop new skills specifically in the field of economics and public policy,” he said. “That’s not something I’ve really worked with in the past. I’m familiar with it, but I think a detailed program will help hone that skill and develop it within me.”

To know how he got to this point, it’s important to look at the opening salvo of Alexander’s time at SU. Enrolling as an “18-year-old kid, and all I cared about was football,” he said.

It quickly became apparent that continuing to play football while pursuing his original major, in business, was not right for him. Taking a History 102 course – Introduction to World Civilizations with Dr. Emin Leliç – during his second semester, he had an epiphany. He adjusted his major, knowing he wanted to follow a path aligned with one of his passions from an early age.

“I’ve always been into history, and it’s something I considered vital to my knowledge and to my personal development,” he said. “I decided to switch my major because if I’m going to be here, I’m going to do something that I’m truly passionate about.”

Leliç and Walton have played large roles in Alexander’s academic success and the numerous honors he has received.

“Both have helped push me to help develop my academics and expand my mindset in skills in the classroom and in the real world,” he said. “I was able to find a resource in them, and I’ve found that in every one of my classes. Every single professor I’ve worked with has been a voice for me to ping ideas off of. They’ve helped me focus those ideas and turn me and push me into the direction to explore and that has led to one thing after another.”

Still thinking ahead, Alexander, a member of the SU ROTC program, is looking beyond just the completion of the PPIA program and graduation. He hopes to continue his work against terrorism by attending graduate school, possibly in the United Kingdom, before completing service in the U.S. military.

He’s already planning his endgame – a law degree and, ultimately, a career in public service through diplomacy, possibly with the U.S. Department of State or another government entity.

“I truly believe that SU has helped contribute to my success, and I’m not here by any means as a product of just myself,” he said.

The PPIA program was founded to address the lack of diversity across the spectrum of professional public service, including government, non-profits, public policy institutions and international organizations. The purpose of the JSI Fellowship is to prepare students to obtain a master’s or joint degree in public policy, public administration, international affairs or a related field.

Students interested in the opportunities available through the SU Nationally Competitive Fellowships Office may email Walton. 

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU website.