Hometown: Tehran, Iran
Additional Degrees: Women and Gender Studies and Arabic
Languages: English, Farsi, Arabic, Spanish
International Experience: United Kingdom
Extra Curriculars: Seattle University Students for Justice in Palestine
Yasmine Ansari is currently doing a masters in International Relations of the Middle East at University of Edinburgh.
Why did you choose to come to Seattle University?
How has your INST undergraduate degree helped you build your career? Or what parts of the INST program have helped you the most in your current job/grad school?
What was your favorite place on campus?
What was your favorite thing about living in Seattle?
How did you come to choose International Studies as your major?
What was your favorite course?
Hometown: Mountain View, CA
Additional Degrees: Chinese (minor), Spanish (minor) and Latin American Studies (minor)
Languages: English, Spanish, Chinese
International Experience: Mexico, Dominican Republic
Internship Experience: Intern for Senator Patty Murray’s Seattle Office, Virtual intern for the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, Intern for NorCal World Trade Center
Extra Curriculars: Student Alumni Ambassadors
Melissa Cuevas is currently doing a masters in International Economics and Latin American Studies at Johns Hopkins University. She recently conducted a virtual internship in the Centro de estudios China-Mexico (CECHIMEX) in Mexico City.
Why did you choose to come to Seattle University?
How has your INST undergraduate degree helped you build your career? Or what parts of the INST program have helped you the most in your current job/grad school?
If you did an internship as a student, what did you like the most about it? How did it help you in your current career?
If you volunteered in a SU or Seattle organization, club, etc., tell us about your experience.
What were the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your study abroad experience(s)?
What was your favorite place on campus? / What was your favorite thing to do on campus?
What was your favorite thing about living in Seattle?
How did you come to choose International Studies as your major?
Hometown: Portland, OR
Additional Degrees: Spanish (Major); Latin American Studies (Minor)
Languages: English; Spanish
International Experience: Mexico, Guatemala
Internship Experience: One Equal Heart Foundation
Extra Curriculars: Leadership Committee on Intersectionality and Justice (LCIJ); International Studies Advisory Board; Connections Leadership Program Mentor for students of color (CLP); First to Soar Peer Mentor for first generation students.
Michael Ninen is working as a project coordinator at Neighborhood Partnerships (a non-profit organization that works towards housing stability and financial security in Oregon). He was awarded a Fulbright to teach in Mexico and a Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, but due to Covid-19 he was not able to travel.
Why did you choose to come to Seattle University?
How has your INST undergraduate degree helped you build your career?
If you did an internship as a student, what did you like the most about it?
If you volunteered in a SU or Seattle organization, club, etc., tell us about your experience.
What were the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your study abroad experience(s)?
What was your favorite place on campus?
What was your favorite thing about living in Seattle?
How did Seattle University form your vision for the future?
How did you come to choose International Studies as your major?
Who was your mentor on campus? How did they mentor you?
What was your favorite course? Why?
Hometown: Omaha, NE
Additional Degrees: French (major)
Languages: English, French
International Experience: Grenoble France (French in-France program)
Internship Experience: Days for Girls International (Seattle, WA)
Extra Curriculars: Women's Soccer, Co-Ed Club Soccer, Université Grenoble-Alpes Club Soccer
Genevieve Jesse is a project coordinator at Strategic Capacity Group (a non-profit dedicated to enhancing security at home and abroad). While she conducted a master’s in International Affairs at George Washington University, Genevieve worked and interned with several organizations in Washington D.C. including The Brookings Institute, the Global Network for Africa’s Prosperity, and The Hoover Institution and Ascendant Program Services.
Why did you choose to come to Seattle University?
How has your INST undergraduate degree helped you build your career? Or what parts of the INST program have helped you the most in your current job/grad school?
If you did an internship as a student, what did you like the most about it? How did it help you in your current career?
If you volunteered in a SU or Seattle organization, club, etc., tell us about your experience.
What were the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your study abroad experience(s)?
How did you come to choose International Studies as your major?
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Additional Degrees: Political Science (Major), Arabic (Minor)
Languages: English, Arabic
International Experience: Salamanca, Spain
Internship Experience: Mona Foundation; Vote-USA.org
Extra Curriculars: Men’s Swim Team
Luke Christensen is currently studying towards a law degree at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Why did you choose to come to Seattle University?
How has your INST undergraduate degree helped you build your career? Or what parts of the INST program have helped you the most in your current job/grad school?
If you did an internship as a student, what did you like the most about it? How did it help you in your current career?
If you volunteered in a SU or Seattle organization, club, etc., tell us about your experience.
What were the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your study abroad experience(s)?
What was your favorite place on campus? / What was your favorite thing to do on campus?
What was your favorite thing about living in Seattle?
Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Additional Degrees: Political Science (minor)
Languages: Amharic, French, English
International Experience: France
Internship Experience: Sahar Education (Seattle), Tara Expeditions (Paris, France)
Extra Curriculars: Director of Student Life, Student leader and mentor at Bailey Gatzert Elementary School, French tutor
Ruth Yohannes is currently studying towards a law degree at Santa Clara University School of Law. She recently volunteered for a year at AmeriCorps.
Why did you choose to come to Seattle University?
How has your INST undergraduate degree helped you build your career? Or what parts of the INST program have helped you the most in your current job/grad school?
If you did an internship as a student, what did you like the most about it? How did it help you in your current career?
If you volunteered in a SU or Seattle organization, club, etc., tell us about your experience.
What were the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your study abroad experience(s)?
What was your favorite place on campus? / What was your favorite thing to do on campus?
What was your favorite thing about living in Seattle?
How did you come to choose International Studies as your major?
Hometown: West Windsor, NJ
Additional Degrees: Japanese (minor)
Languages: English, Japanese
International Experience: Japan
Internships: Intern at Japan Society in New York, NY; Intern at the New Jersey State Council on the Arts in Trenton, NJ
Extracurriculars: Violinist in the SU Chamber Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra club at Sophia University
Andrew Masaru Orita ’20 graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School on May 15, 2023. After taking the bar, Andrew will join Davis Polk & Wardwell in their New York office. He thanks the INST faculty for their support during his time at Seattle U. He also thanks the INST department for its support of his year-long study abroad in Japan that sowed the seeds for his law school career.
Why did you choose to come to Seattle University?
How has your INST undergraduate degree helped you build your career?
Why your career is interesting? What do you like the most about it?
If you did an internship as a student, what did you like the most about it?
What were the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your study abroad experience(s)?
What was your favorite thing about living in Seattle?
With on-campus or off-campus jobs during your time at SU, how did these employment experiences prepare you for your current career?
How did you come to choose International Studies as your major?
What was your favorite course? Why?
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Additional Degrees: (Spanish (major), Latin American Studies (minor)
Languages: English, Spanish
International Experience: México, Guatemala
Internship Experience: Global Visionaries in South Seattle
Extra Curriculars: Central America Initiative at Seattle University
Isabeau currently works at Seminary Co-op Bookstores (a non-profit that partners with the Chicago community to sell books) and as a freelance editor. They are a co-author of the forthcoming book: Imagining Central America: A Short History (University of Cincinnati Press)
Why did you choose to come to Seattle University?
How has your INST undergraduate degree helped you build your career? Or what parts of the INST program have helped you the most in your current job/grad school?
If you did an internship as a student, what did you like the most about it? How did it help you in your current career?
What were the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your study abroad experience(s)?
Why your job/career is interesting? What do you like the most about it?
How did you come to choose International Studies as your major?
Who was your mentor on campus? How did they mentor you?
What was your favorite course? Why?
Hometown: Spokane, WA
Additional Degrees: History (major)
Languages: Spanish
International Experience: London, UK
Internship Experience: Office of Senator Maria Cantwell – Seattle, WA; Security Properties – Seattle, WA
Extra Curriculars: Seattle U Men’s Rugby Club; Kings College London Rugby Club
David is currently a financial analyst at Security Properties (a real estate investment company in Seattle). After working with them as an intern while studying at SeattleU, he found a permanent position in the company in 2018.
Why did you choose to come to Seattle University?
How has your INST undergraduate degree helped you build your career? Or what parts of the INST program have helped you the most in your current job/grad school?
If you did an internship as a student, what did you like the most about it? How did it help you in your current career?
If you volunteered in a SU or Seattle organization, club, etc., tell us about your experience.
What were the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your study abroad experience(s)?
What was your favorite place on campus? / What was your favorite thing to do on campus?
What was your favorite thing about living in Seattle?
Who was your mentor on campus? How did they mentor you?
Hometown: Honolulu, HI
Languages: Bahasa Indonesia
International Experience: Serbia, Indonesia
Internship Experience: NGO Atina in Belgrade, Serbia
Hope currently works as a Fiscal Supervisor for the Rental Relief and Utilities Program for Hawaii, in the Catholic Charities Hawaii (a non-profit organization). She found this position after returning from a volunteer position at Peace Corps in in West Java, Indonesia
Why did you choose to come to Seattle University?
How has your INST undergraduate degree helped you build your career? Or what parts of the INST program have helped you the most in your current job/grad school?
If you did an internship as a student, what did you like the most about it? How did it help you in your current career?
What were the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your study abroad experience(s)?
The hardest part was finding the right program for me and my educational interests. There are so many different programs that sound and look amazing, and it did take me awhile to find the right one for me. I chose a program that was based in Tanzania, Africa and then a week and half into the program, I figured it out it was definitely not the right program for me and my interests! I was fortunate enough to be able to switch programs to a much better fit which landed me in Belgrade, Serbia learning about Peace and Conflict in the Balkans. My main goal going into studying abroad was studying somewhere I had never been before--Tanzania and Belgrade covered that requirement. The most rewarding part of being in Belgrade was being able to learn about history that happened quite recently. It deepened my understanding of human trafficking and more importantly allowed me to see the bigger picture on situations like that and how organizations can help victims of human trafficking build a life after experiencing something so horrific.
What was your favorite place on campus? / What was your favorite thing to do on campus?
What was your favorite thing about living in Seattle?
I loved how everything was either within walking distance or a quick drive away! There are so many different people and communities you can immerse yourself in and that is something that can really help shape your university experience in a positive way.
Why your job/career is interesting? What do you like the most about it?
The job that I am currently in, I would have never imagined was even a job, and would not necessarily be a job if Covid-19 had not been as impactful as it is. In the past I have always tried to travel abroad to help communities or to try to do impactful work, but processing rent and utility payments to families and individuals in my local community has been incredible. Being able to see exactly where and who your hard work is going hits you a little bit differently.
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Additional Degrees: Political Science (major); Asian Studies (minor); Japanese (minor)
Languages: English, Japanese, Vietnamese
International Experience: Japan
Internship Experience: City of Seattle Legislative Department
Extra Curriculars: Seattle University Youth Initiative; Shorinji Kempo
Ryan recently graduated from the University of Washington School of Law. While studying towards his law degree he conducted internships with Disability Rights Washington, University of Washington Student Legal Services, and the Federal Trade Commission Northwest Region
Why did you choose to come to Seattle University?
How has your INST undergraduate degree helped you build your career? Or what parts of the INST program have helped you the most in your current job/grad school?
If you did an internship as a student, what did you like the most about it? How did it help you in your current career?
If you volunteered in a SU or Seattle organization, club, etc., tell us about your experience.
What were the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your study abroad experience(s)?
What was your favorite thing about living in Seattle?
How did you come to choose International Studies as your major?
Who was your mentor on campus? How did they mentor you?
What was your favorite course? Why?
Hometown: Portland, OR
Additional Degrees: Latin American Studies (minor)
Languages: Spanish
International Experience: Mexico, Nicaragua, Cuba, Peru
Internship Experience: Global Washington
Extra Curriculars: SU running club; Casa Latina
Meghan currently works as a Bilingual Review Program Specialist at Organic Materials Review Institute (a non-profit that provides services for organic certification based in Eugene, OR).
Why did you choose to come to Seattle University?
How has your INST undergraduate degree helped you build your career? Or what parts of the INST program have helped you the most in your current job/grad school?
If you did an internship as a student, what did you like the most about it? How did it help you in your current career?
If you volunteered in a SU or Seattle organization, club, etc., tell us about your experience.
What were the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your study abroad experience(s)?
What was your favorite place on campus? / What was your favorite thing to do on campus?
What was your favorite thing about living in Seattle?
Why your job/career is interesting? What do you like the most about it?
With on-campus or off-campus jobs during your time at SU, how did these employment experiences prepare you for your current job?
Who was your mentor on campus? How did they mentor you?
What was your favorite course? Why?
Hometown: Požega, Croatia
Additional Degrees: Strategic communications (major)
Languages: Croatian, English, Slovenian
International Experience: United States, Slovenia
Internship Experience: Seattle University Athletics
Extra Curriculars: Seattle University Volleyball; Student-Athlete Advisory Committee; volunteering - Seattle University Gala, Forterra Seattle, Seattle Expanding Your Horizons, and St. Mary’s Food bank
Iris Ivaniš is conducting a Ph.D. in Security Studies at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia. She has had several positions at the University of Ljubljana including research assistant in the Faculty of Social Sciences and as a EUTOPIA project officer.
Why did you choose to come to Seattle University?
How has your INST undergraduate degree helped you build your career?
What were the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your study abroad experience(s)?
As an international student, studying at Seattle University was, in a way, a study abroad experience in itself. While at Seattle University, I have learned so many things. I quite appreciated the open-mindedness and understanding of my professors. The INST department has many professors who have lived or worked in other countries prior to coming to SeattleU. This offers a form of a shared experience with their students as well; an additional dimension of understanding of their foreign students’ possible struggles. The most challenging thing that I can recall would be the cultural adjustment, but I think I have grown to be a somewhat multicultural person because of that experience. I think every student leaving their home country experiences remarkable cultural and personal growth that they carry through life.
What was your favorite place on campus?
What was your favorite thing about living in Seattle?
Why your job/career is interesting? What do you like the most about it?
How did Seattle University form your vision for the future?
What was your favorite course? Why?
Hometown: Los Angeles County, CA
Additional Degrees: French (major); Political Science (major)
Languages: French and Spanish
International Experience: France; Senegal; Nicaragua; Colombia
Internship Experience: NPH USA; King County’s Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; Intake & Referral Legal Intern at King County Bar Association’s Pro Bono Legal Clinic; Immigration Legal Intern, Law Office of Andre Olivie.
Extra Curriculars: Center for Service and Community Engagement + the Seattle University Youth Initiative (SUYI); Seattle U’s Professionals Without Borders; Student Executive Council; President of Sigma Iota Rho; Seattle U’s Orientation Programs; Spanish & English language teacher at a local public elementary school in Grenoble, France; Peer Advisor and Office Assistant with Seattle U’s Education Abroad Office; Cast member in the Vagina Monologues (renamed the $#%$* Monologues) on-campus; Office of Multicultural Affairs’ first #BlackLivesMatter Retreat & Legislative Action Day
Olivia currently works as tutor and teaching assistant for PBLWorks (an international non-profit). She volunteered over two years teaching abroad after graduation (in Colombia with Fulbright and in France with TAPIF).
Why did you choose to come to Seattle University?
How has your INST undergraduate degree helped you build your career? Or what parts of the INST program have helped you the most in your current job/grad school?
If you did an internship as a student, what did you like the most about it? How did it help you in your current career?
If you volunteered in a SU or Seattle organization, club, etc., tell us about your experience.
What were the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your study abroad experience(s)?
Why is your job/career interesting? What do you like the most about it?
How did you come to choose International Studies as your major?
With on-campus or off-campus jobs during your time at SU, how did these employment experiences prepare you for your current job?
What was your favorite course? Why?
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Additional Degrees: Art History (minor), International Economic Development (minor)
Languages: English, Arabic
International Experience: Amman, Jordan
Internship Experience: Frye Art Museum, Shelley Morrison Associates
Extra Curriculars: SU Sigma Iota Rho Honors Society
Cilia Jurdy is Development Director at FEEST (Food Empowerment Education & Sustainability Team). Before finishing a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership at Seattle University, Cilia worked at Open Doors for Multicultural Families and at the West Seattle Helpline. In addition, after graduation, Cilia returned to Jordan to volunteer in programs assisting Syrian refugees.
Why did you choose to come to Seattle University?
How has your INST undergraduate degree helped you build your career? Or what parts of the INST program have helped you the most in your current job/grad school?
If you did an internship as a student, what did you like the most about it? How did it help you in your current career?
What were the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your study abroad experience(s)?
Why your job/career is interesting? What do you like the most about it?
How did you come to choose International Studies as your major?
Who was your mentor on campus? How did they mentor you?
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
Additional Degrees: Spanish (major), Latin American studies (minor)
Languages: English, Spanish
International Experience: Semester in Santiago, Chile; research trips in Guatemala, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Nicaragua
Internship Experience: Research intern, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Hyderabad, Telangana, India (SU International Development Internship Program); Data management and programming support, El Centro de la Raza, Seattle, WA
Extra Curriculars: Coalitions Director, Seattle University Teens for Justice and Service (JustServe); Intramural basketball and soccer; Spanish tutor and conversation group facilitator
Andy Gorvetzian is currently conducting a masters in Anthropology at the University of New Mexico. After volunteering at AmeriCorps, he worked as a research assistant Universidad Centro Americana (UCA) in Nicaragua, the University of New Mexico, and at the American Planning Association.
Why did you choose to come to Seattle University?
How has your International Studies undergraduate degree helped you build your career?
If you did an internship as a student, what did you like the most about it?
What were the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your study abroad experience(s)?
I was fortunate to do multiple study abroad programs, and each offered something different. The research trips with Serena Cosgrove, Ben Curtis, Kristi Lee, and Claire Garoutte to Guatemala, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Nicaragua were probably the most influential on my life in terms of creating relationships with professors and classmates and seeing the power of field research and university partnerships with other universities, NGOs, and activist organizations.
Studying in Chile made me appreciate that it’s not easy to operate every day in another language, no matter how many Spanish classes you have taken. But learning another language well has been a significant part of how I have gotten most of my jobs after college.
What was your favorite place on campus?
What was your favorite thing about living in Seattle?
How did Seattle University form your vision for the future?
Who was your mentor on campus? How did they mentor you?
Hometown: Portland, OR
Additional Degrees: Spanish (minor)
Languages: Spanish, Tagalog, French, Japanese
International Experience: Argentina, Philippines
Internship Experience: U.S. Department of State internship at U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Extra Curriculars: multicultural student organizations and International Student Center;
martial arts; event planning; large-scale cooking, bartending, and catering
Daniel is an International Program Director at Kaya Collaborative (a non-profit dedicated to activating communities in the Filipino diaspora as engines of social change in the Philippines). While he conducted a master’s in Intelligence and Security Studies at Georgetown University, Daniel worked at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
How has your INST undergraduate degree helped you build your career? Or what parts of the INST program have helped you the most in your current job/grad school?
If you did an internship as a student, what did you like the most about it? How did it help you in your current career?
If you volunteered in a SU or Seattle organization, club, etc., tell us about your experience.
What were the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your study abroad experience(s)?
Why is your job/career interesting? What do you like the most about it?
With on-campus or off-campus jobs during your time at SU, how did these employment experiences prepare you for your current job?
How did Seattle University form your vision for the future?
How did you come to choose International Studies as your major?