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Sahar Bala
(Peace and Conflict Studies, Middle Eastern Studies)After I graduated in Dec. 2011, I immediately took a huge leap and moved to Washington, DC to pursue my career in international affairs. I spent two months job searching, making connections with professionals in the field, and getting to know the city. I accepted a job as a staff assistant with the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) a month ago. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 Asian Pacific American attorneys and works on a number of policy initiatives, like fighting xenophobia and racism of all forms (including the backlash against American Muslims after 9/11), supporting qualified Asian Pacific Americans to be appointed as judges, and advocating for equal opportunity in education and the workplace. So far I'm loving life as a young professional in DC and I would highly encourage other BAIS majors to consider coming out here after graduation! (04/13/12)
Ashley Hoskins
(Global Politics and Societies, African Studies)After graduating from USF, I left the Bay Area for Western Massachusetts where I worked for a non-profit organization as a director for their college access program. I held workshops throughout the state for low-income and first generation middle and high schoolers on financial aid and the college application process, and learned the in's and out's of federally funded education projects! I am certain that my time as a BAIS Peer Advisor is what made my presentations so lively and engaging (hint, hint!). Although I was sad to say goodbye to my job, I am on to my next adventure in Washington, DC where this fall I will start Georgetown's Master in Public Policy program with a concentration in International Policy and Development. My most important post graduation life change, however, would have to be the new addition to my family- my 5 month old Goldendoodle Olive. So far, she seems just as excited as I am for grad school, and neither of us can wait to see what DC has to offer! (08/01/12)
Noah Jennings
(Global Politics and Societies, European Studies)After finishing my International Studies degree with a focus in Global Politics and Societies, minor in European Studies, I spent the summer interning in Sacramento at the office of Assembly Member Joan Buchanan. I then accepted a position with the service organization Jesuit Volunteer Corps and have been serving as a Jesuit Volunteer at Repairers of the Breach, a day center for homeless people in Milwaukee, WI. One of my main roles has been to spearhead our voter-empowerment program, a non-partisan effort aimed to encourage homeless voter participation in Wisconsin’s heated recall elections. In the fall of 2012, I will return to California to study at the UC Davis School of Law and plan to practice criminal, public interest, or international law (or some creative combination of all three!) after earning my JD. (06/05/12)
Meredith Kelly
(Peace and Conflict Studies, African Studies)When I graduated from USF in May 2011, I knew that I would go on to study in graduate school but I wasn't quite ready yet. Instead, I decided to spend a year teaching English for the French government. I ended up being placed in Guadeloupe in the French Caribbean. I found that teaching English was a great way to work and discover another culture at the same time. Of course, the nerd that I am, I found myself analyzing the Guadeloupean identity a bit too much and decided it was time to go back to school. At the moment, I am living in London attending the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), which is part of the University of London. I decided to get my MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development here because I have always envisioned myself continuing my studies in Peace and Conflict and the program here is the only of its kind. The SOAS development program attracted me because they choose to study differing views of development and do not focus on the Eurocentric approach that has traditionally been used in the developed world when studying the global South. So far I am very happy with my choice to come here and I hope I have a productive and insightful year. Its very cold and wet compared to Guadeloupe! (9/26/12)
Erika Myszynski
(Global Politics and Societies, European Studies)After receiving my BA from USF and making a decision to remain within the vibrancy of San Francisco among the artistic, innovative, active throb, I immediately started working for the USF Master's program in International Studies and, soon after, for the English for a Second Language Program. A few months ago, I accepted the position as Managing Editor of the Peace Review journal and I assist with Social Justice Program branch of the Politics Department as well as with the Pre-Professional Law Program. My work with the journal entails correspondence with writers, editors, and our publisher to ensure the editorial cycles progress smoothly. We focus on peace research and sustained intellectual work. In addition, to further satisfy my passion for documentation and to fulfill a creative outlet, I have continued with freelance filmmaking for an array of organizations in the Bay Area that appropriately couples the enhancement projects I do for Peace Review, including expansion of the film recommendations listings our journal features as well as solidifying interviews with active peacemakers that are then transcribed for Peace Profiles. I have visions of pursuing a Master's Degree revolving around peace studies, well-being, permaculture and/or ecology someday in the future. (08/01/12)
