The political science department partnered with the Tennessee World Affairs Council to sponsor their third international career panel.
The panel’s speakers featured ambassadors, a former United States Foreign Service Officer and representatives from the Peace Corps, the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program and Healing Hands International.
Political science professor Dr. Susan Haynes said the panel selection process was strategically made to have a variety of experience and wisdom available for students.
“We tried to get people in a broad range of careers from people who have had distinguished 50-year careers in the foreign service to people who graduated not too long ago,” Haynes said. “So people could talk about an entire lifespan with different countries under their belt, and some who had entered the career market more recently.”
Among those in attendance was 2015 graduate Spencer Bailey. After graduating from Lipscomb with a degree in law, justice and society, Bailey now works for the US fund for UNICEF as a community engagement fellow. He said the event’s speakers event was full of advice and opportunities for students interested in international careers, and it was helpful for him, being someone new to the international job market.
“I thought there was some incredible advice given on if you want to do international work then focusing on learning a foreign language and becoming an expert in that language, also in not trying to micromanage your career,” Bailey said. “Just in the short while since I’ve graduated just the different things that have popped up and the opportunities I never saw coming.”
Michael McClellan of the US State Department presented some of the good advice Bailey talked about.
“The one thing I learned from this whole experience was that if I were going back to start it all over again and if I were 18, 19 or 20 years old, the one piece of advice I would give you is don’t try to micromanage your future, leave yourself open to fate, kismet, luck, whatever you want to call it.”
Former United States Armor Officer and current Vanderbilt professor, Dr. Michael Newton said for students to not become complacent in the “Lipscomb bubble” and to take an active approach on beginning their careers.
“My point to you is to get out of your bubble, read stuff, listen to people, seek out different perspectives and add too that a layer of expertise,” Newton said. “Get really good at what you do. Don’t be a dabbler. Be good at what you do and go do it.”
Haynes said events like this are important for students to take advantage of, even if students are not specifically interested in a career in international service.
“Invite your friends, come to these things because the more word we can get out in terms of preparing for life after college the better,” said Haynes.
In addition to attending these events, students are also encouraged to get involve by applying for a student membership to the Tennessee World Affairs Council. The Tennessee World Affairs Council is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit group dedicated to educating Tennessee on international relations and foreign affairs.
“You can put the membership on your resume which is always a good thing, but there are also scholarships available,” Haynes said. “There’s study abroad experiences that are available, and there is a national conference in D.C., so by being a student member for only $20, people get access to all that.”
Future events and membership information can be found at tnwac.org.