University of North Georgia (UNG) junior Claudia Marban took part in the Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Program Public Service Weekend from Feb. 21-23 in Arlington, Virginia.

The weekend is a means for students to explore careers in public service, network with professionals and understand policy issues.

"I had a blast learning from other participants," the Gillsville, Georgia, resident said. "It was worthwhile."

During her three-day stay, Marban had the opportunity to participate in a crisis simulation that dealt with the government of Venezuela. She played the role of State Department liaison to the Justice Department.

Marban, who is pursuing a degree in political science, said a highlight of the weekend was meeting Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, a 30-year diplomat for the United States. 

The group of 33 ventured to the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., where the group created identities, completed missions and explored histories of spies and exploring methods. The highlight of the museum trip Marban said was seeing the exhibit of a spy pigeon. Dating back to the Cold War, the CIA equipped pigeons with tiny cameras to gather intelligence.

The First-Gen student, along with other attendees, did some sightseeing, including a trip to the Washington Monument and catching a glimpse of the White House, but her favorite spot was the Lincoln Memorial.

"I am thrilled to see Claudia's journey at UNG. I first met her as a faculty mentor for the Gen 1 mentoring program," Dr. Bibek Chand, associate professor of Political Science & International Affairs, said. "Since then, she has kept in regular contact for mentoring. Claudia has truly blossomed in the department and has gone from a shy student to a student leader who is now the president of the Model UN Club on the Gainesville Campus. I am truly happy to witness her growth over the years. She truly is a hardworking student. Her experiences outside of UNG are testament to that."

Marban is confident her degree from UNG will help her in her quest to be employed in the field of international affairs. The trip, on the other hand, made deciding where within the scope of international affairs challenging.

"The trip made the decision more difficult because there was so much new information and new things," she said. "It introduced me to positions and opportunities I didn't know much about. It gave me insight into how things operate."

Engaging with other students proved insightful, too, for Marban.

"Having this opportunity enabled me to learn from them about their internship experiences. I was amazed to meet students who have had incredible opportunities, and I hope to one day have similar experiences," she said.

Marban has been a part of UNG's Model United Nations teams and contributed to a strong performance at the Southern Regional Model United Nations conference in Atlanta in fall 2023, as she and the other members of the Singapore delegation, Dylan Gearin and Geeson Senat, received the Delegation Award for Outstanding Position Paper.