Dickinson Partnership with University of Maine Opens Doors to Global Policy Careers
From left, the current group of University of Maine students who started their collegiate journey at Dickinson: Heather Johnson, Anna Wallace, Tyler Lissy, Lexie Greene, and Kat Johnson.
SPIA program offers Dickinsonians an accelerated, affordable path to a master's degree—and a tight-knit network that lasts
by Tony Moore
For Dickinson students drawn to careers in international relations, environmental policy or global security, the path forward often leads to graduate school. But the question of where—and how to afford it—can be daunting. A unique partnership between Dickinson and the University of Maine's School of Policy and International Affairs (SPIA) is answering both questions for a growing number of Dickinsonians. (And it's just one such program Dickinson has in place with other institutes of higher education.)
The program, made possible by Dan and Betty Richardson Churchill, offers students both a traditional master's path and an accelerated 4+1 pathway to a master's degree in global policy, with concentrations in environmental policy, security and foreign policy, trade and commerce or climate policy. The Dan and Betty Richardson Churchill SPIA Fellowship Fund provides financial support to “outstanding” graduates of Dickinson, allowing many students to pursue that degree without taking on debt.
"The Dickinson-SPIA scholarship fund made a master’s possible for me," says Siobhan Pipoli '16 (international studies), a program graduate. "I knew I didn’t want to incur debt getting a master's. The financial support made this possible."
Skills That Stick
For students weighing their options, the partnership offers more than just affordability, emphasizing applied, hands-on learning—policy-oriented research, data visualization, briefing memos—that complement the theoretical foundation Dickinson provides.
"I think my Dickinson experience prepared me exceptionally well to have a career in international relations," says Heather Johnson '25 (environmental studies, political science), a current SPIA student concentrating in security and foreign policy. "At UMaine, my theoretical knowledge has been bolstered by the program's emphasis on hard skills."
Johnson points to courses on data analysis and research for international affairs as a highlight, a blend of liberal-arts depth and practical skill-building that graduates say sets them apart in a competitive job market.
"Dickinson's emphasis on global studies and its strong study-abroad tradition built the cultural fluency, curiosity and adaptability that anchored my graduate work at SPIA," says Theodore Wilhite '12 (international studies), who landed his first role at a D.C. nonprofit after completing the program. "That combination—global perspective from Dickinson and hands-on, data-informed training at SPIA—shapes how I scope problems, engage stakeholders and deliver policy solutions that are both rigorous and actionable."
A Community That Lasts
The program's intimate size mirrors what many Dickinsonians loved about their undergraduate experience: Small cohorts foster close relationships with faculty and peers—a community feel that students say extends well beyond graduation.
"Just like Dickinson, we are privileged to have small class sizes that have allowed me to make strong connections with all my professors and engage with my coursework in a way that challenges and motivates me," Johnson says. "Beyond the classroom, my classmates, cohort and professors truly feel like a second family."
Dickinsonians (from left) who have been through the University of Maine program (Mason Hepner `17) and who are in it now (Kathleen "Kat" Johnson `25 and Heather Johnson `25) recently returned to campus, with several other alums joining virtually, to tell current Dickinson students about the program. Photo by Dan Loh.
That sense of connection is reinforced by the shared alumni network bridging both institutions. For many, it's been the key to launching their careers.
"A fellow Dickinson and SPIA alum helped me secure my dream job after graduation from SPIA," Pipoli says. "The network of Dickinson and SPIA grads has been integral to my professional career."
Anna McGinn '14 (environmental studies), who completed the program nearly seven years ago, still feels that bond. "The partnership between the two schools has provided such unique continuity in my education," she says. "I would say that Dickinson helped me explore what I wanted to focus my career on and pushed me to figure out my potential, and UMaine gave me the tools and the confidence to launch into that career."
Advice for Dickinsonians
For Dickinson students considering the program, those who've walked the path offer encouragement—and gratitude.
"I’m grateful for Dickinson in many ways, but one thing that always stood out to me were the opportunities presented through the extensive alumni network, and I feel like being at UMaine has allowed me to strengthen that network," says Lexie Green '25 (environmental studies), a current SPIA student concentrating in environmental policy who was recently back on Dickinson's campus for an info-session on the program. "I hope that we can not only continue this legacy ourselves but encourage others to be a part of it! I was so fortunate to have been granted this opportunity and have already found myself becoming more passionate about the work I would like to pursue in the future."
Tyler Lissy '25 (political science), who first learned about SPIA while studying abroad in England, urges students to think beyond geography.
"I knew this program attracted passionate, personable and considerate people, so one piece of advice I would give to Dickinson students is to not base your choice of graduate studies around any geographical proximity that you might equate to political science," Lissy says. "Any doubts I had about Maine's distance from international relations has been quickly expelled by the knowledge I've gained and people I've met."
And Johnson? She keeps it simple.
"To any Dickinson student considering SPIA, I would tell them to bring a good pair of snow boots!"
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS
Published February 11, 2026