The Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis has welcomed the inaugural cohort of its standalone Master of Social Policy (MSP) program.
Previously offered only as part of a dual-degree track, the MSP is now available as a one-year, three semester program that includes a summer internship, and emphasizes practical skills in advocacy, negotiation, evaluation, and economic decision-making.
“The MSP degree builds skills in all aspects of the policy ecosystem, from economics to advocacy to strategy to evaluation,” said Anna Goldfarb Shabsin, assistant dean of the MSP program. “This degree is perfect for anyone who is interested in impacting policy, from those new to policy work to those who already have experience in the field.”
The inaugural class of 17 students began Aug. 25. Among them are St. Louis native Victoria “Tori” Cichelero and Kotomi Yokokura of Lexington, Kentucky, both eager to expand their understanding of how to shape and enact legislative change.
Cichelero, who has worked in campaign canvassing, candidate internships, and animal welfare advocacy, most recently, she served as the policy and communications coordinator for the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation. She said she sees the program as an opportunity to broaden her policy work beyond animal welfare and agriculture to other areas such as veterans’ benefits, housing, reproductive and quality healthcare, and community development.
“There are numerous ways at the local, state, and federal level to protect these vulnerable populations, and I look forward to exploring these and passing legislation that makes Missouri a better place for all,” Cichelero said.
Yokokura joined the program to strengthen her quantitative analysis skills and become a more effective advocate. Focused on addressing housing instability among youth, she hopes to build a career at the intersection of sexual violence and homelessness.
“As a social worker, I’ve seen the impact of policies on individuals’ lived experiences,” Yokokura said. “I wanted a master’s program to help me build a strong foundation in understanding the policy process and how to advocate for change within this process.”
Cichelero credited a Brown School alumna with inspiring her to pursue the program, calling it “a great fit.” She is keen to combine her interests under one roof and continue educating voters about, according to her: “what goes on in Jefferson City.”
“I have seen firsthand how harmful it is when voters are unaware of actions by their legislators,” she said. “I am excited to explore opportunities to lift people up and ensure that all stories are heard and supported by those that represent us.”
For Dorian Traube, the Neidorff Family and Centene Corporation Dean of the Brown School, the launch of the standalone MSP reflects her vision for shaping a “new social contract” in public health, education, and economic stability.
“This program represents a new path to cultivate Brown School leaders who are changemakers on issues of great societal significance,” Traube said.
In her installation speech, Traube called on the Brown School community to help redefine how society cares for individuals and communities amid today’s challenges
“We are at a critical point where we must examine what our society owes the individual, and what the individual owes in return,” she remarked. “I contend that the Brown School, a place of geographic, historic, and cultural confluence, is the place where this can occur.”
She concluded with a call to action: “We must have ambition to lead, ambition to solve, and ambition to serve.”