Sydney McCarthy Shares Experience Attending The National Undergraduate PPE Colloquium

Sydney McCarthy, a current PPE major at Virginia Tech, shares her experience attending the 2025 UNC-Duke National Undergraduate PPE Colloquium. This is an invitational colloquium that brings together some of the best PPE students from around the U.S. for two days of intensive discussions.

Sydney, can you tell us about your experience at the colloquium?

The colloquium was a great experience for me. This year, the colloquium’s topic was “Democracy Going Forward.” To prepare for the colloquium I read 12 assigned readings, all of which touched on different elements of the topic, while still intersecting in interesting ways. Dissecting the readings with other PPE students at the colloquium was a rewarding and thought-provoking experience. Our discussions even inspired me to shift the topic of my PPE capstone paper.

What was the format of the colloquium?

I enjoyed the format of the colloquium. We had coffee breaks in between the forums, which allowed us to mingle with each other and the organizers of the event. We also ate together at the end of each day.

Overall, the experience cemented my belief that PPE is a unique and valuable major. The interdisciplinary perspective we shared allowed us to seamlessly incorporate considerations from each of the PPE disciplines into our discussions. Our ability to weave these subjects together produced entertaining and compelling conversations.

How did you learn about this opportunity and what interested you in pursuing it?

The Kellogg Center nominated me to attend the colloquium. While I knew the colloquium would push me out of my comfort zone, I decided to attend because it seemed like a great opportunity to meet other PPE students and expand my knowledge.

Do you have any final remarks for other students who may be interested in exploring similar opportunities?

Definitely go for it! These opportunities are intimidating, but they expose you to new people, ideas, and ways of thinking that will help you grow.

(Photo provided by Sydney McCarthy – used with permission)