Keith Proctor , 2010, United States

On collaboration and teamwork at Fletcher: The curriculum is rigorous and the key to success is often in collaboration with your peers. This initially made me nervous. I remember working on group projects as a kid and getting stuck making the diorama all by myself. It's the whole free-rider dilemma; in most times and places, collaboration is a farce. But at Fletcher it's different, because at some point in their lives, just above everyone here used to be the kid stuck making the diorama.

On how Fletcher has broadened my global perspective: Under this roof, you might share a table with an official from South Korea, a TV producer from Ghana, or a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. Both in the classroom and out, Fletcher is a microcosm of the world, and generally the world at its best. It's like a mini-UN, but without the rivalries or bureaucratic kinks. Befriend a Rwandan student or a scholar from the Caucasus and suddenly the “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” gains immediacy and personal impact. It would be tough to escape the imprint of this place. If you come to Fletcher and take advantage of the opportunities it affords, you'll be a more nuanced and international person when you leave than when you arrived. 

Fields of Study

  • International Security Studies;
    International Political Economy

Activities involved in at Fletcher

  • Fletcher Political Forum, WILD

Education before Fletcher

  • BA, Political Science, Stanford University

Professional Experience before Fletcher

  • Director of Public Policy for the Americans for Cures Foundation;
    Political Consultant;
    High School English and History Teacher

Languages

  • English
  • French
  • Spanish