Focusing on an Important Issue While Broadening Horizons at Fletcher

Rebecca Kelly F25 has always had an interest in global affairs and issues surrounding gender. She saw these interests intersect when serving as a constituent relations aide in the Illinois office of Senator Tammy Duckworth during the pandemic, helping immigrants with the challenges associated with their status.

“I worked on many immigration cases, which exposed me to how international politics and bureaucracy impact people on an individual level, especially women,” said Kelly.

Learning from Leading

Understanding more about the role gender plays in global affairs is important to Kelly and led her to choose gender and human security as her concentrations, with Fletcher being one of a few global affairs graduate programs that offer a study track in gender issues. Kelly was the co-chair of the 10th Annual Conference on Gender and International Affairs, the longest-running student-led conference series at Fletcher.

“Our panels covered topics ranging from health justice to conflict resolution, and we were able to show how gender affects different issues and ideas on the international stage,” said Kelly. 

Leading one of Fletcher's larger conferences was a unique teaching experience for her.

“Learning how to condense the ideas we had for the conference and put them into a consumable form that could educate others while making sure that everyone was moving in the same direction and on time was a highly educational experience for me,” said Kelly. “These are skills I will certainly bring into my future career.”

Fletcher Faculty Are Invested in Their Students

Kelly is structuring her learning experience at Fletcher to further understand the intersection of global affairs and gender issues.

“Issues today are so complex and multifaceted, and the professors at Fletcher recognize this and want to prepare students to face these challenges in a practical way,” Kelly said.

She appreciates how committed Fletcher faculty are to students – current and past.

“It’s very clear that the professors are invested in the students they teach every day and want all of us to do well,” she said. “You hear faculty talking about how their former students will still call them up when they have a difficult issue that they’re trying to work out.”

A Close-Knit, Collaborative Environment

Since her undergraduate years at Tulane, Kelly knew she would attend graduate school. When she started reviewing graduate programs, her instinct told her that Fletcher was the right place for her.

“I always knew it would be Fletcher,” said Kelly. “I was looking for a close-knit community where I knew I would feel welcomed, and I could tell that Fletcher offered a collaborative environment and aligned with my interests.”

This was reinforced for Kelly when she started at Fletcher. “I walked into orientation, and everyone was immediately friendly,” she said.

Discovering a New Career Pathway

Kelly says her time at Fletcher has provided a new perspective on what career path best suits her. 

“I came to graduate school thinking that I wanted to go back to government, but after what I’ve learned in my classes and from talking to my professors, I now realize that my personality is best for think tanks or civil society organizations rather than government, and that’s a really important discovery that I’m glad I made during my time at Fletcher,” said Kelly.

Learn more about Fletcher’s Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy degree program.