GPS’ professional graduate program was a perfect fit for Jenna Shrove’s multifaceted curiosity
Jenna Shrove ’17 isn’t one to keep her many interests separate, which include business, law and policy. She’s been involved in the world of business ever since she started at her family’s company as a high school student, so it made sense that she went on to study economics in college.
After graduating, she started working as a paralegal at Qualcomm, which is based in San Diego. This built off of her previous experience working in a law office and allowed her to mesh this with her economic knowledge. She worked on a team that answered questions at the intersection of the two fields — such as defining what constitutes “market share” when it comes to antitrust proceedings.
As Shrove thought about continuing her education, she sought a program that would allow her to navigate and integrate her interests, as well as introduce her to new areas of study.
The Master of Advanced Studies in International Affairs (MAS-IA) program, offered by UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS), was a standout choice because it would allow her to explore law, policy, business and international affairs, with a specialization in China. The program’s broad scope, and the fact that several of her colleagues had pursued it, made it even more appealing.
“It offered me the chance to delve into various subjects instead of focusing narrowly on one field,” she said.
In addition to the material she learned in the classroom, Shrove said that the MAS-IA degree program stood out because it allowed her to connect with other students in her cohort, including those with ties to the East Coast.
A trip to Washington, D.C., organized by the Career and Professional Development Center, cemented her desire to work in the nation’s capital.
“The MAS-IA offered me the chance to delve into various subjects instead of focusing narrowly on one field.”
After graduating, in 2017, she took her experience to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, working as a policy analyst at the organization’s headquarters in Washington. The start of her tenure at the Chamber coincided with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There were literal tumbleweeds in the street,” she recalled of her cross-country move in the midst of pandemic lockdowns. “But I came in at a time when our member businesses didn’t know what they should do to adapt to COVID. So, I was able to work on some really interesting projects right out of the gate that I wouldn’t have otherwise.”
As lockdown orders and masking requirements appeared patchwork-like across the country and economic upheaval ensued, Shrove led task forces and initiatives that helped companies regain their bearings, using her previous experience and GPS education to untangle the flurry of new policies enacted on everything from mask mandates to small-business loans.
She also led initiatives and workshops that provided resources for businesses to understand what role they could play in redressing long-standing racial inequities.
“GPS equipped me with tools that have allowed me to advance my career in different ways.”
As a result of her work at the Chamber, she found herself having conversations with cross-partisan leaders about the public’s eroding trust in institutions. These discussions seeded an opportunity for her to work with the Rebuild Congress Initiative, aimed at rebuilding public trust in institutions — a bedrock that is crucial for a healthy democracy.
The organization’s founder invited Shrove to join the team; she accepted, driven by belief in the mission and the potential for impact.
“I obviously love business,” she said. “But I felt like the immense challenge of getting people to have faith in institutions again was so important that it was the best use of my time, focus and energy.”
Shrove said that her education at GPS was a crucial step in getting to where she is today.
“My time at GPS was so much more valuable than just as something to put on my resume,” she said. “The MAS-IA degree equipped me with tools that have allowed me to advance my career in different ways.”
