Actress Jessica Chastain Commits to Harvard Kennedy School, Pursuing Master's in Public Administration
Jessica Chastain, a renowned actress and outspoken advocate for gender equality, has added another impressive achievement to her resume. She is currently enrolled in the Master in Public Administration (MPA) program at The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Chastain's acting career began on the Broadway stage with her debut in "The Heiress" in 2012. Since then, she has graced the big screen in films like "Jolene" (2008) and "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" (2021), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. For her exceptional contributions to the fields of film and theatre, Chastain was honoured with an honorary doctorate from Juilliard in 2024.
In addition to her acting prowess, Chastain is also an advocate for accessible reproductive health care. Before her rise to stardom, she relied on Planned Parenthood for birth control services. She has been vocal about the importance of affordable reproductive health care, stating that it enables women to have equal opportunities and jurisdiction over their bodies, lives, and health.
Variety honoured Chastain at its 2017 Power of Women luncheon in New York City for her work with Planned Parenthood. Her commitment to this cause reflects the comprehensive curriculum of the MPA program at Harvard, which includes courses on ethics, public narrative, and strategic management.
The MPA program at Harvard is designed for aspiring leaders with real-world experience and graduate-level coursework in economics, public policy, or management. Key features of the program include in-depth training in economics and quantitative analysis methods, a curriculum spanning politics, organizational change, and public leadership skills, and special programs such as the Mid-Career MPA, which offers an intensive, practical, and globally diverse learning environment.
Moreover, the program offers options for joint degrees, such as combining the MPA with a Master in Urban Planning, allowing students to complete both degrees in three years with integration between public administration and urban design policy fields. This multidisciplinary approach equips students like Chastain to engage effectively in public policy, governance, and social change initiatives at local, national, and international levels.
Chastain has demonstrated her commitment to using her platform for positive change, both on and off the screen. As she continues her studies at Harvard, we can expect her to continue making a difference in the world of public policy and beyond.
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