19 minute read
Student Success
Preparing public servants for the highest levels in foreign affairs
Green School helps lead the way in preparing future global leaders
FIU – and the Green School – are powering the next generation of foreign affairs professionals. The university is turning out leaders ready to tackle the most pressing issues of the day. Green School alumni have forged careers at all levels of the federal government in Washington, D.C. and students are increasingly capturing the attention of recruiters and agencies as the intelligent, diverse representatives that the government needs.
ALUMNI LEADING THE WAY
ERNESTO ALFONSO ’11 is a U.S. Foreign Service Officer currently serving as a special assistant to Deputy Secretary of State Brian P. McKeon. He is a prime example of FIU students landing significant positions in government thanks to preparation they received at the university.
“FIU was crucial for me,” says Alfonso, who majored in international relations and economics. “It was where I cemented my international affairs background.”
He says meeting the Diplomat in Residence at FIU — a senior foreign service officer assigned by the Department of State to certain colleges and universities — was a turning point for him. The diplomat was a first-generation immigrant.
“Just seeing yourself in somebody like that, it broke so many barriers for me,” he says. “I realized, ‘This could be me’.” Alfonso helped coordinate Deputy Secretary of State Brian P. McKeon’s visit to FIU in March.
Alfonso packed his bags and moved to the nation’s capital after graduation to intern with the university’s governmental affairs office in Washington. He worked on advocacy efforts and became the main contact working with a delegation of foreign affairs professionals from the Republic of Georgia, eventually bringing them to FIU.
“It was my first diplomatic engagement,” Alfonso says. “It got me really excited about doing this line of work.”
Alfonso became the first Panther to earn the prestigious Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship, which funded his graduate studies at Columbia University. The fellowship — funded by the Department of State – offers students interested in pursuing a career in the Foreign Service financial support for two years of higher education. Fellows commit to working in the Foreign Service for five years upon completion of their degree.
Alfonso has since worked as a Foreign Service Officer in Mexico, Afghanistan and Italy. Currently, he advises the Deputy Secretary of State, particularly on European-U.S. relations. He helped coordinate the recent visit to FIU.
Ernesto Alfonso ’11 is a U.S. Foreign Service Officer currently serving as a special assistant to U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Brian P. McKeon.
THE FUTURE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Panthers are heeding the call and increasingly filling the ranks of the Foreign Service. Recent alumna PIERINA ANTON LOPEZ ’20 found her inspiration to serve while on a trip through the FIU Honors College to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. She taught English to students and helped raise money to buy school resources for students in need in the area.
The international relations major earned a spot on the university’s top-ranked Model United Nations team. She participated in two “DC fly-ins,” which are seminars that provide students unprecedented access to representatives on the hill and career-building tips. She completed several internships, including one with the International Rescue Committee and another at the USAID’s Bureau for Africa’s Office of Sustainable Development, Education and Youth Division. She earned the university’s Global Learning (GL) Medallion and conducted research on education and resilience in conflict-torn regions as a GL fellow. She also conducted research on foreign policy in the Latin American and Caribbean region with a student team and presented findings to representatives of the Department of State.
In 2021, Anton Lopez became the first Panther to earn the prestigious USAID Payne Fellowship, which provides young individuals up to $96,000 in benefits over two years toward a pathway to working at the USAID Foreign Service.
She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in global human development from Georgetown University and is also a fellow for the Global Campaign for Education, working on advocacy and communications for the advancement of inclusive, quality education for all. After graduation, she will begin her career in the Foreign Service.
“FIU was the perfect training ground for me,” she says. “At FIU, we don’t place any limits on ourselves. I have no doubt in my mind that FIU will produce the country’s next leaders.”
Always giving back to the community and empowering others to do the same, WILLIAM T. JACKSON started The Justice Project of South Florida to help reduce youth arrests and incarcerations, while also improving interactions between law enforcement and communities of color. Jackson graduated this summer with a Ph.D. in public affairs and will continue his academic career as a postdoctoral fellow at American University’s School of Public Affairs.
FIU Master of Arts in Global Affairs prepares students for policy careers
RANKED TOP 40
by Foreign Policy magazine
Ranked one of the Top 40 master’s programs in the world for policy careers in international relations by Foreign Policy magazine, the FIU Master of Arts in Global Affairs offers students a premier global affairs education while also preparing them for careers in the public and private sector. This two-year graduate program offers three tracks – Globalization and Security, International Crime and Justice, and Cybersecurity and Technology Policy. Two of the tracks are available fully online. Interdisciplinary courses are taught by faculty with experience working in international organizations and government agencies. These courses are designed to use a handson, active learning approach instead of traditional lecture format to prepare students to think systematically, critically and creatively to tackle some of the world’s pertinent global security issues.
Gustavo Perez, MA ’22
Sabrina Rosell, BA ’20 MA ‘22
Ashley Morales MA ‘21
Gustavo Perez spent most of his career in the tech and business world, but he was always interested in foreign affairs and civic engagement. Losing a good friend to gun violence as well as the pandemic lockdown made him rethink his career path. Now with his MA in Global Affairs, he is deciding between several job opportunities within the federal government, including policy roles at the departments of the Treasury and Housing and Urban Development. Perez was selected as a finalist for the prestigious Presidential Management Fellows Program, a highly competitive government program that matches graduate students with experiences in federal leadership and management of public policies and programs. He has also been chosen as an alternate for the Boren Fellowship, which funds research and language study proposals by U.S. graduate students in regions critical to U.S. interests. “The MA program changed my career trajectory for the better,” Perez said. “It exposed me to many disciplines, ranging from foreign policy to disaster risk and GIS. The faculty is top-notch, and they are experts in their fields. I am grateful for their mentorship and guidance during my time at FIU.”
In her role as Vice President and Chief of Staff for the United States Hispanic Business Council, Sabrina Rosell manages the day-to-day operations for an organization that serves as the leading advocate for America’s 4.7 million Hispanic-owned businesses. That includes facilitating board relations, media placement, legislative and regulatory affairs, and coalition building. She credits FIU’s MA in Global Affairs program with helping her develop the practical and relevant professional skills needed for her current role. “Specifically, the program equipped me with the ability to look at issues and synthesize the information in a way that makes sense to a broad audience,’’ she said. “Additionally, our advocacy works stretches across various policy areas, and the (MA) program enabled us to develop a quick expertise on multiple issues at once.” While most of her time in the program was remote due to the pandemic, Rosell said the highlights of her experience are the strong relationships she developed with her peers and the capstone project, which she completed for U.S. Southern Command. “Thanks to the MA program, I now work in my dream job and the expertise and skillsets I gained through this experience have certainly become a lever for leveling up my professional career,’’ she said.
Before she graduated with her MA in Global Affairs in 2021, Ashley Morales made sure to take advantage of the program’s many resources for career guidance and internships. She interned with the Federal Aviation Administration and became a Virtual Student Foreign Service Intern, which she said was instrumental in her getting hired at her current position, as a management delivery analyst for Accenture Federal Services, a government consulting firm. Her work on her capstone project, “‘How has COVID-19 impacted the defense industry, and how can government consulting pivot to meet demand?” was also with a consulting firm and she said that helped prepare her for the multiple rounds of interviews for her current job. “I interview stakeholders from a government agency to determine areas of improvement for their day-to-day operations and assess their business processes,’’ she explained. Morales learned of the company through a recruiter at a virtual FIU career fair. She said the MA program was excellent preparation for her current position. “In terms of skills, the communication skills I learned in the program were instrumental,” she said. “From working with different groups of people, to developing and executing presentations, and learning the BLUF (bottom line up front) style of writing - all of these skills helped prepare me for my current role. The highlights of my time in the program are meeting with program staff for career counseling and the internship experiences I was able to have.”
Majority of American
voters say politics do not belong on social media
Student researcher Bethany Bowra collaborated with USF on national survey of 1,000 eligible voters to measure public opinion on political parties, social media, election reform and other topics
Most Americans say they avoid political discussions online and are divided on whether they believe politicians, including the president, should use social media to communicate with voters.
In a national survey of 1,000 eligible voters, researchers at the Green School and the University of South Florida found that an overwhelming majority of voters (83 percent) said they “occasionally post” or “never post” about politics on their personal social media platforms.
They also held strong opinions about others who do, according to the poll, conducted in January by FIU political science doctoral candidate Bethany Bowra and Stephen Neely, associate professor at USF’s School of Public Affairs.
A majority reported “unfriending” or “unfollowing” someone within the last six months for posting political content he or she disagreed with (57 percent), and an overwhelming majority said they had “unfriended” or “unfollowed” someone for posting political ideas that they found morally objectionable (80 percent) or untrue (81 percent).
Regarding politicians’ use of social media, Americans were more divided, the survey found.
A slight majority (55 percent) said it was an “effective tool” for the president to communicate with the public. However, 54 percent said they were “uncomfortable” with members of Congress communicating with constituents through online platforms, and an even larger majority (65 percent) were uncomfortable with legislators communicating with each other through social media.
“As social media continues to infiltrate virtually every aspect of society, politicians are using it more frequently; but this survey shows that most Americans are not thrilled by this change,’’ said Bowra, whose research covers the presidency, Congress and political communication in the digital age.
“This challenges many current perceptions of effective political communication,” she added. “As midterms approach, politicians and parties are working to win voters. Information about voters’ communication preferences could play a significant role in November’s election outcomes and beyond.”
GLOBAL SCHOLAR ON A HEARTFELT MISSION
A 2022 finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship, Bentley Walker has captured attention for embracing a big goal: to promote unprecedented
Bentley Walker has one goal in life: to help usher unprecedented growth and prosperity in the Caribbean region. The Global Studies major admits it’s a lofty goal, but that’s not going to stop him from getting it done.
For his commitment to this cause as well as his academic excellence, leadership and service, he has been named a finalist for the internationally recognized 2022 Rhodes Scholarship, considered the most prestigious program of its kind in the world and also the oldest, first started in 1902.
According to the latest records, Walker is the first Panther ever to be named a finalist for the award. Rhodes Scholars receive a scholarship to study full-time, post-graduation at the University of Oxford.
Walker is representing Jamaica, his home country, and is one of only a few other students across the globe selected as finalists for the Jamaica and Commonwealth Caribbean district.
“The idea that hundreds of people in the region applied, and that I made it as a finalist along with about 10 other people, is breathtaking,” Walker says. “It feels very unreal to me.”
Walker is a member of the FIU Honors College and the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. He has immersed himself in the study of the Caribbean region and policies, currently earning a minor in Caribbean studies. He has been studying languages of the region – and is already fluent in Spanish and currently learning French. He plans to take up Dutch soon.
He joined the FIU Caribbean Student Association and was recently elected District 6 director of the group, which means he is leading students at FIU, University of Miami and Barry University.
Walker is also the CEO and founder of an organization he is currently developing to encourage and inspire Caribbean pride, solidarity and prosperity, called the Organization for Caribbean Development.
His passion is rooted in his own experiences in Jamaica.
“Growing up, I always saw people struggle,” he recalls. “I saw the poor. I saw the lack of infrastructure and the lack of resources in the country. I also saw the massive loss of bright minds leaving the country, to advance the prosperity of other [countries].”
Students lead real-world projects through prestigious UN-affiliated fellowship
Millennium Fellows work to help solve major issues impacting the globe
Earning good grades and landing great jobs are just the tip of the iceberg for Green School students. Making a positive impact in the world? Now, that’s the real goal. This semester, several students committed to civic duty and service have been selected to receive the prestigious Millennium Fellowship
The students were selected from more than 25,000 applicants on more than 2,200 campuses across the globe.
LEADING WOMEN EMPOWERMENT EFFORTS IN VIETNAM
International relations major Ha Le is passionate about sustainable development. When the pandemic hit her native Vietnam, she knew she needed to help them. In June 2020, Le co-founded an organization to fundraise for emergency aid, food, clothes and medicine for those most in need.
“It turned out to be a great success,” says Le. “People really appreciated our help.”
Today, the organization is comprised of about 70 people, mostly high school and college students. The students conduct surveys in rural areas, asking questions to determine pressing needs or problems. Then, they craft solutions in collaboration with the local townspeople and help fundraise and kick off projects to address those issues.
For her Millennium Fellowship project, Le worked through her organization to empower women in a village in the Dak Lak province, by creating a job training program. Le’s organization has partnered with a garment workshop in the local area to teach women how to sew and knit clothes so they can help provide for their families.
“The majority of the population in the Dak Lak region doesn’t speak the official Vietnamese language,” Le explains. “This leads them to be isolated and unemployed or working dangerous and unstable jobs. In our survey, we found these women are harvesting pepper on the tips of mountains, a dangerous task. This program will give them a safer work alternative.”
“What I’m most looking forward about the fellowship is having actual conversations with people who are making an impact,” she says. “I want to be given the resource or experience of people who have more skills, so we keep building this project in a way that is beneficial. The people deserve that from us.”
CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH MENTORS
HELPING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACCESS COLLEGE
Luis Moros knows the power of networking. Majoring in political science and criminal justice, Moros arrived from Venezuela as a teenager. When he was in high school, he didn’t have the support or guidance he needed.
When he arrived at FIU, Honors College advisor Grisel D’Elena gave him advice, shared resources at FIU and pointed him toward internships and other opportunities.
“She became my number one mentor,” Moros says. “Through her, I discovered the power of having someone who believes in you more than you do.”
Moros interned at the prestigious Cato Institute in Washington, D.C. (and is the first FIU student ever to do so), was selected as a Hamilton Scholar at FIU in DC, is an FIU student ambassador and was recognized by Sen. Marco Rubio and former Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho as the most influential student in the county (in recognition of a school supply drive Moros organized for students in Venezuela).
His project for the Millennium Fellowship focused on helping FIU students understand all the resources available at the university and how to network.
“Sometimes students don’t know we have access to resources or students are scared to reach out to staff and faculty. I want to help students find mentors. It’s not just about reading books and getting 4.0 GPAs. It’s also about knowing that you have the power to connect with others.”
“FIU provided me everything I have right now,” he says. “It’s my responsibility to give back to the community the way they’ve given to me.”
Sophia Jaimes’ parents worked up to three jobs to make sure she received an excellent education at a private Catholic school. Her parents’ sacrifice taught her to respect and value education.
Majoring in political science and international relations at FIU, she quickly took advantage of a number of opportunities such as joining the group of FIU student ambassadors who host visiting dignitaries at university functions.
In March of her freshman year, she landed a spot as a scholar with the Clinton Global University. Through that program, she and a group of colleagues started a project to help underserved high school students learn about college applications, admissions processes and college entrance exams.
For her Millennium Fellowship, Jaimes is continuing the project and has already hosted her first event. She and her colleagues created an Instagram page and reached out to all their contacts. They have recruited a group of 45 local high school students, mostly from low-income households.
“We’re teaching what schools don’t always teach you,” Jaimes says. “We share our experience based on what we learned throughout our college entrance process. As a Latina, first-generation college student, I know how hard this can be.”
A RENEWED SPIRIT READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD
Amelia Raudales is a force to reckon with. She has conducted research projects for federal agencies, landed a congressional internship and collaborated with alumni to develop a charitable-giving app.
It wasn’t long ago that the international relations major doubted her ability to earn a university degree. Having dealt with imposter syndrome, the Honors College student now looks back upon an academic career buttressed with reassuring advice and packed with high-level activities to launch her future as a human rights attorney.
She was recognized at Spring Commencement as the Green School’s Real Triumphs Graduate, nominated by four separate university faculty and administrators.
With a professor’s guidance, Raudales conducted research projects related to human trafficking for the State Department and the International Bureau of Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. With help from FIU in DC, she secured a congressional internship to better understand the legislative process.
With support from the university’s innovation and entrepreneurship engine, she collaborated with three alumni to develop a charitable-giving app for which the studentfocused Center for Leadership and Service granted seed money. She also served as a student government senator and earned three national fellowships, among them one from the United Nations.
The daughter of an FIU alumnus who emigrated from Honduras and a mother from Argentina, Raudales plans to work one day at the international level and has newfound confidence to get her there.
“When FIU opened its doors to me, that’s really something [for which] I can never show how thankful I am. It really did change my life. Because of all the opportunities and all of the amazing people I’ve met, I truly feel like there is no limit to my potential, and that’s not something I would have said five years ago.”
Green School students awarded prestigious Charles B. Rangel Graduate Fellowships
The fellowships will help further their careers in U.S. foreign policy, government leadership and service.
Green School students continue to achieve national recognition. This year, two students were awarded prestigious fellowships that assist them in graduate school or further their careers in U.S. foreign policy, service and government leadership.
Both were Intelligence Community - Centers for Academic Excellence (IC-CAE) scholars with FIU’s Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy.
Max Ulloa and Brandon Lee were selected as fellows for the Charles B. Rangel Graduate Fellowship. The Rangel Graduate Fellowship aims to “prepare outstanding young people for careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State in which they can help formulate, represent and implement U.S. foreign policy.”
The program supports fellows through two years of graduate study, internships, mentoring and professional development activities.
Lee and Ulloa were selected as national finalists and are two of only 45 recipients of this prestigious scholarship. Lee is majoring in international relations and political science with a minor in economics and business analytics. His transformational experiences as an IC-CAE scholar and his time interning in D.C. at the Department of Treasury “fueled his desire” for a future in foreign service.
“Representing the United States abroad has always been a career aspiration of mine. Programs at FIU provided in-depth mentorship and network development, which strengthened my professional development and helped me earn internships at the U.S. Treasury Department and the U.S. State Department,” Lee said.
Ulloa, also an IC-CAE scholar, heard about the fellowship through friends in his Model UN team. He credits his experiences as a Model UN delegate and a Diplomacy Lab researcher with expanding his knowledge and giving him the confidence to join the workforce. Ulloa aspires to study law and diplomacy in graduate school, with concentrations in international negotiation and global organizations.
“[Becoming a] Foreign Service Officer will allow me to assist Americans abroad, serve on the frontlines of our foreign policy decisions and represent the multiculturalism of my Latino community all in the same job,” he said. Ulloa also received a National Security Studies certificate from the Gordon Institute. Max Ulloa
Brandon Lee
