Emily Orr worked as a Program Assistant for the Consular Training Division at the U.S. Department of State, Foreign Service Institute. She writes: "If you are passionate about this field and know what you want, then NYU is a great place!"
Undergraduate University: University of Georgia
Undergraduate Major: Japanese and Comparative Literature
Current job: Program Assistant for the Consular Training Division at the U.S. Department of State, Foreign Service Institute
What is your favorite part of your job?
Before I explain my favorite part of my job, let me first explain how I was able to get a job at FSI. If it wasn’t for my internship at the State Department, in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, I wouldn’t be here. In the work I did for the Public Affairs & Strategic Communication office, I learned about how social media can be used as a platform to market and communicate about their cultural exchange programs. It was fascinating to see and experience the impact social media had with the State Department. This experience prompted me to conduct an independent research paper on, “Advancing Education through Social Media” and present it at the“Hawaii University International Conference on Education. The exposure that my internship allowed me is the reason why I stayed in D.C. and secondly, is the reason why I decided to further my career at the State Department.
There are two aspects of my job that I truly enjoy:
1. Working with Foreign Service Officers and learning more about the work they do. I’m always learning something new and they continually challenge me with new projects. Two projects I enjoyed the most was the chance to design and implement evaluations for the consular training workshops, and using metrics to measure consular leadership effectiveness. Working with them, has even made me consider taking the Foreign Service exam.
2. Having the chance to meet Foreign Service Nationals (FSN) coming from over 50 different countries. These FSNs are locally employed staff working at US Embassies. Part of my job is to assure they are taken care of during their time in DC for training. With these groups, I have had the chance to coordinate trips with them to Boston, New Hampshire, and toured in specific areas within DC that focuses on their work at the US Embassy. At the same time, it provides me the opportunity to learn more about their country and what they do to support the United States.
What was your favorite part of the IE program?
I have three:
1. My amazing friends! If it wasn’t for my friends it would not have been as enjoyable and memorable. (^_^) What made these friendships so strong were the hours we spent together in and out of the classroom. I feel lucky to have such amazing people in my life. They are just as (or even more) ambitious, hardworking, and persistent as I am.
2. Understanding the social theory in development in PhillHosay’s International Education courses. His courses sharpened my analytical skills and taught me how to apply theory into practice. The strongest example of how he aided in this skill was my final paper, written in grant form on the “Study of the United State Institutes for Student Leaders on Women’s Leadership”. After his courses, I finally understood Dana Burde when she told me, “Theory can be a powerful tool, once you understand how to apply it”, and she is absolutely correct!
3. Professor Teboho Moja’s Social and Educational Reform course in South Africa. This was an intensive one-month study abroad focused on South Africa’s educational reform in post-apartheid. This program allowed me to conduct my own in-depth research, focusing on South Africa’s youth development within the schools. I was glad to have taken all the required classes from IE before my study abroad trip because it allowed me to apply all the skills I learned through: Cynthia’s cross-cultural studies of socialization course; Sean’s quantitative analysis course; Dana’s qualitative course; and Phil’s international education courses.
How did NYU prepare you for your current job?
Being accepted at NYU truly gave me the perseverance to aim high and challenge myself - you’ll never know what surprises may come your way. I’ve already made this far, so why stop now?
NYU helped broaden my understanding of International Education and guide me to my career path with the State Department. International education is an umbrella to three tracks: cross-cultural studies, development, and globalization. It examines how education can create social changes through a wide variety of interdisciplinary studies - history, political science, economics, anthropology, sociology, and cross-cultural studies. The Department of State is also like an umbrella, but with several tracks. This includes development, cross-cultural studies, and globalization; to see all these come together, is an empowering experience that I hope to continue to be a part.
Do you have any advice for current or prospective students?
Take advantage of your resources and opportunities! This is your chance to focus on your career path. Have a skill or specific interest that makes you uniquely different from the rest of the crowd. For example, I would encourage everyone to focus on a country/region or even a specific skill that you know you can bring to an organization – grant writing, program analysis, etc. – and really invest in this. International Education is a growing field and it is important to find something that will make you stand out from the others. Reflecting back to my experiences in grad school, I wish I took advantage of applying for fellowships and more scholarship opportunities. In the meantime - NETWORK and continue to stay connected. Finding the job that you love can be tied to the networking you accomplish at NYU.
Any last thoughts you'd like to share with prospective students about the program?
Passion, Patience, and Persistence
If you are passionate about this field and know what you want, then NYU is a great place!
Though it’s not always easy; passion will push you forward, patience will help you get through difficult times, and persistence will lead you to the end.