Naomi Spitz , 2010, United States

Open Society Foundation, Program Coordinator, International Migration Initiative - New York, NY 

On Career Services and the Professional Development Program: One of my favorite aspects of Fletcher is its pragmatic approach to graduate study, which emphasizes professional development. The Professional Development Program and employer information sessions were enormously helpful to me. I was able to focus my interests, build my skill-set, and learn how to communicate my qualifications for competitive job markets.

How my experience at Fletcher has changed the way I look at the world: Although I knew that I would be joining a dynamic community at Fletcher, I didn’t realize how many opportunities I would have to engage in contemporary issues during my time in graduate school. The diversity of the student body and general enthusiasm for learning here are remarkable. In the classroom every day, discussion was brought to life by the input of my classmates who came from diverse backgrounds and experiences. For instance, as we learned about theory regarding state institutions in my Comparative Politics course, classmates from countries such as Japan, India and Iraq had valuable perspectives to add. Outside of the classroom, as well, both students and professors were eager to continue conversations and challenge conventional thinking. In this way, I never could have imagined how much my Fletcher experience would broaden my global perspective and change my approach to problem-solving in international affairs.

Fields of Study

  • Development Economics
  • International Business Relations
  • Human Security

Activities involved in at Fletcher

  • Microfinance Club
  • Net Impact
  • Empower Program for Social Entrepreneurship (at the Institute for Global Leadership at Tufts)

Education before Fletcher

  • BA, International Studies and Visual Arts, Emory University

Experience before Fletcher

  • Foreign Policy Associate, William J. Clinton Foundation 
  • International Department Legal Assistant, Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, P.C.
  • Intern, International Rescue Committee

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Thesis topic

Migration, Remittances, and Small Enterprise Development: The Case of El Salvador