Jenna Stark: Reflections at Graduation

Stark, a 2020 Harvard Kennedy School graduate, was a Belfer International and Global Affairs Student Fellow

Jenna Stark graduated in May 2020 with a Master in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School. She was a Belfer International and Global Affairs Student Fellow during her years at HKS. A 2011 graduate of Brown University with an honors degree in international relations, she has lived in Israel, where she researched issues related to the peace process and in Egypt where she studied Arabic.

Stark’s areas of study include conflict resolution, international negotiations, and Middle East studies. While at HKS, she served as a Course Assistant for the class Policy Design and Delivery taught by Eric Rosenbach. “I did not expect to care so deeply about the students that I CA’d for,” she says. “It was very gratifying to be a part of the course design and to see how excited many of the students were about what they learned in the class.”

Stark also says she appreciates that her classes did not shy away from tough questions. Classes like Exercising Leadership, taught by Farayi Chipungu, encouraged her to think about what gives life meaning and what she sees as her purpose.

When asked about her favorite memories, Stark says some of the most special moments she experienced at the Belfer Center were the every day moments. “The simplest moments are the sweetest. Sitting outside in the courtyard with friends in the sunshine with Flour baked goods comes to mind.”