A degree from the University of Maryland School of Public Policy can take alumni around the state, the country and the world. Marcelo Cima, permanent representative of Argentina to the United Nations Office at Geneva, uses the education he received at the School of Public Policy to be successful in his career abroad.
Cima graduated from the Master of Public Management program at SPP. He has spoken with prospective students from Argentina on several occasions since graduating. Through his travels, he continues to be a supporter of the school and the value of an SPP education.
Before coming to the School of Public Policy, Cima had a 20-year diplomatic career. He says at the time, he was living in Bethesda, Md. and was interested in a program that would result in him attaining a master’s degree and not simply completing a course designed for diplomats in Washington, DC.
Prior to his appointment as permanent representative of Argentina, Cima served as deputy permanent representative of Argentina to the United Nations Office at Geneva. His diplomatic career includes working at the Embassy of Argentina in Washington, DC, and at the Mission of Argentina to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium.
Working on my master’s degree opened my mind about the instruments necessary to do policy planning and execution in the real world. I got the instruments to do better at my job.Marcelo Cima SPP Alumnus
During his time at SPP, Cima says he gained, “the academic background to back up my working experience.” He credits the academic environment, strong professors and central location as the top benefits of studying policy at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy.
“Attending the School of Public Policy was a refreshing way to update my knowledge,” Cima says. “Working on my master’s degree opened my mind about the instruments necessary to do policy planning and execution in the real world. I got the instruments to do better at my job.”
“At Maryland, I worked on international cooperation,” Cima added. “Argentina receives cooperation from different countries and I was able to learn how to negotiate that cooperation not as a developed-developing country relationship, but as a partnership.”
Studying at the University of Maryland was a family tradition of sorts for Cima’s family. He attended UMD, as did his daughter and two sons.
Starting in May, Cima will be Argentina’s ambassador to the EU.