Amanda Shaver, MA International Affairs, #WeAreElliott Current Student
Amanda Shaver, a native Bostonian, is a second-year graduate student in the MA International Affairs program, with a double concentration in International Security Studies and Global Energy and Environmental Policy. She graduated with a BA from the Elliott School in 2016 in International Affairs and Economics. During her time at Elliott, she’s interned with Senator Ed Markey, with the Department of State’s U.S. Embassy to the Holy See, and with former Vice President Biden’s Speechwriting Office. She currently works for the Stimson Center’s Environmental Security Program, where she analyzes the convergence between environmental issues and national security priorities.
When did you realize you wanted an international career and what inspired you to select your program or concentration at the Elliott School?
I have always been interested in politics, as well as being of service to my country, but what finally pushed me to pursue a career in International Affairs was when I first left the United States in high school. This experience abroad enraptured me – and from that point forward, I took whatever steps necessary to obtain a degree and career in IA. That meant transferring to GW from Villanova in undergrad so that I could be in the nation’s Capitol. Over the past five years (wow!) at GW, I studied abroad for a year in Italy, and interned on Capitol Hill, at the Department of State in Rome, Italy, and with the last intern class of the Obama Administration. In all of these cases, I pursued focus areas that aligned with my interest in U.S. national security issues.
Where do you currently work, intern or volunteer, and how does it fit in with your career goals?
I currently work as a Research Assistant for the Stimson Center’s Environmental Security Program. The program focuses on non-traditional threats to U.S. national security, including illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, wildlife trafficking, and climate change. As someone whose internships have entirely been within the U.S. government, where research is consumed and used to create policy, being at a think tank has rounded-out my understanding of the policy research and formation process.
What advice do you have for prospective students who are on the fence about applying to a graduate program at the Elliott school?
First off – there is no place like Washington, D.C. to study international affairs – and the Elliott School is one of the most supportive environments to help you achieve your academic and career goals here. Second – the academic curriculum and professors are world class – I’ve taken courses with former Ambassadors, as well as the foremost researchers in their fields – both of which provide a balance of academic theory and practical applicability to your career. A final selling point is the fact that courses are all in the evening – which is a testament to the Elliott School’s support for constant learning and commitment to its student’s career goals.
Favorite rainy day activity?
I love to cook and bake – and I take advantage of the rainy days to try out new recipes to test on my friends and colleagues!
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The #WeAreElliott profile series is managed by the Elliott School Office of Graduate Admissions and highlights current students to answer common questions posed by prospective, incoming, and current students. For more information on this series or to submit questions, e-mail the Office of Graduate Admissions at esiagrad@gwu.edu.
The views expressed by students profiled do not necessarily represent those of organizations they work for, are affiliated with, or the Elliott School of International Affairs.
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