Sarah Wittemyer (International Affairs, 2024) is a recent CU Boulder graduate now pursuing a master’s degree in International Relations at the Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals. During her time at CU, she wrote an undergraduate honors thesis, An Exclusive Entry: Analysis of the Spanish Asylum System, graduated summa cum laude honors, and was a student assistant for the International Affairs Program.
What motivated you to pursue graduate studies in international affairs, and how has the experience been so far?
I really enjoyed studying International Affairs at CU and by the time I graduated, I knew I wasn’t ready to stop being a student. I’m passionate about learning about global affairs and issues, so pursuing a Master’s in International Relations was an easy decision for me. My experience here in Barcelona has been amazing! My studies are challenging but rewarding thanks to my professions, my peers, and the academic and personal growth I’ve had.
How has studying in Spain postgrad influenced your understanding of global issues and international collaboration?
Studying in Spain has broadened my understanding of global issues and international collaboration in ways I never expected. In my program of roughly 200 people, I’m among only a handful of Americans which has pushed me out of my comfort zone in so many ways and given me new perspectives. Learning about complex topics and issues in international relations with people and professors from all over the world has drastically changed my world view. I think I used to view global issues and international collaboration in straightforward, black-and-white ways but since beginning my studies, I’ve started to understand how much nuance there is in these topics. The more I learn the more I realize there’s few concrete answers to some of the biggest questions in international affairs. The more you know the more you realize how much you don’t know!
What skills or experiences from CU Boulder have been most valuable in your graduate studies?
CU helped prepare me for my graduate studies in so many ways. Taking on big academic challenges such as doing the IAFS Honors Program taught me skills in writing, analysis, and time management which have been very applicable here. Most of my classes at CU required public speaking and class participation which were great experiences for me because my graduate classes have the same requirements! Many of my classmates come from backgrounds that didn’t require these skills which has made me grateful for those experiences at CU. The student assistant position I had with the IAFS Program at CU was one of the most valuable experiences I had as well. Learning how to work in a professional environment prepared me for the environment that comes with being a graduate student. Additionally, studying abroad before my junior year at CU helped prepare me for living in a new country and helped mitigate my culture shock. Overall, CU gave me lots of skills and experiences that have assisted me in my graduate studies!
Have you encountered any unique challenges or opportunities as a woman studying and working in international affairs?
There are definitely some challenges as a woman studying and working in international affairs because it is such a male-dominated field. For example, women are a minority in diplomatic positions across the world with only 21% of all ambassadors and representatives being women. Everyone in my program is very kind and respectful, but in some of my classes the men generally speak more than women so it can be intimidating to make my voice heard. I notice that when a woman starts to speak up it encourages other women to speak up too, so I always do my best to participate. I think it resonates with the professors too when women talk more which has given me opportunities to make an impression and better connect with them.
What are your career aspirations, and how do you see yourself contributing to the field?
My career aspirations are to work for a think tank in the field of international relations. I’m interested in working for ones that conduct research and work related to the Middle East and/or Africa especially. Think tanks help inform the public of the world around them, influence policy, and further research in specific fields which is essential in international affairs. Being a part of the work and research think tanks do is my biggest professional goal.
If you could go back and give advice to yourself as a college senior, what would it be?
The biggest advice I would give myself as a college senior is to relax, let things happen naturally, and enjoy the present more. I was so nervous during my senior year about the future but I’ve come to realize that having high expectations and constantly worrying about what’s going to happen is counter-productive. Prepare for the future, but don’t obsess over it. There’s so much going on in the present to enjoy!
What role do you think women play in shaping the future of international affairs?
Women are critical in shaping the future of international affairs! Historically, women have been portrayed to have minimal roles and agency in global politics. For example, in my classes I learned how in the 1800s the practice of international humanitarianism emerged with Florence Nightingale, a woman who provided humanitarian aid to soldiers during the Crimean war. She helped create modern humanitarian aid but she is largely unknown! Rather, Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross, was inspired by her work and is now largely given credit as the creator of modern humanitarianism. This is changing though… as women become globally empowered, their impact in global politics is astounding. Women are starting to become some of the most important thinkers, activists, researchers, diplomats, scholars, and hold many other essential positions in international affairs. There is a long way to go in empowering women across the world, but it’s clear that we are going to be pivotal in shaping the future of international affairs!
Learn more about the IAFS Honors Program and check out the Outstanding Honors Theses!
