Recent Alumni

Elise Crane , 2011, United States

U.S. Department of State, Foreign Service Officer - Kampala, Uganda 

On campus life:  During orientation, second-year students warned the incoming class that we couldn’t possibly attend all the lectures, luncheons, club meetings and assorted events offered during any given week. After two weeks of trying desperately to prove them wrong, I accepted that I’d have to pick and choose if I ever wanted to sleep again. There is always something fascinating happening on campus and the biggest challenge is choosing amongst the myriad of options. Events aside, every day conversations were always inspiring, the community is incredibly tight-knit, and a friendly face is never far away. This sometimes made studying on campus difficult but highlights the social component as an integral part of the Fletcher experience.

How Fletcher has broadened my global perspective: At Fletcher, the diversity in students, faculty, and research opportunities is magnificent and provides an ideal foundation for an international career. My new friends came from Iran, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Chile, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, China, Moldova, Slovakia, Turkmenistan, and everywhere in between. I am took courses with such eminent scholars as Iranian-born Vali Nasr and Palestinian-born Nadim Rouhana, both at the top of their fields and highly respected in academic and policy circles around the world. The opportunity to engage in dialogue with students and faculty from such diverse and illustrious backgrounds provided an unparalleled setting for graduate study in international relations and vastly broadened my global perspective.

How has the Fletcher alumni network been helpful to you?

The Fletcher alumni network has been a tremendous asset in my career. The people I've met from Fletcher at the State Department seem predisposed to help me out and suggest other contacts. I never hesitate to reach out to Fletcher grads I haven't met; they always respond so positively and helpfully.