How Studying Urban and Social Policy Taught Me About Politics from the Ground Up

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After finishing a master’s degree in history, Rory Callison MPA ’26 chose SIPA for its hands-on focus on social policy and human rights. A longtime history enthusiast with ambitions in public service, Callison sought to gain a sharper, on-the-ground understanding of how policy shapes everyday lives.

Why did you choose SIPA?

I came to SIPA after graduating with a master’s degree in history from the University of Edinburgh. My thesis focused on FDR’s New Deal as a pro-democracy tool. Domestically, the New Deal provided social policies–like accessing Social Security benefits–that were publicly communicated through fireside chats and presidential addresses. And the goal was specifically to help the average, everyday American. That work sparked my interest in joining SIPA: to get a hands-on approach to policymaking and learn from some of the best political minds on the planet. There was a learning curve at first, because I am used to more theoretical work. But SIPA’s practitioner-based approach has been where I’ve found the most value.

What sparked your interest in human rights and social policy?

I definitely had a hard time picking a lane at first. I wanted to focus on doing more public-interest work internationally, but I also didn’t want to ignore the domestic side of things. The human rights concentration focuses more on international development, expanding human rights abroad, and helping the UN pursue its mission, which are all noble pursuits. But the social policy concentration is centered around policies that would help people, like establishing social welfare programs, helping people with their wages, and accessing healthcare. I saw both concentrations as very complementary in that way, as they were different avenues to the same thing.

What were some things that surprised you about being in a graduate program like SIPA’s?

I wasn’t expecting as much diversity from the student body itself in both background and ideology. That diversity really taught me how to bridge significant differences. As SIPASA’s (School of International and Public Affairs Student Association) former vice president, a defining moment was how politically divisive the times are. There were some disagreements within the student body, but I think my time in student government helped me manage those productively. I tried not to jump to judgement immediately, especially with polarizing issues. It’s very easy to think, “That person disagrees with me, therefore that person is my enemy.” In reality, you’re not going to solve anything like that because there’s no common ground. I probably wasn’t going to convince others about my views, but at least they were willing to meet and work with me.

Has there ever been a special mentor or professor during your time here?

I’ve taken two classes with Michael Nutter, the former mayor of Philadelphia: Leadership and Urban Development and Critical Issues in Urban Public Policy. I think his classes are a case where an individual brings a lot of experience into what they do and teach here, which is very rewarding. He provides a view of politics truly at the ground level. At SIPA, we often can get distracted by what major organizations, like the UN or Department of Defense, are doing. But we don’t talk about how people walk down the street everyday and expect the sidewalks to be cleaned. They expect the lights to be on. We turn on a faucet and hope that clean water comes out. I think that his, and a lot of SIPA courses, look at things that affect people’s everyday lives, which you can’t ignore even when doing the high-profile security conversations. 

What’s something about being a Columbia student that you think is underrated?

As a major history buff, it is wild to me to walk into buildings named after Hamilton and John Jay, who actually went here. The history of this place is rich, and that’s one that I nerd out about. 

What are your plans post-graduation? Have your professional goals changed since entering SIPA?

I don’t think my goals before SIPA have changed, but I’ve become more aware. My previous master’s focused heavily on pro-democracy, social policy work, and those areas are really what’s at risk right now. There’s an argument that a values-driven view of the world is a thing of the past, and we’re entering this every-country-for-itself mentality, especially given the backsliding of democratic norms. That’s made it more important that I do what I want to do. Having people with a social policy background, especially with the upcoming midterms, is important for putting in place policies that address the root causes of political extremism, which we are seeing today.