What is your background and what drew you to the Geneva Graduate Institute’s summer programme?

I am (now a graduate) Master student in International Affairs Policy & Analysis with a concentration in Leadership & Management and a focus in Development at American University in Washington DC. I also work full time as the Operations Manager at the Council on American-Islamic Relation’s (CAIR) national headquarters in DC. We are the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights organisation, and within my role I manage a number of project based and operational logistics including running our internship programme.

I was drawn to the Graduate Institute as a way to get exposed to the international organisations and practitioners doing the development and governance work I am interested in pursuing in my career. Having the opportunity to learn firsthand and be surrounded by like-minded students from around the world was very appealing to me. I felt it would make a nice experimental conclusion to my academic degree.
 

Which module(s) of the summer programme did you take and why?

I did the first three modules on Humanitarianism, Security, and the UN. All three I felt hit on important topics within international relations and broader development work. They generally touched upon people, security threats, and the international organisations working on global issues. All three together gave me a deeper understanding of each and more context on how international organisations address them.
 

Being from the US, did your experience at the Institute give you a new perspective on any current issues in the US?

One of the main reasons I thought this programme would be beneficial is specifically because it was looking at them from a non-US perspective. As much as I try to expose myself to views from others of different backgrounds, it can be hard to do so in the US media/academic bubble. So I definitely think it brought a new perspective not only for myself but seeing how others perceive the United States and its role in international affairs. [An example] that comes to mind were some of the lectures during week 2 on Security and Insecurity. Professor Mohamedou spoke on the history of terrorism and counterterrorism. In America we always discuss this issue in very black and white ways, with very little room for nuance or deeper analysis. His presentation and our group discussion was very different from those that we have in the US. Discussing how the war on terror and subsequent securitisation of our society has damaged not just the US but the entire West was very interesting. He presented on the issue in a way that would be nearly impossible to do in the US. 

What will you take back from your time at the Institute?

Definitely a deeper appreciation for the work of many of the organisations and people based in Geneva. But also the view that much remains to be changed, just as it does in DC, to make these institutions more representative and responsive to the needs of all. The tools and information is there, but we in the next generation need to continue making progress to decolonize IR institutions.
 

What do you hope to contribute to the international community in the coming years?

My next step will hopefully be joining the US government in an into affairs capacity. Then perhaps I can contribute to that change I mentioned before and be a small part in making US institutions more responsive to international issues. Moving away from a military-focused approach to one that more relies on diplomacy and people.