Alex McAuliff

Fields of study

• Gender and Intersectional Analysis
• International Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Country

USA

The path to the PhD

I did not begin my MALD with the explicit intention to seek a PhD; however, when I did begin to seriously consider the possibility of pursuing a doctorate, it was not a question whether to stay at Fletcher to do so. One of the primary reasons I chose to attend Fletcher in the first place was the faculty. Over the course of my MALD, I built close relationships with these professors, and it was clear that if I wanted to continue to have involved and engaged advisors during my doctoral work, there was nowhere better than Fletcher. I also deeply appreciated the interdisciplinarity of Fletcher, and the diversity of interests and career paths among the PhD candidates. While some will be pursuing careers in academia, others plan to become policy advisors, government officials, or economic analysts. 

On Fletcher faculty

The classroom experience at Fletcher is unparalleled. Fletcher professors are not only leaders in their fields academically, but they are experts in practice as well. Thus, in-class discussions of theoretical concepts are accompanied by stories of advising the Colombia peace process, working for the Federal Reserve, or helping to negotiate the Paris Climate Agreement. In contrast to many similar graduate programs, however, Fletcher is not simply a revolving door of professors leaving practice for a year or two to come teach, and then leaving again. The faculty are committed to Fletcher, accessible to students, know their students, and most importantly, advocate for their students in the real world when it comes time to apply for internships and jobs.

On student life

My favorite aspect of campus life at Fletcher is the incredibly high level of student engagement. Students do not simply show up for class and leave again. I don't know a single student who is not involved in multiple extra-curricular activities in some form—whether leading a club, planning a conference, or organizing for amazing speakers to come to campus. Everyone is involved and actively contributing to the Fletcher community. The high level of activity on campus enables endless opportunities to be exposed to ideas and topics one may not have the time to dedicate an entire class to, and this enhances the learning that is taking place in the classroom.

Activities at Fletcher

• International Negotiations and Conflict Resolution Club
• Conference on Gender and International Affairs
• Diplomacy Lab
• INCR Research Assistant
• INCR Faculty Search Committee

Education before Fletcher

• Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy, The Fletcher School
• Bachelor of Arts, Government, International Studies, Colby College

Experience before Fletcher

• Dialogue Program Assistant, Community Dialogue, Belfast, Northern Ireland
• Dialogue Facilitator, Seeds of Peace, Otisfield, Maine
• Chief Legislative Aide to Senate President, Maine State Senate
• Development and Outreach Coordinator, Maine Center for Economic Policy