Welcome to Brazen Careerist!

About Me

I am a recent graduate of the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy looking to break into the Washington DC foreign policy and international development fields. I have focused academically and professionally on foreign policy towards developing countries, specifically trade and foreign aid. Additionally, I have both professional and academic experience in Latin America, having worked for the State Department in Peru and studied at the Universidad de las Americas in Puebla, Mexico.

Through Brazen Careerist, I am looking to expand my network, engage in discussion, and potentially broaden my perspective on professional issues and those related to my chosen field.

Work History

• Opportunity International
• Research Associate Intern
• January 2009 to May 2009

• Assisted the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Resource Development Department of a leading Microfinance Institution
  • Researched social and economic background of potential program countries, including Colombia, Malawi, and India
  • Composed progress reports for distribution among over 1,000 individual donors
  • Conducted research in areas related to microenterprise development (micro insurance, women in microfinance) for use in strategic planning
  • Compiled a 30-page final project report for the organization’s largest donor

• United States Department of State-American Embassy in Lima, Per
• Economic Section Intern
• June 2008 to September 2008

• The sole summer intern in the Embassy’s Economic Section, which serves as liaison between the Department of State and the Government of Peru
  • Wrote five briefing cables on Peruvian economic issues, including trade agreements, negotiations, and foreign investment
  • Attended and provided support for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) annual forum meetings in Lima
  • Participated in meetings and business trips with Peruvian government officials alongside Embassy staff
  • Planned a two-day conference on alternative fuels with USDA, Peruvian, and non-governmental organization officials

• University of Kansas Political Science Department
• Research Assistant to Professor Catherine Weaver
• July 2006 to May 2007

• Research assistant on Professor Weaver’s Global Development and Reform of the World Bank project concerning internal World Bank reform
  • Assisted with interviews in the field at the World Bank and Washington, DC
  • Analyzed over 100 articles concerning World Bank reform
  • Acquired skills in qualitative research, such as interview protocol, and using print and internet media sources

• University of Kansas Student Senate
• Community Affairs Director
• May 2005 to May 2006

• Managed relations between the student body and local, state, and federal government through SLAB, a registered lobbying group
  • Represented student body to Lawrence City Commission
  • Local policy liaison to Student Body President
  • Coordinated student lobbying activities on local and state levels, which led to the passage of a bill in the Kansas
  State Senate

Education

• University of Chicago
• Master of Public Policy, Foreign Policy, International Development
• 2007 - 2009

• Completed Coursework in: US Foreign Policy, International Organizations, Trade Theory and Policy, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Statistics, International Development and Poverty

• University of Kansas
• Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, International Studies
• 2003 - 2007

• Graduated with Distinction, University Honors, Phi Beta Kappa, and Departmental Honors (submitted thesis "The Unsavory Politics of United States Food Aid")