Paola Ortiz Vargas knew early in her time at Pitt where she wanted to focus her studies. A second-year student in SPIA’s Master of International Development (MID) program with a concentration in Governance and International Public Management, she points to her personal experiences growing up in Puerto Rico for informing many of her academic and career goals. 
“I have intentionally tailored my studies here to concentrate on gender equality and women’s empowerment, with a specific regional focus in Latin America and the Caribbean,” she said. “My profound personal connection to the region, being born and raised in Puerto Rico, has equipped me with both a deep understanding of the specific obstacles to gender equality in the region and an innate desire to contribute in a meaningful way to the advancement of gender equality.”
Ortiz Vargas will graduate in the spring with her MID and certificates in both Latin American Social and Public Policy and Global Sustainable Development. She has also taken advantage of extracurricular opportunities that support her interests beyond the classroom, serving as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the SPIA Student Cabinet and a member of the Gender Equality in Public Administration (GEPA) working group through the Ford Institute for Human Security. Yet Paola says her most rewarding opportunity came this summer, when she interned with the Gender Team at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean in Panama. 
Throughout the summer, Ortiz Vargas conducted research and analysis on the impact of the ‘Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions’ initiative in Latin America and the Caribbean, a global initiative that recognizes public institutions and governments that pursue inclusive, transformative practices to create more equal societies. Her research mapped the Seal’s adoption by country and economic sector and measured outcomes across institutional capacity, workplace transformation, and systemic strengthening.
“The results of my research allowed me to produce a critical deliverable that provided insights into how the Gender Equality Seal initiative drives transformative change, with public institutions serving as the critical catalyst in creating more inclusive and equal societies. Working with the UNDP Gender Team on such critical development work amidst the current complex socio-political landscape has been the toughest yet most fulfilling experience of my academic career.”
While Ortiz Vargas believes her academic and professional focus for making her a strong candidate for this position, she is quick to point out how her experience in the GEPA working group and support from Ford Institute Director and SPIA Associate Professor Müge Finkel were integral in securing the opportunity. The Ford Institute has a longstanding partnership with the UNDP, and numerous students within the Institute’s working groups have gained real-world experience through internships at the organization’s regional hubs around the world.
Ortiz Vargas returns to campus this semester filled with gratitude, excitement, and an even greater sense of purpose for the work she will pursue after graduation.
“Though my time with the UNDP was brief, its impact was profound. As I take the next steps in my professional journey, I carry with me a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper commitment to service, dedicated to creating a more inclusive and equitable world.”
Learn more about SPIA's Master of International Development program, including the six concentrations from which students can choose to specialize.