#WeAreElliott Catherine Reynolds

Catherine Reynolds is a Master’s Student at the Elliott School of International Affairs where she is pursuing an M.A. in International Affairs with a concentration in both International Security Studies and Nuclear Policy. Having recently graduated from a double B.A. in Global Studies and Middle East Studies, Catherine moved across the country to D.C. in order to pursue her professional goals through engaging in an advanced academic program that combines her passion for international politics, evolving technologies, and foreign languages. Inspired by her recent study abroad program in Egypt, Catherine is studying both Arabic and Spanish in addition to her program requirements and plans to use her specialized skill set to engage in international affairs through multiple lenses. Catherine has a background as a professional sailor, and spends her free time sailing boats using wind power on both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

When did you realize you wanted an international career? What led you to choose the Elliott School?

I have always been interested in international affairs and security, so when I applied to graduate school, the Elliott School was the obvious choice! Coming from a double B.A. in Global Studies and Middle East Studies, I decided that adding a M.A. in International Affairs to my skillset would make me more than well equipped to enter the professional world.

Where would you like to be in 5 years from now?

Looking forward five years, I hope to find myself working in a setting where I can combine my passion for international politics, evolving technologies, and foreign languages.

What has been your most rewarding academic experience at the Elliott School and why?

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to study abroad in Egypt, where I studied the convergence of government institutions and society in the Middle East. I have always had a passion for exploring new cultures and ideologies, so traveling to Egypt provided an amazing opportunity to put my education into practice in a setting rich in political complexity and cultural diversity.

Describe the pros and cons of being a full-time versus part-time student at the Elliott School.

While pursuing an M.A. in International Affairs as a full-time student can prove daunting, I am lucky enough to have found an academic field which is constantly evolving, providing me new material to explore every day. It is an engaging challenge that I thoroughly enjoy.

What advice do you have for incoming students who are starting to think about internship and work opportunities

My best advice for incoming students is to identify something you find interesting, and chase it! If you tailor your skillset to your interests, you will find a job that is both exiting and valuable to you.

Do you have any pets?

I have two rescue kittens and a dog at home, all of whom like to play together outside in my yard.

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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.

#ElliottProud: Matthew Calardo

Matthew Calardo is the Global Strategic Partnership Manager for the Caterpillar Foundation. Prior to this, he was the Senior Program Officer at the Business Council for International Understanding, where he led BCIU’s Middle East portfolio. Before joining BCIU, Mr. Calardo worked briefly at the Middle East Investment Initiative and at the Aspen Institute. From 2013 to 2015, Mr. Calardo managed GW’s Middle East Policy Forum with Ambassador Edward “Skip” Gnehm Jr. and worked as Amb. Gnehm’s Assistant.

Mr. Calardo holds an M.A. in Middle East Studies and a B.A. in Philosophy & Public Affairs—both from GW. He received a certificate in Arabic from the American University of Beirut. Mr. Calardo is also a “40 Under 40” awardee of The Middle East Policy Council. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Calardo lives in Washington, DC with his wife and two daughters.  

Describe your current position and what made you interested in applying?

I am the Global Strategic Partnerships Manager for The Caterpillar Foundation. I manage the Foundation’s grant portfolio in strategic communities like Brazil, India, and Indonesia, as well as parts of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

What do you wish other people knew about your organization?

Most people recognize Caterpillar Inc. from our yellow iron dotting construction sites around the world. The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Caterpillar Inc. and focuses on three areas: climate resilience, workforce development, and disaster relief / charitable giving. It’s an awesome job that affords me the opportunity to help steer investment toward initiatives like mangrove reforestation and STEM bootcamps for young girls around the world.

What Elliott School courses would you recommend for students interested in your field and why?

Balance your schedule with academics and practitioners. The Elliott School has a great blend of faculty members with unique experiences (diplomats, veterans, investors, etc.) Since I was in the Middle East Studies Program, I would recommend anything taught by Nathan Brown, Marc Lynch, Shira Robinson, Ilana Feldman, Dina Khoury, and Shana Marshall. Practitioners like Amb. Gnehm and Judith Yaphe were amazing. Those were some of my favorite faculty members. Again, balance the broader courses on theory, history, etc. with courses on narrower topics like oil, the federal budget, military effectiveness, and others. Also, take your Arabic exam fresh off of a study abroad program or lessons at the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center.

What was your experience with the job search post-graduation? Can you provide any wisdom for students starting their job search?

Ask for help from your peers and faculty. Attend office hours. Leverage the Elliott School Graduate Career Development resources. Do some sleuthing on LinkedIn. Life is messy and you may feel like you’re running from job, to internship, to class, to Arabic lessons, and back home. Gym? Chipotle? Bottle of wine? (Another) coffee from Starbucks? Do what you got to do to get through. It’s hard, and it’s a hustle. In most cases, when you interview, you’re not going to “wow folks” with your knowledge of international relations theory, but you will captivate them with your grit and your personal story. At one point, I was trying to finish my Arabic requirement, working on-campus, interning, waiting tables at night, and of course juggling a personal life. I didn’t do it alone and you don’t have to either. Reach out. I am glad to help you if I can.

What was the most rewarding aspect of your time at the Elliott School?

Working for Amb. Gnehm was a very special experience. Additionally, the opportunity to travel to Jordan and conduct interviews for my capstone project, and then to see it all come together at the end, was very rewarding.

What book should be required reading for all Elliott School grad students and why?

The Back Channel by Amb. William J. Burns and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. The former is a practical guide to diplomacy and statecraft. The latter is a reminder not to sweat the small stuff.

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Find out more about this program by creating a CustomViewbook!
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The #ElliottProud profile series is managed by the Elliott School Office of Graduate Admissions and highlights graduate program alumni 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.

#ElliottProud: Teagan Reese

Teagan Reese, M.A. International Affairs, Class of 2020, #ElliottProud alumna

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Teagan Reese is a Presidential Management Fellow at the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the Office of National Capital Region Coordination. In her role as an Emergency Management Specialist, she supports FEMA in coordinating homeland security and emergency management planning at the federal, state, regional and local levels. She holds a B.A. in International Political Economy and French Studies from Fordham University, and earned an M.A. in International Affairs from the George Washington University’s Elliott School in Spring 2020. While at the Elliot School, she completed internships at the U.S. Department of State and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

Prior to joining FEMA, Teagan served as an analyst for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment in their Office of Industrial Policy. In her free time, Teagan continues to pursue her passion for ballet and fosters animals for City Dogs Rescue and City Kitties in Washington, D.C.

Describe your current position and what made you interested in applying?

I am a current Presidential Management Fellow and serve as an Emergency Management Planner in FEMA’s Office of National Capital Region Coordination (ONCRC). I recently completed a three-month rotation supporting Operation Allies Welcome.

I was interested in applying to the PMF program for its focus on professional development and preparing for the federal workforce. Once I became a finalist, I initially considered appointments related to foreign affairs, but ONCRC stood out as an exciting opportunity for me to experience a more domestic-focused mission while still supporting U.S. national security.

What do you wish other people knew about your organization?

I came into the Department of Homeland Security not knowing much about the organization and its culture other than what I heard in the news. However, even in the short time that I have been working for FEMA and deployed to DHS, I have been incredibly impressed by the knowledge and dedication of the DHS workforce. I wish other people could understand the importance of DHS and see firsthand the impact of all of its components on national security, immigration, and emergency response.

What Elliott School courses would you recommend for students interested in your field and why?

I recommend Transnational Security with Rollie Lal and the Formal Briefing professional skills course.

First, Rollie Lal’s Transnational Security course provides a robust and engaging overview of major transnational security issues, and Dr. Lal encourages students to think critically about solving complex problems. Not only is Dr. Lal an incredibly knowledgeable academic, but she also really cares about her students – so much so that she provides mini-lectures on topics that are useful for graduate students, like loans and personal savings.  

I would also recommend Molly Bauch’s Formal Briefing course, which greatly improved my public speaking and briefing skills. By receiving critiques from my peers and analyzing recordings of my briefings, I honed in on weaknesses that I had never noticed before. I continue to employ techniques from that course almost every day, in both my personal and professional life.

What was your experience with the job search post-graduation? Can you provide any wisdom for students starting their job search?

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic made my post-graduation job search very challenging. I began applying to jobs almost four months before graduating in May 2020 and applied to over 100 positions before accepting an offer in July 2020. I used a spreadsheet to keep track of all of the jobs, deadlines, and updates, and after graduating, I set a daily application goal to keep myself moving forward – two strategies that I would highly recommend.

On top of that, I encourage students to know their worth – while you may be demoralized and tired of applying to jobs, the first offer you receive might not be the right fit for you. If you are financially able to do so, be shrewd in accepting a position that values you not only in terms of salary, but also as a professional.  

What was the most rewarding aspect of your time at the Elliott School?

While I benefitted greatly from my courses and professors at the Elliott School, the most rewarding aspect was cultivating personal and professional relationships with an incredibly supportive and talented network of students. Not only did Elliott’s diverse student body enrich my lectures and capstone experience, but my fellow students became an immediate community of friends in a city that I had just moved to. I am still close with so many of my fellow students, and continue to be impressed by the professional achievements of the alums I took class with. My relationships with fellow GW students continue to be the most rewarding aspect of my time in graduate school.

What happy change have you seen or experienced since 2020?

While I have experienced my fair share of emotional and physical distress during quarantine, I’ve also been able to connect with my family more than ever. In March 2020, my family jumped on the Zoom bandwagon and scheduled a weekly call with my parents and siblings. Because we were all either retired, unemployed, or teleworking, we had an abundance of time to connect and continued these weekly calls for over a year. Thanks to quarantine, I went from seeing my family three or four times a year, to seeing them every week. While virtual hang-outs were never as satisfying as seeing each other in person, I still appreciated getting to connect with my family regularly. 

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“Want to connect with current Elliott School students and alumni? Click here to see how!
Find out more about this program by creating a CustomViewbook!
Join us for an information session, RSVP here!
Click here to apply to the Elliott School!
Twitter · Facebook · Instagram

The #ElliottProud profile series is managed by the Elliott School Office of Graduate Admissions and highlights graduate program alumni 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.

#IncomingElliott: Vicente Rodriguez

Vicente Rodriguez, M.A. International Affairs, Class of 2023, #IncomingElliott Student

Vicente Rodriguez is an incoming graduate student at the Elliott School of International Affairs. He will be working towards an M.A. in International Affairs concentrating in International Security and U.S. Foreign Policy. He received his bachelor’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Sonoma State University in 2016. Soon after graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and became a defender in Security Forces. He was fortunate to be stationed at Royal Air Force Alconbury in the United Kingdom and Vandenberg Air Force Base in Southern California. During his overseas tour, he was tasked with a deployment. He further had the opportunity to travel a total of 15 countries in the European Union, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. Currently, he is a Department Analyst with the county of Mendocino in his hometown of Ukiah, California. Vicente enjoys traveling, basketball, indoor soccer, reading, and great conversations about current events.