Shortly after the excitement of graduation faded, two PIPS alumni - Tracy Gronewold ‘15 and Caper Gooden ‘16 - realized that the professional world lacked the warm support for creativity and critical thinking that had been nurtured by the Project on International Peace and Security. It was jarring to find that the working world - the world of strategy and big thoughts that had seemed to welcome student-led research - was far less friendly to recent graduates, even those with the insights and skills developed at PIPS. They envisioned a support system to make it easy for PIPS alumni and students to find mentorship and guidance from others at any career level.

After long conversations and lots of thought, in 2018 the PIPS Alumni Network was created to support alumni in their professional life and current PIPS students as they chart their career paths. It seemed to make sense that, since so many program alumni end up in the DC area, this network could capitalize on a built-in community united by PIPS for both social and professional networking. Now, the PIPS Alumni Network hosts networking and educational events, identifies professional opportunities for its members, and provides the mentorship and guidance that was so sorely lacking.