Katie specialized her International Studies degree in Cross-Cultural Communication and International Education with the geographic focus of Africa. Katie strategically shaped her master’s to build her professional skillset targeting student support and engagement. She was an Undergraduate Advisor for International Studies, she taught Cross-Cultural Communication and advised Uplands College students in South Africa, she supported students who experience disabilities in Zambia as a Fundraising Director, and she was the International Liaison Coordinator for the UO Office of International Affairs. International Studies allowed Katie to flex her muscles in a career path she loves. Those opportunities, combined with her previous professional student engagement experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer, landed her a position as an Admissions Counselor right here at the UO. What roots Katie in this line of work is a theme of equity and inclusion. The job market rewards people with long lists of accomplishments that Katie sees as simply privileges. Therefore, she is dedicated to a holistic application review allowing students with strong transferable skills from all backgrounds and experiences to flourish at the University of Oregon – just like she did.

Urooj Mughal completed the International Studies graduate program in spring 2013. She has been working for Virginia Senator Tim Kaine (and until recently, the Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate). During her time working with Senator Kaine, she has had some exciting opportunities to be in the thick of a presidential campaign, including meeting Mr. Khizr Khan, the Gold Star father who spoke at the Democratic National Convention. Urooj is clearly putting her skills and knowledge to work in a consequential setting.

“Getting my degree from UO in GLBL in 2004 was an achievement that, I believe, gave me a great start in ‘adult life’ and what I learned during my time as a duck has led to the success and happiness I now enjoy! First off, the GLBL program taught me about different cultures and societal models that are used around the world, which both opened my mind to different ways of thinking and problem-solving, as well as gave me enhanced skills in working with folks from diverse backgrounds – so badly needed in this world today. I’ll never forget Professor Proudfoot and the way in which he instilled in me a love of history and a desire to learn the truth about the world around me.

Also, having the chance to study in Italy during my junior year was, yet another, eye-opening and mind-expanding experience that I’ve never forgotten and treasure very much. I would argue that the experience you gain studying GLBL– particularly at a world-class school like UO – is just as valuable to a young person long-term. Since graduating, I've helped to start four different businesses – a financial advisory practice, a retail store selling handmade goods, a wholesale jewelry line and a design/build construction firm (which I currently run and which employs 18 people full-time). I have been able to achieve these modest things because of the skills acquired at UO that have allowed me to partner with investors, managers, customers and employees of all different backgrounds. Business school was not needed for me, as the passion for learning that the GLBL program gave me drove me to always learn more and continually look for a better way to get things done and work more harmoniously with folks. Best of all, I met my wife at UO! We currently live in Rhode Island and have two little kids – Kevin and Carly. Guess I owe it all to the UO and, specifically, the GLBL program!”

Gary is pictured with his wife (Devienna Anggraini, UO alumni BFA Jewelry/Metalsmithing 2003) and two kids.

“Since graduation, I moved to New York City and obtained a Master’s in Social Work, with a focus on work with immigrants and refugees. In January 2016, I founded the Boaz Organization for Youth, to serve immigrant and refugee youth who have arrived to the U.S. without a parent or guardian. The organization provides crisis intervention and connects youth to emergency housing, therapy, pro bono legal representation, and ensures that they enroll in school. We also provide English classes, homework help, and painting classes. We are building a Youth Advisory Team where our clients will be the ones to dictate how the organization develops according to their needs.”

For more information please visit boazproject.org.

After graduating from the International Studies program at the University of Oregon in 2009, Sam Burke served in the Peace Corps in Nicaragua for two years, and then worked for a while with a community economic development start up NGO in the Dominican Republic. In 2016, he graduated from SIT Graduate Institute with a Master’s degree focused on Sustainable Development. Currently, Sam is working for Peace Corps Colombia in Barranquilla, Colombia. He is in the area of Programming and Training for incoming volunteers.

After graduating from the University of Oregon in 2010 with a BA in International Studies and a minor in Spanish, Julia decided to pursue a Master's in development Practice from Trinity College Dublin from 2012 – 2014. In 2013, Julia traveled to Rwanda to work alongside conservationists in the Volcanoes National Park working to sustainably use tourism dollars to protect the park which is home to hundreds of mountain gorillas – the only place where they live naturally in the wild. After completing her Masters, Julia interned with the United Nations Small Island Developing States team in New York focusing on development and environmental initiatives and conferences. In 2015, Julia returned to Oregon to work for Portland-based vacation rental company, Vacasa. She now works as the International Operations Manager overseeing operations for the company’s Latin American and European portfolios.

Brian is currently the Director of Pepperdine University’s Washington, D.C. campus where he runs an interdisciplinary program in global leadership, focused on public policy and international affairs.  He is pictured here in Morocco on the international study tour he took in Fall 2016 with his Global Leadership program students. In addition to directing the campus, he teaches courses in NGO management and global development.  Prior to this role, Brian was working with international NGOs in DC sector on both policy and programs.  Most recently, he spent six years at The Salvation Army World Service Office, where his last position was Director of Global Strategy & Partnership, leading planning and management for programs in over 120 countries worldwide.  This was a particularly rewarding job where he oversaw responses to major disasters in Japan, Philippines, Nepal, Pakistan and Haiti, as well as leading a number of economic empowerment programs for women and youth in East Africa and South Asia.

He and INTL Alumna Izumi Kasahara (M.A.-2006) are married with two children.