Penn State School of International Affairs celebrates the class of 2026

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State School of International Affairs (SIA) celebrated its spring 2026 graduates at its annual Graduate Recognition Ceremony on Sunday, May 10, in the Lewis Katz Building. Faculty, staff, family, friends, and current students all joined in the celebration to commemorate the graduates’ achievements and to cheer them on as they prepare to take the next steps in their global careers.

A total of 31 graduates comprised the class of 2026, including 30 who completed a master of international affairs (M.I.A.) degree and one who completed a graduate certificate. Of the 30 M.I.A. graduates:

• Six were part of the Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) program, which accelerates the completion of a bachelor’s and master’s degree; and
• Four were part of the inaugural class of the joint LL.M./M.IA. program, a partnership with Penn State Dickinson Law.

The spring 2026 ceremony kicked off with remarks from Danielle M. Conway, dean of Penn State Dickinson Law and the School of International Affairs and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law, followed by remarks from Mitchell Smith, SIA director and professor of international affairs.

“The Graduate Recognition Ceremony epitomizes our shared sense of community in SIA,” Smith said. “Our modest size enables us to celebrate each of our students individually, with every student cheering the success of their classmates. It is a pleasure to share this joy and collective achievement with our students and their families.”

Following the opening remarks, each graduate was recognized individually and crossed the stage—with handshakes and congratulatory words from both Conway and Smith.

During their time at SIA, the class of 2026 made significant impacts—including academic and professional achievements as well as positively contributing to the SIA community. Each master’s candidate completed a capstone experience of either an internship or a research paper.

Members of the graduating class completed internships at:

• International Network of Engaged Buddhists (Chiang Mai, Thailand);
• Kavuro and Associates (Cape Town, South Africa)
• Salam Trade World (Los Angeles);
• Spirasi – National Centre for Survivors of Torture (Dublin, Ireland);
• U.S. Army War College; and
• U.S. Department of State, among others.

Members of the class also completed research papers on a variety of topics, including:

• Foreign policy and corruption in the Philippines;
• Issue indivisibility in nuclear negotiations;
• LGBTQ+ rights in Brazil;
• Debt-to-GDP ratio effects on economic growth in South Africa;
• Ethics of the Iran War through the lens of just war theory; and
• Barriers to international environmental action.

Outstanding Student Award

During the ceremony, Smith announced the recipient of the Outstanding Student Award, presented annually to a graduating student who “has provided especially outstanding service to the SIA community” through academic performance, classroom engagement, participation in extracurriculars, and general support for the school and its mission.

This year featured two recipients of the award: Alura Winfrey and Zachary Morrill.

Winfrey served as president of the SIA Black Student Association (BSA) during the 2025-2026 academic year. Her academic concentration was on public policy and development in Southeast Asia, and she completed an internship with the Child Protection Unit at the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) in Chiang Mai, Thailand. One nominator described her as “a joy to have in class” who “embraced every challenge” and “consistently work[ed] to connect theory with practical cases, drawing on her academic background as well as her personal and travel experiences.”

Morrill served as president of the SIA Student Government Association (SGA) during the 2025-2026 academic year. His academic concentrations at SIA were international public policy and international security studies. He completed an internship at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. One nominator described him as someone who “consistently demonstrated intellectual curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to engage deeply with new ideas and experiences. [He] is thoughtful, personable, and eager to learn—qualities that make him an asset to the classroom, the program, and the broader professional community.”

Graduation Speaker

Each year, a member of the SIA graduating class is selected to be the graduation speaker at the recognition ceremony. This year’s speaker was Melyna Martinez, who graduated with a concentration in humanitarian response and human rights.

In her speech, Martinez, who described herself as “a proud Mexican-American from South Texas,” shared some of her personal perspective and connected it to larger, national and global, issues.

“We are graduating at a time when divisions feel deeper, when global conflicts feel closer, and when questions about justice, migration, and human rights are no longer abstract, they are personal. For me, that has always been true,” she said. “As the daughter of immigrants, I carry that reality with me every day. I have seen the strength, the sacrifice, and the dignity behind stories that are too often misunderstood. And so I want to say this clearly: immigrants are not just statistics or headlines, they are part of what makes this country what it is.”

Addressing her fellow graduates directly, Martinez capped off her remarks with a note of optimism and determination.

“At SIA, we didn’t just study conflict, we learned about conflict transformation. We learned that change is not about avoiding challenges, but about facing them with purpose, empathy, and courage,” Martinez said. “And if there is one thing I hope we all take with us today, it is this: we are ready, we are capable, and we are the change.”

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Beginning in fall 2026, the SIA community will add a new cohort: the inaugural incoming class in its Master of Science (M.S.) in Global Economic and Business Relations, a program that aims to address a market need for professionals with expertise in both the international relations and economics fields.

The Penn State School of International Affairs provides an innovative education for the next generation of global leaders. Its graduate degree programs offer the best of both worlds: smaller class sizes and hands-on training, while also providing access to all the resources of a world-class research institution. SIA is a globally engaged community and home to expert faculty who focus on practical, experiential learning to help students advance their careers in the fields of policy, diplomacy, security, development, economics, business, and more. Our graduates shape policies, drive innovation, and foster understanding across cultures. Learn more at sia.psu.edu.