Presented By: Program in International and Comparative Studies
Program in International and Comparative Studies Annual International Studies Alumni Career Panel and Reception
International Studies Alumni
The Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS) will host its annual International Studies Alumni Career Panel in person and virtually on Monday, March 11, 2024.
If you wish to attend virtually, please register here: https://myumi.ch/35Z7w
This alumni panel will showcase and celebrate the university’s rich history of contributions made by International Studies alumni, while providing valuable insight for current students as they start to develop their own career paths. The panel will include a student Q&A portion. This will be followed by a reception.
PICS is home to the International Studies major and minor. Established in 2009, International Studies is one of the largest majors in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, with over 2000 accomplished alumni worldwide. International Studies graduates pursue numerous career paths, many going on to work with corporations, non-profits, or government agencies, as well as progressing directly on to graduate school.
Learn where an International Studies major can take you!
If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us at is-michigan@umich.edu. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.
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Kaisha Brezina, Master of Social Work Student, University of Michigan
Ann Arbor
BA Psychology; minor, International Studies '17
Kaisha Brezina (she/her/hers) was born in Muskegon, Michigan and spent much of her time as a child in Western Michigan and throughout Florida. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2017 with a degree in Psychology and International Studies. After graduation Kaisha worked at the University of Michigan School of Social Work as a coordinator for global programs, working with students to create their own global experience, incoming exchange students, and international visitors. Kaisha took part in the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program in Qarshi, Uzbekistan during the academic year of 2021-2022. In Uzbekistan, she worked at a local public school, an American Corner, and an after-school program for students in grades 10 and 11. Kaisha is currently pursuing her Master's of Social Work at the University of Michigan, with a focus on Global Social Work. Looking to the future, Kaisha plans to pursue a career promoting social justice with a focus on program evaluation, development, and resource equity.
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Cheryl Gordon, Strategic Engagement Senior Analyst, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth
New York City
MBA Candidate, NYU Stern School of Business
BA International Studies (International Security, Norms and Cooperation); minor, French;
Honors ‘18
Cheryl Gordon is a Senior Analyst for the Strategic Engagement Team at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. She supports the management of a large and diverse portfolio of partnerships and engagements in the United States and globally focused on advancing equitable and sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion. Cheryl previously worked in Business Development for Mastercard Data & Services. Prior to Mastercard, Cheryl worked as a Business Development Analyst for the Capital Markets group at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.
Cheryl received her B.A. in International Studies from the University of Michigan where she was awarded the Marshall Sahlins Social Science Award and studied abroad in France. She is a current MBA candidate at NYU Stern School of Business, specializing in Sustainable Business and Innovation.
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Matt Harmon, Marketing and Communications Associate, The Heat and Warmth Fund
Detroit
BA International Studies (Comparative Culture and Identity); minor, Playwriting ‘20
Matt Harmon is an award-winning playwright, director, teaching artist and marketing specialist. Born and raised in Michigan, their plays have been produced in Michigan, Wisconsin, Washington D.C., Texas, Florida, and New York. They graduated from the University of Michigan in 2020 with a Bachelors in International Studies and a minor in Playwriting. During their undergraduate studies, they travelled to Poland and India to work at various internships and to Kosovo to teach a playwriting summer camp. After graduation, Matt worked for the EcoWorks Youth Energy Squad in Detroit, designing environmental justice curricula for middle- and high-school students. Matt currently works in Detroit as the Marketing and Communications Associate at The Heat and Warmth Fund, a nonprofit that provides utility assistance and weatherization education across Michigan. They also work as a YMCA Teaching Artist and an InsideOut Literary Arts Assistant Writer-in-Residence.
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Tsukumo Niwa Sattler, Conference Interpreter and Intercultural Communicator, Tabunka Communications
Jacksonville, NC
BA International Studies (Comparative Culture and Identity), Honors ‘17
BM Oboe Performance ‘17
Minor in Community Action and Social Change
Tsukumo Niwa Sattler (she/her) is a freelance interpreter and translator working in Japanese-English language combination. Growing up bilingual and bicultural in Japan and the United States, she first interpreted and translated for her Japanese parents as a teenager and then grew up to become fully trained and certified, including CoreCHI-P™ and Arizona Court Tier A certifications. Skilled at providing simultaneous and consecutive interpretation, both in-person and remotely, Tsukumo has worked for the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020+1, Honda R&D, Meta, Verizon, Microsoft, GSK, and Hitachi, among many others. She has attended the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, where she started her exploration into social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ever since, she has been striving to use her skills in intercultural communications to promote a world where people can collaborate across languages and empower each other to create a better future.
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Chinemelu Okafor, PhD student, Graduate Prize Fellow, Karl Deutsch Fellow, and 2023 Weatherhead Center Graduate Student Affiliate at Harvard University; Staff Economist with the White House Council of Economics Advisers
Washington, D.C.
MS Applied Economics, The George Washington University, ‘18
BA International Studies (Political Economy and Development); BA Economics, University of Michigan, ‘15
Chinemelu Okafor is a Harvard PhD student, Graduate Prize Fellow, Karl Deutsch Fellow, and 2023 Weatherhead Center Graduate Student Affiliate. Chinemelu’s research aims to address what drives progress towards African economic development through a normative lens. Namely, she seeks to understand how the origins and evolution of collective political and social behaviors, as well as how the structure of society, can help inform contemporary development outcomes in Nigeria. In 2023 Chinemelu was recognized as a Forbes 30 under 30 awardee in education for her work as the founder and president of the Research in Color Foundation — an organization dedicated to increasing the representation and retention of underrepresented minorities and historically excluded scholars in economics through mentorship and financial support. In the past, Chinemelu has worked with institutions such as the World Bank Group, the United Nations, and the Royal African Society, among others. Chinemelu holds a Bachelor’s in Economics and International Studies from the University of Michigan and a Master’s in Applied Economics from the George Washington University. For the 2023-2024 school year, Chinemelu will be on leave from her PhD program and working as a staff economist with the White House Council of Economics Advisers on topics related to international economics and international trade.
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Hannah Pierce, Archbishop Desmond Tutu International Policy Fellow, Perseus Strategies
Fort Collins, CO
B.A. Political Science and International Studies (International Security, Cooperation, and Norms) ‘20
Hannah Pierce is the Archbishop Desmond Tutu International Policy Fellow for Perseus Strategies, an international human rights law firm based in Washington DC. As such, she blends legal, government, and media advocacy to advance a wide variety of human rights projects around the world. Hannah primarily manages the firm’s advocacy efforts within the UN Human Rights Council to create international standards for the social reintegration of convicted individuals, while also managing an ongoing political prisoner case in Cambodia. She previously worked as a Case Manager for Health First Colorado (Medicaid), ensuring the health and dignity of low-income individuals with physical or mental disabilities. She has also completed internships with her U.S. Congresswoman and the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender. Hannah graduated with high distinction from the University of Michigan in 2020, focusing on racial and gender inequity in public policy, especially regarding poverty, incarceration, and health. Inspiring her passion for criminal justice reform, Hannah was also a mentor for incarcerated at-risk youth in Detroit, leading rehabilitative efforts for their successful social reintegration after release.
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Christopher Pumford, Presidential Management Fellow, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Washington, D.C.
Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD), The Fletcher School at Tufts University ‘21; BA International Studies (International Security, Norms and Cooperation); BA Political Science; Minor, Music; Minor, Middle East and North African Studies ‘19
Born in Montreal and raised in Howell, Christopher departed from Michigan after his freshman year to serve as a missionary in Toronto for two years. Upon returning to campus, he engaged in a variety of international activities, including the Ottawa Internship Program, study abroad programs in Austria and Jordan, the FLAS Fellowship, and the Michigan in Washington Program, during which he interned with the European Union and International Center for Religion and Diplomacy.
After graduating from the University of Michigan, Christopher studied conflict resolution and international law at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy before completing a CLS scholarship in Oman. He then moved to Morocco as a Fulbright teacher before beginning his current role with the US Government. Outside of his studies, Christopher was a member of the University of Michigan Drumline, Men’s Glee Club, Barger Leadership Institute, Maize & Blue Cupboard, and LDS Student Association. He has been recognized on the floor of the US House of Representatives for his work in evacuating Afghans from Afghanistan.
This event is co-sponsored by: the Department of Political Science, Department of Economics, the Department of Psychology, the Global Scholars Program, and the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures.
If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us at is-michigan@umich.edu. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.
If you wish to attend virtually, please register here: https://myumi.ch/35Z7w
This alumni panel will showcase and celebrate the university’s rich history of contributions made by International Studies alumni, while providing valuable insight for current students as they start to develop their own career paths. The panel will include a student Q&A portion. This will be followed by a reception.
PICS is home to the International Studies major and minor. Established in 2009, International Studies is one of the largest majors in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, with over 2000 accomplished alumni worldwide. International Studies graduates pursue numerous career paths, many going on to work with corporations, non-profits, or government agencies, as well as progressing directly on to graduate school.
Learn where an International Studies major can take you!
If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us at is-michigan@umich.edu. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.
---
Kaisha Brezina, Master of Social Work Student, University of Michigan
Ann Arbor
BA Psychology; minor, International Studies '17
Kaisha Brezina (she/her/hers) was born in Muskegon, Michigan and spent much of her time as a child in Western Michigan and throughout Florida. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2017 with a degree in Psychology and International Studies. After graduation Kaisha worked at the University of Michigan School of Social Work as a coordinator for global programs, working with students to create their own global experience, incoming exchange students, and international visitors. Kaisha took part in the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program in Qarshi, Uzbekistan during the academic year of 2021-2022. In Uzbekistan, she worked at a local public school, an American Corner, and an after-school program for students in grades 10 and 11. Kaisha is currently pursuing her Master's of Social Work at the University of Michigan, with a focus on Global Social Work. Looking to the future, Kaisha plans to pursue a career promoting social justice with a focus on program evaluation, development, and resource equity.
---
Cheryl Gordon, Strategic Engagement Senior Analyst, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth
New York City
MBA Candidate, NYU Stern School of Business
BA International Studies (International Security, Norms and Cooperation); minor, French;
Honors ‘18
Cheryl Gordon is a Senior Analyst for the Strategic Engagement Team at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. She supports the management of a large and diverse portfolio of partnerships and engagements in the United States and globally focused on advancing equitable and sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion. Cheryl previously worked in Business Development for Mastercard Data & Services. Prior to Mastercard, Cheryl worked as a Business Development Analyst for the Capital Markets group at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.
Cheryl received her B.A. in International Studies from the University of Michigan where she was awarded the Marshall Sahlins Social Science Award and studied abroad in France. She is a current MBA candidate at NYU Stern School of Business, specializing in Sustainable Business and Innovation.
---
Matt Harmon, Marketing and Communications Associate, The Heat and Warmth Fund
Detroit
BA International Studies (Comparative Culture and Identity); minor, Playwriting ‘20
Matt Harmon is an award-winning playwright, director, teaching artist and marketing specialist. Born and raised in Michigan, their plays have been produced in Michigan, Wisconsin, Washington D.C., Texas, Florida, and New York. They graduated from the University of Michigan in 2020 with a Bachelors in International Studies and a minor in Playwriting. During their undergraduate studies, they travelled to Poland and India to work at various internships and to Kosovo to teach a playwriting summer camp. After graduation, Matt worked for the EcoWorks Youth Energy Squad in Detroit, designing environmental justice curricula for middle- and high-school students. Matt currently works in Detroit as the Marketing and Communications Associate at The Heat and Warmth Fund, a nonprofit that provides utility assistance and weatherization education across Michigan. They also work as a YMCA Teaching Artist and an InsideOut Literary Arts Assistant Writer-in-Residence.
---
Tsukumo Niwa Sattler, Conference Interpreter and Intercultural Communicator, Tabunka Communications
Jacksonville, NC
BA International Studies (Comparative Culture and Identity), Honors ‘17
BM Oboe Performance ‘17
Minor in Community Action and Social Change
Tsukumo Niwa Sattler (she/her) is a freelance interpreter and translator working in Japanese-English language combination. Growing up bilingual and bicultural in Japan and the United States, she first interpreted and translated for her Japanese parents as a teenager and then grew up to become fully trained and certified, including CoreCHI-P™ and Arizona Court Tier A certifications. Skilled at providing simultaneous and consecutive interpretation, both in-person and remotely, Tsukumo has worked for the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020+1, Honda R&D, Meta, Verizon, Microsoft, GSK, and Hitachi, among many others. She has attended the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, where she started her exploration into social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ever since, she has been striving to use her skills in intercultural communications to promote a world where people can collaborate across languages and empower each other to create a better future.
---
Chinemelu Okafor, PhD student, Graduate Prize Fellow, Karl Deutsch Fellow, and 2023 Weatherhead Center Graduate Student Affiliate at Harvard University; Staff Economist with the White House Council of Economics Advisers
Washington, D.C.
MS Applied Economics, The George Washington University, ‘18
BA International Studies (Political Economy and Development); BA Economics, University of Michigan, ‘15
Chinemelu Okafor is a Harvard PhD student, Graduate Prize Fellow, Karl Deutsch Fellow, and 2023 Weatherhead Center Graduate Student Affiliate. Chinemelu’s research aims to address what drives progress towards African economic development through a normative lens. Namely, she seeks to understand how the origins and evolution of collective political and social behaviors, as well as how the structure of society, can help inform contemporary development outcomes in Nigeria. In 2023 Chinemelu was recognized as a Forbes 30 under 30 awardee in education for her work as the founder and president of the Research in Color Foundation — an organization dedicated to increasing the representation and retention of underrepresented minorities and historically excluded scholars in economics through mentorship and financial support. In the past, Chinemelu has worked with institutions such as the World Bank Group, the United Nations, and the Royal African Society, among others. Chinemelu holds a Bachelor’s in Economics and International Studies from the University of Michigan and a Master’s in Applied Economics from the George Washington University. For the 2023-2024 school year, Chinemelu will be on leave from her PhD program and working as a staff economist with the White House Council of Economics Advisers on topics related to international economics and international trade.
---
Hannah Pierce, Archbishop Desmond Tutu International Policy Fellow, Perseus Strategies
Fort Collins, CO
B.A. Political Science and International Studies (International Security, Cooperation, and Norms) ‘20
Hannah Pierce is the Archbishop Desmond Tutu International Policy Fellow for Perseus Strategies, an international human rights law firm based in Washington DC. As such, she blends legal, government, and media advocacy to advance a wide variety of human rights projects around the world. Hannah primarily manages the firm’s advocacy efforts within the UN Human Rights Council to create international standards for the social reintegration of convicted individuals, while also managing an ongoing political prisoner case in Cambodia. She previously worked as a Case Manager for Health First Colorado (Medicaid), ensuring the health and dignity of low-income individuals with physical or mental disabilities. She has also completed internships with her U.S. Congresswoman and the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender. Hannah graduated with high distinction from the University of Michigan in 2020, focusing on racial and gender inequity in public policy, especially regarding poverty, incarceration, and health. Inspiring her passion for criminal justice reform, Hannah was also a mentor for incarcerated at-risk youth in Detroit, leading rehabilitative efforts for their successful social reintegration after release.
---
Christopher Pumford, Presidential Management Fellow, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Washington, D.C.
Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD), The Fletcher School at Tufts University ‘21; BA International Studies (International Security, Norms and Cooperation); BA Political Science; Minor, Music; Minor, Middle East and North African Studies ‘19
Born in Montreal and raised in Howell, Christopher departed from Michigan after his freshman year to serve as a missionary in Toronto for two years. Upon returning to campus, he engaged in a variety of international activities, including the Ottawa Internship Program, study abroad programs in Austria and Jordan, the FLAS Fellowship, and the Michigan in Washington Program, during which he interned with the European Union and International Center for Religion and Diplomacy.
After graduating from the University of Michigan, Christopher studied conflict resolution and international law at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy before completing a CLS scholarship in Oman. He then moved to Morocco as a Fulbright teacher before beginning his current role with the US Government. Outside of his studies, Christopher was a member of the University of Michigan Drumline, Men’s Glee Club, Barger Leadership Institute, Maize & Blue Cupboard, and LDS Student Association. He has been recognized on the floor of the US House of Representatives for his work in evacuating Afghans from Afghanistan.
This event is co-sponsored by: the Department of Political Science, Department of Economics, the Department of Psychology, the Global Scholars Program, and the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures.
If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us at is-michigan@umich.edu. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.
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