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Melissa Murphy Spooner International Education alumni

Melissa Murphy Spooner

MA, International Education

Melissa Murphy Spooner currently works as a Program Manager at The Jerome A. Chazen Institute for Global Business at Columbia Business School. Her responsibilities include the management of the Chazen Global Study Tours, where she works directly with student leaders to design and implement trips that enhance and expand upon the lessons learned in the business school classrooms.   

 

How does this job relate to your studies at NYU?

I think my studies at NYU relate to my current position in a variety of ways. In the broadest sense, my ability to understand globalization from an educational perspective is helpful in an environment that tends to view it strictly from a business standpoint. More specifically, the classes related to study abroad and cross-cultural awareness prepared me for the task of navigating the different interests of our students, faculty, business contacts, and travel agencies. I’m also better equipped to help student participants identify the tangible and intangible benefits of traveling abroad with their peers.   

 

What was something you especially value from your time at NYU Steinhardt? Was there a course or professor or particular challenge that sticks with you?

I think the relationships I formed with my fellow classmates is something that’s irreplaceable. I have fond memories of working with my team for our qualitative methods assignment and adjusting to life in Ghana with my internship classmates. Since we all studied different aspects of international education, this gives me a lifeline to other areas within our field of work. In terms of challenging courses, I can say that quantitative methods is probably the class I feared the most, but it ended up giving me valuable critical thinking skills and the ability to look at the story data is trying to tell.  

 

How did you end up in your current role?

My friend recommended me for a part-time administrative role at Chazen while I was finishing up my MA at NYU. I think working in the international education field as a student allowed me to bring theoretical experience to the job and practical experience to my classes. I was hired full-time shortly before graduating and started in my current role a few months later.  

 

Do you have any tips for networking on growing in the field?

Networking is so important! Most people I know in this field secured their positions by using either their personal contacts or peripheral contacts. I think one piece of advice is to seek out a friend who is good at networking and pick their brain for best practices. Recognizing your value and what you bring to the table is also an important part of networking – practice your 30 second elevator pitch and have it perfected! In terms of growing in the field, I think identifying a supportive mentor is a practice that can help you reach career goals.

 

What's next for you? What do you hope to accomplish in the next five years?

The pandemic threw a lot of study abroad offices into chaos, including the Chazen Institute. We’ve all had to make difficult decisions, but I’ve learned a lot about my ability to work successfully under the pressure cooker of uncertain, quickly changing situations. In the short-term, it would be nice to travel again in a COVID-19 free world. However, I’m sure the next year or so will be focused on how we can reinstitute travel options safely. After that, I would like to continue to find ways to ensure the Chazen Global Study Tours are a robust learning experience, including the possibility of turning the student leadership position into a credit-bearing leadership class. As a long-term goal, I’m interested in consulting with businesses on how they can develop their own travel related programming.