51爆料网 offers a variety of study away opportunities for you to gain a competitive edge. is one such program, building on our leadership in policy-driven teaching, research and engagement.
Offered by the , the program resides in the (CSIS), a Washington-based, bipartisan, nonprofit think tank. Its strategic location gives you more than a front-row seat to domestic and global affairs. It also enables you to learn鈥攁nd grow鈥攚ithin a tight-knit community of scholars and practitioners.
We recently caught up with several Maxwell-in-Washington students to find out how the experience benefits them.
Natalie Mulimbi G鈥�25
鈥淚 have a fresh perspective on how our government operates,鈥� says Natalie Mulimbi G鈥�25, who interns at the USAID鈥檚 Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.
A member of the dual master鈥檚 degree program, Natalie Mulimbi G鈥�25 credits the Maxwell-in-Washington program for deepening her understanding of public diplomacy as well as global security and development.
Such insight is utilized in her internship at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)鈥檚 Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, where she works in the Office of Africa.
鈥淚 have a fresh perspective on how our government operates, nationally and globally,鈥� says the Western New York native. 鈥淚nteragency cooperation enables us to work together to support the most vulnerable populations.鈥�
Outside of class, Mulimbi enjoys the perks of big-city living鈥攆rom attending academic events to frequenting cultural festivals. 鈥淭hese humbling experiences in our nation鈥檚 capital foster human connection and critical thinking, which are essential to what I do,鈥� she adds.
Forrest Gatrell G鈥�26
Forrest Gatrell G鈥�25 is a Robertson Fellow who interns at the U.S. House of Representatives鈥� Homeland Security Committee.
Washington is like a second home for Forrest Gatrell G鈥�25, an Indiana native pursuing a career in foreign service. By day, the Robertson Fellow interns at the U.S. House of Representatives鈥� Homeland Security Committee. By night, he takes courses in public diplomacy, economic statecraft and international relations.
鈥淧roximity to my target job market helps me understand Washington鈥檚 hiring dynamics, professional culture and lifestyle,鈥� says Gatrell, a member of Maxwell-in-Washington鈥檚 .
A former personal injury paralegal for underserved immigrants, Gatrell is excited to be among early- and mid-career professionals in the public administration and international relations dual master鈥檚 program. Being in the nation鈥檚 capital, he says, puts him 鈥渃loser to the action.鈥�
Plus, you never know who you鈥檒l meet. Gatrell bumped into Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes while walking to the Maxwell School鈥檚 at the National Portrait Gallery. 鈥淭he Chiefs had been at the White House earlier in the day, celebrating their second Super Bowl win,鈥� Gatrell recalls. 鈥淚 was in the right place at the right time.鈥�
Masih Ghazanfari 鈥�26
An aspiring foreign service officer, Masih Ghazanfari 鈥�26 credits the Maxwell-in-Washington program for giving him an 鈥渦p-close look鈥� at the complexities of government operations.
An international relations major, Masih Ghazanfari 鈥�26 focuses on human rights in the Middle East and North Africa. His fascination with the impact of historical events on modern society has led to an internship at the Institute of World Politics (IWP), where he studies religious and political extremist groups in Afghanistan in the late 1990s.
鈥淭his work is preparing me to become a foreign service officer,鈥� says the Afghan native, who is committed to 鈥渁dvocating for human rights and enacting positive changes.鈥�
A and member of the , Ghazanfari appreciates the University鈥檚 robust academic and research presence in Washington. He credits Maxwell-in-Washington for giving him an 鈥渦p-close look鈥� at the complexities of government operations and equipping him with the 鈥渒nowledge and practical skills鈥� essential for his career aspirations.
Ghazanfari also is mentored by alumni like Andrew Lederman 鈥�05, acting director of the State Department鈥檚 Near Eastern Affairs Office of Regional and Multilateral Affairs. 鈥淎ndrew is broadening my perspective and enriching my educational growth. I can鈥檛 say enough about him,鈥� Ghazanfari adds.
Bakary Darboe 鈥�25
Bakary Darboe 鈥�25, a Gambian-born Our Time Has Come scholar, interns at Syracuse鈥檚 Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship in Washington. 鈥淓verybody has something to teach us,鈥� he says.
Many students augment their Maxwell-in-Washington experience with coursework in the (IDJC). A joint initiative of the and the Maxwell School, the IDJC enables students like Bakary Darboe 鈥�25 to gain a comprehensive view of current events and issues.
Through an internship at the IDJC, the political science major is getting a crash course in 鈥渉igh stakes鈥� donor relations and contact management.
鈥淚鈥檝e gotten to know a handful of alumni, who have reminded me that it鈥檚 OK not to have it all figured out right now,鈥� says Darboe, an Our Time Has Come scholar. 鈥淛ust as they have taken me under their wing, I want to do the same for others.鈥�
Darboe is a Gambian-born American who plans to attend law school. He鈥檚 interested in knowing why some presidential administrations succeed and others fail. The answer might be found if not in the classroom, then in one of his many networking and 鈥渞eal-world learning鈥� events in Washington.
鈥淚t鈥檚 our differences, unique qualities and perspectives that bring us closer together,鈥� says the Bronx native. 鈥淓verybody has something to teach us.鈥�
Xenia Zolano-Doroteo 鈥�25
Xenia Zolano-Doroteo 鈥�25 considers Washington the 鈥渋deal place鈥� to study international relations. 鈥淭he city has its own rhythm 鈥� and vibrant pulse,鈥� she says.
A senior majoring in international relations, Xenia Zolano-Doroteo 鈥�25 interns at the Department Against Transnational Organized Crime. It鈥檚 there that she helps members of the Organization of American States 鈥渃onfront and respond to鈥� the trafficking of people and arms as well as the smuggling of migrants.
The California native has a passion for international security and diplomacy, particularly from a Latin American perspective. 鈥淲ashington, D.C., is where I need to be right now,鈥� Zolano-Doroteo says. 鈥淭he city has its own rhythm, its own vibrant pulse.鈥� Washington鈥檚 rich history and diverse population also make it the 鈥渋deal place鈥� to study international relations.
One of her mentors is Fulton Armstrong, an adjunct professor and former CIA analyst who teaches global public policy. Zolano-Doroteo singles him out for improving her scholarly writing and organizing class trips to the Pentagon, the Embassy of Ukraine and the Embassy of the People鈥檚 Republic of China.
鈥淧eople like him help me broaden my perspective of inter-government organizations,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 get to slowly transition into a professional setting while still remaining under the Syracuse umbrella.鈥�
