Alumni Profile: Jeff Lightfoot

Jeff shares:

My International Studies degree provided me with a strong skillset and intellectual framework that prepared me to transition into graduate study at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. The capstone project prepared me for the research and analytical rigors of graduate school work, and the foreign language and study abroad requirement prepared me to succeed in a particularly challenging graduate semester abroad at Sciences-Po Paris. 

Following graduation from the Elliott School, I began working at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, a bi-partisan foreign policy think tank that focuses primarily on the transatlantic relationship. I am currently an Associate Director for the Program on International Security. I work on a broad array of topics and issues, which sometimes extend beyond my area of regional 'expertise,' but I find the thematic and regional coursework offered through International Studies helps me quickly get up to speed when I take on new issues and topics. 

Jeff is open to contact from current INTL students. Please contact Emily Williams for his contact information.
Jeff currently serves on the International Studies External Advisory Council.

Alumni Profiles: Christie Koness

Christie shares:

I was an International Studies and Spanish major with a minor in Portuguese.  I am currently in Chicago, IL working for an Importer of Spanish Gourmet Foods.  I am a purchasing associate for the company - Solex Partners.  My responsibilities include purchasing products not only from domestic vendors within the USA but also vendors in Spain.  I coordinate and organize our imports - this requires working with Spanish suppliers, the freight forwarding company in Valencia, Spain, and our customers broker and FDA officials here in the United States.

Alumni Profile:Andrew Dahlen

Andrew shares:

I am currently working for U.S. Senator Max Baucus (MT) in Washington, DC as a Legislative Correspondent. My portfolio includes defense, military, homeland security, veterans, immigration, gun control, judicial, and civil rights issues. My job responsibilities include corresponding with constituents who have written the Senator about those topics, assisting with legislative research, editing letters to government leaders on behalf of the Senator, and various projects helping the Legislative Aides within the office.

INTL students may contact Andrew at andrew.dahlen@gmail.com.

Alumni Profile: Margaret Walsh

Margaret shares:

After graduation, I moved to Garmisch, Germany in the Bavarian Alps to work at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort.  ELR is a resort hotel that is run by the U.S. Department of Defense and whose guests are U.S. military members and their families as well as eligible NATO soldiers. (see: www.EdelweissLodgeAndResort.com)  After four years of work in the hospitality industry and a considerable amount of travel throughout Europe, I decided it was time for a change.

I now work in San Antonio, TX as a Human Resources trainee with the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command (still with the Department of Defense).  The trainee program recruits, hires and develops future leaders in various functional areas and in various locations. (see: www.fmwrctraineeprogram.com/)

Margaret welcomes contact from current students. Please let me know if you'd like her email address.

Alumni Profile: Sam Gieryn

Sam shares:

I graduated from IU in 2008 with a BA in International Studies (focus on Communication) and a minor in French.  Right after graduation I took an AmeriCorps position with the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago.  At the Red Cross I was a 24 hour Disaster Action Team responder for Cook County (Chicago) and the surrounding counties.  This means whenever there was a disaster (mostly fires) that affected a residence, I was sent to the scene to delivery emergency assistance and to help individuals with food, shelter and necessary supplies to get them through the next 48 hours or so.  I was able to assist roughly 4000 people at 130 disasters in the Chicago area and even traveled to Mena, Arkansas to assist at a national disaster after a string of tornados decimated the small town.  

Currently, I am a 1L student at DePaul University College of Law in Chicago.  My International Studies education, which encompassed so many different subjects, has definitely helped me transition into law school.  I am building off both my education at IU and my AmeriCorps service by focusing on Public Interest Law while in school. 

Alumni Profile: Matt Crawford

Matt Crawford graduated from IU in 2006 with a degree in International Studies (focusing on International Economics and SE Asia), with a LAMP certificate and a minor in EALC (Chinese).  During his junior year, he spent six months studying and working in Beijing, China. 

Post graduation, Matt moved to Chicago to begin working at TradingPartners.  After a very short stint there, he began working at Alaris Consulting - a boutique Supply Chain consulting firm.  Alaris has since been acquired by PricewaterhouseCoopers's Advisory group where he works today.   Outside of work, Matt is an avid follower of IU basketball, a triathlete, and enjoys exploring the world with his fiance (since graduation they have been to Western Europe, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and Central America).

While still early in his career, Matt attributes much of his success to the knowledge and experiences he gained at Indiana University.  The time he spent in his International Studies classes provided an insight into different people, places, topics and cultures that he would not have gained otherwise.  The interdisciplinary nature of the major allowed him to rapidly learn new topics and adapt accordingly.  The capstone project forced him to take a strong position in a complex topic that he was passionate about, and convince the audience why he believed as such.  All of these are critical in being a successful consultant.  

• For freshman and sophomores (and juniors!), he recommends you absolutely find a way to study abroad.  Even if it's just for a summer.  It doesn't matter what your major / minor is, this will likely be one of your best college experiences.  
• For juniors, try hard to get an internship.  It will ultimately help make you more marketable when you look for a job next year and help you determine "what you want to be when you grow up".
• For seniors, network and interview as much as possible.  Take advantage of the UCSO services, put together a solid resume and make sure you are extra prepared for all your interviews.   

Matt lives in Chicago and can be reached at matt.a.crawford@gmail.com.

Alumni Profile: Katharine A. Ntiamoah

Katharine says:

Through connections I made through my participation in SPEA's Washington Leadership Program, I was able to intern at the State Department in 2007. That internship lead to another State Department internship at eh U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo in 2008 for a couple of months. After my two internships, I wanted to gain more experience in government affairs so I worked on some 2008 presidential campaigns, worked as an Americorps member for Habitat for Humanity and some other odds and ends. Eventually I wanted to expand my theoretical knowledge in International Studies so I applied to the State Department's Charles B. Rangel Graduate International Affairs Program where I was able to work on Capitol Hill's House Committee on Foreign Affairs in 2009 and  U.S. Embassy in Singapore in 2010. I also worked at the Livingston Group, a DC lobbying firm in 2010 as an intern working in International and Education lobbying. I am currently back in school at the University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies pursuing my masters degree in International Studies and graduate in June 2011. After graduation I will start work as a U.S. Diplomat (Foreign Service Officer).  My experiences were gained through persistence, reaching out to mentors, applying to as many positions as possible and of course what I learned at Indiana University's International Studies program.

Alumni Profiles: Giancarlo Casareto

From Giancarlo:

After graduating from IU with a double major in Economics and International Studies I worked for British American Tobacco, LAN Airlines (the leading airline in South America), and most recently for IBM as a Territory Account Manager. Last year I received a scholarship for a MBA at the Manchester Business School, which I joined in August 2010. I will graduate in March 2012 and I am planning to work in the airline industry in Europe. 

Alumni Spotlight: Drew Rogers

I am a 2006 graduate from INTL.  Post-graduation, I have served as an officer in the US Army, and currently work as a counter-narcotics analyst for the Arabian Peninsula.  Please forgive me, but I would rather not include my contact information or any additional details about my current employment. 

My degree in International Studies has certainly helped me in my career field, and I am extremely proud to have been among the first to graduate with this degree.  My education in international studies propelled me to an exciting career that I really enjoy doing, one that also comes with a great sense of accomplishment.  Thank you, and best of luck with future INTL-ers!

Alumni Profile: Scott Schaffer

Meet Scott Schaffer! He is a former INTL student and shares a bit of his story below. Scott is willing to be contacted by current students, so please let me know if you would like his email address.

Scott says:
I studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina during Fall 2008.  I majored in Spanish and International Studies (Communications).  I am from Chicago, IL.  I graduated in May 2010 and went to DC to do an internship with the Center for International Policy and now I'm back in Chicago, IL.

Alumni Profile: Victoria Fritz

My name is Victoria Fritz

Major: International Studies 2010

Minors: Public Health Education, Human Sexuality.

International Experience: Brazil, Taiwan, Africa ( I went to Zanzibar in 2008 and worked at an HIV/AIDS testing and counseling center for six weeks as part of my International Experience Requirement)

Post Graduation: I work as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Stearns, Kentucky:

Employment: Resource Developer for Integrated Community Ministries (Focused on meeting the needs of Appalachia people)

ICM is a center located on Rattlesnake Ridge in Stearns, Kentucky. It boast a thrift store that is open 3 days a week that sells clothing at 75 cents a pound. Additionally it sells housewares, furniture, and applicances at deeply discounted prices.

A food pantry is open every Wednesday from 12:00-3:00pm. The food pantry is open so that those families who meet the federal poverty threshold can come once a month and receive a box of food, a bag of bread, meat and cheeses (depending on availability) As well as hygiene products.

The center has 9 computers that are on DSL and are available for general public use.

During the summer ICM host 10-15 groups in to do mission related projects in the area: Home repair projects, hosting vacation bible school, doing work around the center, hosting a cookout for the community, participating in youth group on Wednesday nights.

The center has a library of donated books, where the general public can come and take a book..no checkouts are required, because ICM wants to encourage literacy among it's clients.

Finally, there is a ball park located a minute and a half from the center. It has a basketball court, softball/baseball field, picnic pavillon, and swing set. There is also a basketball court located in front of the thrift store.

The website for Intergrated Community Ministries: http://www.ky-icm.org

My email if you have any questions: Victoria.Lynn.Fritz@gmail.com

If you do email..please put something about ICM or AmeriCorps in the subject line.