Penn State School of Public Policy students Tim Mazer, Qiheng Wu, and Nicolas Simon recently participated in the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration’s (NASPAA) annual student simulation exercise. They were joined by Next Gen Leadership Academy students Maya Ross, and Judith Rojas. The event was held virtually on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

An annual event, the NASPAA Simulation Competition allows students from around the world to put policy into practice through an interactive learning experience. Students apply classroom theory to real-world challenges in real-time, developing skills that will prepare them for their future roles as policy professionals.

This year’s simulation concentrated on pandemic response, with participating students responsible for managing the economic, political, and public health impacts pandemic outbreak. Collaborating in teams with students from across the nation, Penn State participants were assigned specific stakeholder roles and worked together to devise comprehensive response strategies.

The students were challenged to balance competing priorities while ensuring vulnerable populations weren’t overlooked. Teams faced difficult decisions regarding resource allocation, public communication strategies, and mitigation measures, all while considering the diverse needs of the community they were serving. The experience equipped them with practical tools for approaching complex policy challenges with analytical rigor and empathy—skills invaluable for a future career in public service.

The event provided an opportunity for Penn State students to test their problem-solving, communication, and policy analysis skills in a high-pressure environment, while also networking with other future public service leaders from institutions across the country.