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Alumni at Work
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After graduating,
Gwendolyn Weber worked long hours—first as
a policy analyst in the Netherlands and then a
public sector reform consultant in Trinidad
and Tobago. Ready for something new, Weber
pursued an occupational psychology degree in
London and “fell in love” with career counseling—
helping people make and implement life
and career decisions.
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“The most rewarding aspect of my work is to
turn around my clients’ outlook on life and
bring a smile to their face,” she said. Wherever
her career takes her, Weber credits her public
policy studies with giving her analytical skills
and the ability to write concisely, “both
essential to almost any job.”
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“It’s incredibly busy, there’s a lot of pressure, but
I feel like I’m doing something meaningful.”
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As the U.S. Congress considers a trade agreement
for Columbia, Robert Manogue is busy
informing Washington on the issues. He
educates officials—from mayors to members of
Congress—on the “complexity and importance”
of Columbia. “It’s the perfect mix of
foreign policy, politics, and business,” he said.
An expert in international trade issues,
Manogue joined the State Department in
1998 and has served on negotiation teams for
several Latin American trade deals, including
the Central American Free Trade Agreement.
“I really like that the work we do is making
history in a small but significant way.”
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“Realizing the world is getting smaller fast,
I wanted my four impressionable children to
live in an international setting.”
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So in 2006, when Richard Miller heard about
an opening for an institutional researcher
in one of the fastest developing nations, he
jumped and moved his family from Bailey,
Colorado to Abu Dhabi.
Miller understands higher education’s
profound and global influence on society.
Responsible for data collection and analysis,
Miller and his team support the Ministry’s
management and strategic planning. With free,
English-language education and mandated
equal opportunities for women, the UAE has
“a high quality education system with access
that is nearly unparalleled in the Middle East.”
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As a faculty member
at the Indian Institute of Management,
considered the best management school in
the country, Ankur Sarin finds himself being
pushed beyond his “comfort zone.” He is
currently co-teaching a first-time course on
social entrepreneurship, an area which he freely
admits he had not studied in depth until now.
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But Sarin says this risk is worthwhile since he
is able to engage business students, stirring
interest in social and policy issues. “Getting
young students who are otherwise subsumed
in the quest of jobs and salaries to think about
major public issues is rewarding in itself.”
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Focusing mostly on India, Pushina Kunda
Ng’andwe examines World Bank–financed
community projects—such as school construction
or water delivery—to ensure that money
is used efficiently and that services are reaching
those in need. According to Ng’andwe, this
highlights the importance of having the
most capable people responsible for delivering
basic services.
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“I have always wanted to help disadvantaged
communities find means to improve and
sustain their livelihood,” she said. After
working for the past year and a half in her
native Zambia, Ng’andwe considers her World
Bank job to be the “icing on the cake” as she
now helps a larger, diverse population.
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“The idea of ‘making a difference’ through
public service is well ingrained as part of
my professional values.”
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In his role as a top advisor to the president
of the IFE—charged with organizing federal
elections and regulating political parties—
Marco A. Mena helps bring political stability
to Mexico through a “transparent and reliable
electoral system.”
Before his current job, Mena worked for the
Ministry for Social Development (SEDESOL),
IFE’s civil service division, and the World
Bank. He now plays a part in both the IFE’s
internal governance and Mexico’s political
environment. “It is a challenging, fast-paced
job that has provided me a great deal of
personal and professional satisfaction.”
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“To initiate a new project is a great challenge.”
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In 2001, Emily Chow returned to Taiwan from
England and was attracted to a new venture—
establishing the first Taiwanese college to offer
English only undergraduate programs to both
domestic and international students. “If
successful, it will become a new milestone of
higher education in Taiwan,” Chow explained.
After initially working on the administrative
side in the school’s international education
and exchange division, Chow now focuses on
her own course development, teaching, and
research. “The most rewarding aspect is to see
young students at home and abroad become
motivated, educated, and find their goals in life.”
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In April, the Canadian government announced
new regulations for industry reduction of
greenhouse gases and air pollution. It was
Jonathan Will and his team of analysts who
provided the Canadian Cabinet with policy
briefings and advice during deliberations. An
important part of Will’s job is to ensure that
environmental and natural resource proposals
“represent good public policy and are presented
in a way that is conducive to informed
decision-making.”
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Will said, “I find it rewarding to work on a
variety of interesting, interrelated policy issues
and to influence policy decisions that affect
all Canadians.”
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