Alexandre, 2023 Summa Cuma Laude in International Economic Policy

Coming from Canada, Alexandre Lloyd has graduated Summa Cum Laud in International Economic Policy.

What skills and/or strategy helped you to succeed at PSIA?

Throughout my experience at PSIA, I never hesitated to bring my academic background to a discussion or assignment. Although my specific program was International Economic Policy, my two concentrations were Global Risks and Diplomacy. Therefore, I was often the only student with a background in economics in my classes, which allowed me to look at an issue differently than most of my classmates. This “edge” helped me stand out, and made sure I always had something relevant and new to add to the discussion. 

What part of your PSIA experience do you think will be of greatest help in your career?

As a Canadian student who did his undergrad in Halifax – A small city on the East Coast of Canada, the diversity of geographical backgrounds of students at PSIA blew me away. Being able to listen and learn from students from around the world on a diverse set of issues has been crucial in helping me prepare to tackle the world of international affairs. 

What advice would you give to current and future PSIA students?

Make sure not to get lost in the work, and always remember to choose topics that you can have fun with. At PSIA, we tackle so many issues, and many of them can be hard to process. It can be easy to look at a list of topics, and begin selecting them based on what we think is “easier” to write an essay or give a presentation on. However, my best papers and presentations were always the ones I cared the most about, even if they were especially complicated and required more work. After all, people are much more likely to want to listen to you if they feel like you genuinely care about what you are talking about and are having fun! 

• About the Master in International Economic Policy