On Tuesday the 14th of April, GLIPA held an LGBT career panel to highlight the career paths and opportunities of openly gay professionals in international and public affairs and discuss issues of sexuality and work with interested students.   The event was held at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs, and included five panelists representing careers many SIPA students go to following graduation.  The panelists had worked at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in the Majority Whip’s Office in the US House of Representatives, at the Central Intelligence Agency, at the US Department of State, at McKinsey & Company, and at Booz Allen Hamilton Consulting.

The panelists provided valuable insight into what their work involved and the issues of sexuality in the private sector, US government, and at the UN.  Over 70 people attended the career panel and learned a lot about how to pursue careers as an openly gay individual while juggling issues of sexuality and work.

Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres were served before the event.  Afterwards, GLIPA held a Social Mixer at Suite where students were able to continue the conversation with the panelists.

The April 2009 career panel was a great success, and we look forward to holding our second annual career panel on the 8^th of April, 2010 from 6PM – 9PM in Room 1501 of the International Affairs Building.