The graduate students in Brown University's Urban Education Policy (UEP) program, class of 2024, presented their capstone projects to faculty, fellow students, and local and regional urban education professionals in a conference-style event as the final requirement for their degree. The UEP students used the knowledge and skills they gained in the program to address a contemporary policy issue they encountered during their nine-month internship.

In addition to helping students find a well-suited internship, Professor Emily Qazilbash instructs UEP students in core leadership classes with the objective of integrating their internship experiences with the skills acquired in their other UEP policy and data analysis courses.

"The goal of the internship is that students work at an organization that is situated at the heart of changing outcomes for students in urban schools," Professor Qazilbash explains. "Students work with a supervisor who supports them and ensures that they are working on a project that is significantly important to the mission of the organization. These organizations vary and they are the backbone of the UEP experience."

"These well-executed capstone projects offer a holistic understanding of urban education policy - faces and voices of students and families, the policy and governing structure, and the broader environment," says Professor Kenneth Wong, director of the UEP program. "As indicated by their thoughtful presentations and policy recommendations, UEP graduating students demonstrate their readiness to pursue their paths as the next generation of change agents."  

Below is a list of the UEP students and the titles of their presentations.