Recent alumni of International Affairs graduate program on the move in government, nonprofits

Several recent graduates from MTSU’s Master of Arts in International Affairs program have turned their education and enhanced internship experiences into career-building professional positions in policy analysis, nonprofits, education, international business, government and more.

Dr. Jon DiCicco

“We are excited about where our students go, both after graduating and while they’re completing their degrees — whether it be Atlanta to intern with the International Rescue Committee, Moldova to assist refugees from Ukraine, Romania as an intern with the U.S. State Department, or Laos on a prestigious Fulbright scholarship,” said Jon DiCicco, who recently stepped into the position of program director.

He added, “Middle Tennessee may not be Washington, D.C., but that hasn’t stopped our students from going there to launch careers.”

Here are some of the program’s successful recent graduates:

Amina Jagne graduated in 2022 and now works as the administrative coordinator for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition in Nashville.
Bryce Bivens graduated in 2020 and now works as a political analyst for the Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville.
Darrika Morklithavong graduated in 2022 and recently completed her Fulbright award where she served as an English teaching assistant in Savannakhet, Laos.
Victor Sanchez graduated in 2021 and now works as the director of talent pipelines for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Baye Sambou graduated in 2020 and now works out of Geneva, Switzerland, as a technical officer in the International Labor Organization, an agency of the United Nations.
Molly Woodman graduated in 2020 and now works as a federal contractor in Washington D.C.
Camila Perez Ruales graduated in 2021 and now works as grants manager at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Darrika Morklithavong, alumna of Middle Tennessee State University’s international affairs graduate program, poses for a photo at the Victory Monument in Vientiane, Laos. Morklithavong earned a Fulbright award during her studies and recently completed her work as an English teaching assistant at a local school in her placement city of Savannakhet, Laos. (Submitted photo)

DiCicco said the program’s faculty, international student body and internship opportunities equip graduates to take on these important positions on the regional, national and international stage.

“Our faculty and their courses provide students with a solid foundation to work in government, in diplomacy and foreign relations, in the nonprofit sector, in higher education and in the business community,” he said. “We have a diverse and highly motivated student body who help each other to grow and to understand international affairs from different points of view. And our enhanced internship experience allows students to earn academic credit while building professional skills and networks.”

Darrika Morklithavong said she would highly recommend the program to other students and highlighted the approachability and support of the professors.

“They challenged me to think critically and creatively, and they helped me develop a deeper understanding of international affairs,” said Morklithavong, who is originally from Nashville, Tennessee, and plans to continue her work expanding global education access for children and youth. “I also appreciated the creative freedom that the professors allowed us. We were encouraged to apply our work from the classroom to our current careers and future career aspirations.”

Baye Sambou, alumnus of Middle Tennessee State University’s international affairs graduate program, smiles for a photo in a hallway of flags on his first day as a technical officer at the International Labour Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. (Submitted photo)

Baye Sambou said the six-credit practicum course attracted him to the program because it was a unique opportunity to develop both practical and academic knowledge compared to the other programs he had researched.

“Faculty members and the administration are very supportive and set you up for success regardless of who you are,” said the Senegal native, emphasizing the assistance he received participating in the United Nations Graduate Study Programme.

Darrika Morklithavong, alumna of Middle Tennessee State University’s international affairs graduate program, standing front row wearing her tan school uniform, takes a photo with her students and a school principal on the last day of exams this summer during her recently completed Fulbright award work as an English teaching assistant at a local school in her placement city of Savannakhet, Laos. (Submitted photo)

“Then, I completed my practicum hours at the United Nations Population Fund Headquarters in New York City. This gave me a unique opportunity to learn on-the-job and real-world experience and cultivate career-ready skills…. I was exposed to the multicultural environment of the United Nations and its working modalities with a wide range of technical partners from around the world.”

Baye Sambou, alumnus of Middle Tennessee State University’s international affairs graduate program, now works as a technical officer at the International Labour Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, and takes a photo during his participation in this year’s International Labour Conference in Geneva. (Submitted photo)

As more of the program’s graduates find opportunity and success in the real world, DiCicco hopes to spread the word about their accomplishments and what the program can unlock for prospective students.

“Middle Tennessee is increasingly connected to the wider world, and our program provides graduates with tools to understand and navigate that world, to move confidently in professional circles and to move up the ladder,” he said. “Completing the program can help to open doors and advance careers in a remarkable range of sectors, and the master’s degree qualifies graduates for rewarding professional positions that would otherwise be out of reach.”

DiCicco said those interested in learning more about the program can email him directly at Jon.DiCicco@mtsu.edu or visit the program’s website at https://www.mtsu.edu/programs/international-affairs-ma/. Applications are considered on a rolling basis with no specific deadline or GRE test required, so DiCicco said it is easier than ever to apply.

— Stephanie Wagner (Stephanie.Wagner@mtsu.edu)