From international conferences and global competitions to internships and policy simulations, Fletcher students benefit from a range of experiential learning opportunities that bring their education to life. Beyond deepening their academic knowledge and sharpening their professional skills, these opportunities immerse students in new environments, challenging their perspectives and preparing them to navigate an increasingly interconnected world.
For Michael Sullivan, F00, internships are much more than resume-builders. They are transformative experiences that help students launch successful careers and expand their horizons. “Internships can serve as important gateways to post-graduate employment,” he said. “They help students build professional networks and gain practical experience. They also help students stand out in a competitive job market.”
Drawing on his experience as a business owner, Sullivan recognizes the advantage that real-world learning can provide for candidates and when evaluating potential employees. His belief in experiential learning is also deeply personal. “I benefitted greatly from a finance sector internship in London while I was at Fletcher,” he said. “That experience opened doors for me, and I wanted to help remove financial barriers so today’s students can pursue the same kinds of opportunities that had such a lasting impact on my own future.”
Sullivan’s support reflects a broader commitment to experiential learning at Fletcher. Long a hallmark of the school’s educational approach, hands-on learning is also a central pillar of Fletcher’s Strategic Plan and vision for the future. Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, Fletcher continues to expand these opportunities that complement classroom learning and empower students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings.
The impact of this support can be profound.
One student who attended the Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law (ASIL) in Washington, D.C. this past year described the experience as both academically enriching and personally inspiring. She reflected, ‘“More importantly, this support allowed me to engage directly with leading experts, practitioners, professors, fellow students, and scholars from diverse professional, academic, and cultural backgrounds. The conference provided a rare opportunity not only to deepen my academic understanding of international law, but also to better understand the broader community of people working to advance, defend, and critically reflect on its role in today’s world.”
The experience reinforced her professional ambitions and sense of purpose. “Attending ASIL strengthened not only my academic understanding, but also my conviction that international law remains essential, relevant, and worth defending.”
For students like her experiential learning offers more than a valuable addition to their education, it provides access to people and ideas, shaping the course of their careers and the impact they will have around the world.