Meet the MPP Class of 2026
As orientation week kicked off for the Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) program in August, the program and its associated departments welcomed twelve new MPP candidates. The overall cohort brings energy, excitement and a broad range of interests to William & Mary. Several students are current William & Mary students accepted into the accelerated 5-year Bachelor’s + Master’s program. The others are graduates of several different universities who arrived in Williamsburg to begin the traditional 2-year Master’s track.
During their course of study, members of the MPP Class of 2026 will broaden their knowledge on the policy process and gain valuable substantive knowledge and quantitative skills to better answer compelling policy questions. While mostly taking classes together, they also will explore specific areas of policy that interest them within Public Policy classes and others across campus. 
The cohort began its experience with a week-long orientation to introduce them to campus and refresh their knowledge on various subjects. This included the intensive math bootcamp led by Prof. McBeth, which began at linear algebra and ended at derivatives. The orientation also included sessions with Profs. Kennedy and Byrne (law and public policy), Prof. McGlennon (policy process), and Prof. Lopresti (statistics).
At the end of the week, students presented a three-minute “lightning talk” on a policy area of interest. To celebrate the end of orientation, faculty and students gathered at the Corner Pocket in Newtown. (For more pictures follow us on Instagram!)
