Middlebury Institute graduates discuss where they are working today, how the Institute helped them get there, and what advice they’d give to current and future MIIS students.
My name is Banicia Chatkara and I graduated with an MA in International Policy and Development from the Middlebury Institute in 2018. My language of study was Arabic and I specialized in refugee global governance. I interned with, and subsequently worked for, International Rescue Committee in Sacramento, California, and now I am an international student advisor at University of California, Davis in Davis, California.
I pursued an internship with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) based on my practicum, which focused on refugee global governance. That led to a job after graduation as a cultural orientation caseworker with IRC. In that position I managed and facilitated refugee resettlement orientation at the largest IRC office in the U.S. and developed and managed a robust network of partnerships, including employers, community organizations, and state and federal agencies.
At the Institute, much of my coursework examined global organizations, and IRC was often used as an example/case study, which gave me lots of knowledge in preparation.
More recently I took on a role as an international student advisor at UC Davis, where I work towards inclusive and sustainable internationalization by supporting international students on immigration and visa matters.
At the Institute, much of my coursework examined global organizations, and IRC was often used as an example/case study, which gave me lots of knowledge in preparation, and the professional development guidance and support from my professors was invaluable.
My best advice to current students is this: The decisions and goals ahead of us can feel heavy, but no experience is lost on your growth as a professional and as a human. There is always so much to learn.
MA in International Policy and Development
MA in International Education Management
| by Paulina Corrales MPA/MAIEM ’19
Joint MPA/International Education Management graduate Paulina Corrales shares how networking with Middlebury Institute alumni helped her launch a career in global development and education.
International Education Management graduate Juliana Struve shares how networking and being proactive helped her launch a career in higher education.
| by Angelique Stevens MAIEM ’15
International education management graduate Angelique Stevens shares how her coursework and networking efforts helped her launch a career in international student services.
