The Global Programs and Strategy Alliance presented the 2024 C. Eugene Allen Award for Innovative International Initiatives (III Award) to the Master of Development Practice (MDP) program and to Jane Sitter, senior international career consultant, in recognition of their contributions to further the internationalization of the University of Minnesota.

The MDP program, jointly administered by the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change, prepares young professionals for careers in sustainable development—globally, locally, and in the complex realities in between. Its interdisciplinary curriculum draws upon courses offered by numerous collegiate units, providing opportunities and benefits for faculty and students from around the University, and students engage extensively with professional organizations around the world through field placements and capstone projects.

In 2023, the MDP program welcomed its 14th cohort. It boasts approximately 20 affiliated faculty and 150 graduates representing more than two dozen countries.

As senior international career consultant in Career Services, Jane Sitter works to elevate the career satisfaction of undergraduate international students. To do so, she organizes seminar series and workshops for international students about their career options. She also trains and educates employers, as well as University of Minnesota staff, to dispel myths about the difficulties of hiring or sponsoring international students and recent graduates.

Sitter is one of very few people with this type of role in higher education. Her work is critical to the University, as career options are a major consideration for prospective international students and their families, with implications for admissions and enrollment, alumni satisfaction, and external relations.