By Sarah Mortell MPA 2025 and Viktoria Waldenfels MPA 2025
Orientation Week came and went, and the academic year is now in full swing. In the Q&A below, Master in Public Administration (MPA) Program Orientation Leaders Sarah Mortell MPA 2025 and Viktoria Waldenfels MPA 2025 reflect on their time introducing new MPA students to Harvard Kennedy School. Read more about their favorite events and advice below.
Why did you become an Orientation Leader?
Sarah: I wanted to become an OL for many reasons, including the opportunity to humanize an institution as prestigious as Harvard University. My experience here over the past year has been defined by the people (students, staff, and faculty) driving and improving our school, and I know that incoming students may be apprehensive as to where they will fit into that ecosystem. It was a privilege to help them gain their footing and confidence as they begin their HKS journey, where I know they will make our community better in ways we all may not have even dreamed up yet.
Viktoria: I became an OL because I still remember how nervous I was on the first day at Harvard and how vividly I remembered our Orientation Leaders giving us a very warm welcome. I wanted to provide the new cohort with the same student-driven introduction into the world of the Kennedy School. Plus, it’s a joy to get to know the next cohort for a full week—after all, we want to have a good connection between cohorts!
How did you spend your summer before Orientation?
Sarah: I worked for the Centre for Trustworthy Technology at the World Economic Forum researching AI and emerging technology policy with an incredible and inspiring team of people.
Viktoria: I worked as a Climate Fellow at Walmart’s headquarters in Arkansas, which was a super exciting experience and a great way to get out of the Cambridge-bubble!
Sarah’s advice for new students
“As you explore these resources, remember not to allow busy calendars, class schedules, or commitments take over the core values of kindness, service, and community which will be what you remember most about your time here at the school.”
What events stuck out to you during Orientation this year?
Sarah: I was struck by how quickly the incoming class bonded, and how willing they were to authentically share their stories, experiences, and brilliance with their classmates. It was also an amazing opportunity to work with the staff and faculty of HKS, as well as my fellow OLs (Viktoria, Ike, and Aditya) who made organizing a very busy week more fun than I could have imagined.
Viktoria: I think Orientation Week was a great occasion for a lot of things: bringing faculty into the classroom, inviting alumni back to campus, and getting our cohort members to share their experiences with the new cohort. Those events stood out in making this week so special!
What advice would you give to students post-Orientation?
Sarah: Leave space for curiosity and do your utmost not to over-engineer your time. HKS is a treasure trove of opportunities and interests yet to be explored. As you explore these resources, remember not to allow busy calendars, class schedules, or commitments take over the core values of kindness, service, and community which will be what you remember most about your time here at the school.
Viktoria: Don’t freak out if not anything goes according to plan. At Harvard, the coolest opportunities often wait for you at events or with people you didn’t “plan for.”
Sarah Mortell MPA 2025
Sarah Mortell MPA 2025 is originally from Ireland, and has lived in London, Beijing, and Washington D.C. over the past 8 years. While she studied economics and political science as an undergraduate, and completed her first master’s degree in management science, she has spent her career in technology in both the public to private sectors. She came to HKS to develop her research and leadership skills under the tutelage of world-class professors. She was also drawn to the opportunity of meeting people from around the world who have a diverse set of experiences to learn more about areas such as social policy, law, philosophy, and finance which intersect with technology in meaningful ways.
Viktoria Waldenfels MPA 2025
Viktoria Waldenfels MPA 2025 came to HKS from Germany after having worked in consulting and the software industry on sustainability strategies. She chose to pursue the MPA Program at HKS because she had already completed a Master of Science in Economics in Germany, and is exploring whether she would like to stay in the private sector or with policy-facing businesses. Businesses and regulation are in constant exchange with each other in sustainability, so HKS is helping her find her future career path.
