Alumni Profiles

Firsthand from the alumni, these profiles will highlight some of the work done by IDS/IS graduates during and after their time in the program and also include career updates.

Talha Aquil

Talha outside the Louvre on a trip to France

I graduated in the IDS/IS program in 2003 with a focus on International Political Economy. I wrote my thesis under the direction of Dr. David Gibbs on the prospects for regional economic integration in East Asia.
I was a weird one in the program as I entered it in my final year and my interests went all over the place (one reason why I chose the program). Namely getting the chance to study Indian history under Richard Eaton and getting to act as a preceptor under Dr. Decker were two of the high points for me. The fact that I could take a lot of independent study courses to work on topics not normally associated with courses at the U of A really aided me in preparing for graduate studies.
I went on to do a MA in International and Comparative Legal Studies at SOAS, University of London. I graduated that last year, writing a thesis on "Hybridized Meanings of Law, Development, and Justice in Rural India". Though mostly  London was a grand place to travel from and I saw a lot of  Europe and made some good contacts.
I am currently in Toronto, Canada (though that can change any day) working on occasion "freelance" for a small international finance consultancy and trying to get some book reviews and works published. I spend my time just keeping pseudo-busy to be able to travel as with I did my undergrad and grad degrees.

Michelle Yang

Michelle giving the thumbs up on the Great Wall, China

I chose IDS because I thought it most fit my former goals of becoming a Foreign Service officer for the State Dept. I wanted to get a strong foundation in international relations: political, economic, cultural, and social. I enjoyed the flexibility of the program the most and the wonderful students that were my peers.
I am currently the Public Relations Coordinator for Commonwealth Adoptions International, Inc. (a 501(c) 3 non-profit international adoption agency with programs over 10 countries.) I have changed my career goals and no longer wish to be in the Foreign Service and instead want to start my own international children's non-profit someday. In the beginning of 2005 my work sent me on my very first international business trip. I was very excited. I went to Taiwan to set up our older children adoption program there and got to visit some orphanages. It was a great experience. I am also in the process of applying for an MBA program with an international non-profit focus.
I consider myself the internship queen! I have worked with a nonprofit in DC, Senator Kyl's office in Phoenix, the embassy in Korea, and finally, with a graduate internship at the AZ State Senate. All these experiences were invaluable in learning about which career would truly fit me the best. I would encourage all students to not only study abroad but do as many internships (or work in related fields) as possible. No summer should be wasted!

Commonwealth Adoptions International, the agency for which Michelle works, also has volunteer, internship and possible staff postions available. If interested, contact:
Commonwealth Adoptions International, Inc.
1585 East River Road, #121
Tucson, Arizona 85718
Phone: 520-327-7575
Email: cai@commonwealthadoption.org
Website: www.commonwealthadoption.org

Lilach Shafir

Left; pictured with fellow IDS/IS graduates Carolina de Rosas and Jon Saints
who currently are sharing an apartment and working in Washington DC.

I graduated in 2003 with INTS/IS, focus in Latin America, Portuguese and Spanish. I learned of the program by happenstance. I ran into a friend from Phoenix on campus, Anna Flaaten, and was telling her how disappointed I was in my current communications major. I was also taking upper-division Spanish classes and was looking for something that “fit” with my interests and intellect. She told me all about Dr. Decker and after meeting with him, I immediately knew that the program was for me. 
Through the course of the following three years, I had two highlights of the program:
First off is working closely with Dr. Decker. While I already spoke Spanish and was interested in racial relations, he pushed me to apply for the NSEP Boren Scholarship for work/study in Brazil and to learn Portuguese. After applying both my sophomore and junior years, I received the scholarship and then lived in Brazil my senior year. The niche I created for myself by learning Portuguese and spending extended time abroad has been beneficial in so many ways – both personally and professionally.
Secondly, while it sounds rather trite, my colleagues from the program are some of the most special people in my life. For one, I ended up living with two of them in Washington, D.C. (Jon Saints and Carolina de Rosas) and still keep in close touch with many of them. I was so lucky to be a preceptor my senior year with a great group: Jon Saints, Marissa Perry, Jake Robyn, Meryl Thomas, Talha Aquil, to name a few. I am most impressed by the fact that all of my INTS colleagues undoubtedly have a fire within them. Even in the most comfortable of careers, they are never comfortable with the status quo; they must always learn one more language, get one more degree, or travel to one more remote place.
I’m currently a Program Supervisor with the Close Up Foundation, in Washington, D.C. I love the challenges and opportunities that I get through directing week-long civic education programs with about 200 high school students. Also, I am privileged to direct most of the international focused programs that come through Close Up. As a first year Program Supervisor, I directed the State Dept Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program last year with students from former Soviet countries. I have also developed and presented citizenship/leadership workshops for State Dept. grantee organizations around the country. It was one of the highlights of my tenure at Close Up. In addition, I head all of our special focused immigrant programs.
In the summers I direct month-long community service programs with high school students through Putney Student Travel (www.goputney.com). I have led 2 programs in Brazil and one in Costa Rica. I highly encourage any INTS alumni to consider applying as the group is always looking for talented energetic leaders, who are recent college graduates, speak different languages and have an interest in working with high school students. I am happy to serve as a point of reference or to answer any further questions on this opportunity, but it has been wonderful for me thus far.

Jacob Robyn

Jake spending time with locals in Burkina Faso

As a student at Arizona, my IDS/IS focus was under the Development functional track, specifically in sub-Saharan Africa. I studied abroad at the University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania and University College, Cork, Ireland, where I interned at the International Famine Centre.
One of the main reasons I chose the IDS/IS program was the diverse range of options available for people interested in international affairs, or really anything under the umbrella of “international studies.” One of the great things about the program is to be able to begin your studies with some broad goals/concepts in mind, and still have the flexibility to specify and narrow your studies as you go along. Interactions with both IDS/IS staff and fellow students is yet another benefit of being in the program, as often times many new ideas arise from informal conversations with peers.
Upon completing my degree with IDS/IS, I directly joined the Peace Corps, becoming a Community Health volunteer in the West African country of Burkina Faso. For the past two years, I lived in a small village in the Sahelian region where working at a local health clinic, I motivated and trained community leaders on how to conduct health outreach campaigns in their community as well as neighboring villages. Managing food distribution donated by World Food Program as well as being a member of a national Peace Corps “Gender and Development” committee were also highlights of my first two years with Peace Corps.
I decided to extend with Peace Corps in Burkina Faso for a third year, where I now divide my time between Peace Corps and Save the Children Canada. With Peace Corps, I am now the Volunteer Leader for Burkina Faso as well as the “official” representative of volunteers when meeting with collaborators in government ministries and NGOs. For Save the Children, I am the national coordinator for the creation of school libraries, programs which aim to reduce the rates of child trafficking to neighboring countries such as Ivory Coast and Mali . As of now I’ll be continuing to work and live in Bobo-Dioulasso , Burkina Faso until January 2007 at least. I truly believe that West Africa is a fascinating, welcoming and exciting place to work and live and I recommend Peace Corps to anyone interested in visiting Africa.