Featuring Our Alumni
CLASS OF 2023
Sarah Lamia Benhalima
Major: International Relations with a focus in European studies, security studies, and foreign policy
She was a Marketing Director for the 22-23 Academic Year, a Resident Assistant who won an award of recognition by ResLife, and was the secretary of ARISE.
Sarah is currently planning to start a Masters in International Affairs.
Advice: “Don’t be scared to try new things and take on difficult roles!”
Isabella Newell
Major: International Relations and Political Science, with a focus in African Politics and Foreign Policy and Security Studies
She was the President of BUIAA, Head Delegate of MUN@BU, former BARMUN XIII Under-Secretary General. Bella also graduated Magna Cum Laude, and served on the Provost's Undergraduate Advisory Board, in the College of Arts and Sciences Student Government and BU Student Government as a Senator. She worked for the Department of State at the U.S Embassy Kinshasa and the Africa Regional Media Hub.
Bella is currently spending Summer 2023 traveling around the US and Asia (teaching MUN to K-12 students) before starting work in the Fall!
Advice: “Always have faith in yourself, your abilities, and your capacity to reach your goals (both in BUIAA and out). You have more potential than you even know, and ambition is always your ally. TLDR: if you can dream it, do it!”
Bridgette Lang
Major: IR (Foreign Policy and Security Studies, Europe)
Minor: European Studies
Bridgette graduated Summa Cum Laude, was the recipient of the Chandler A. Citizenship Award, successfully defended her Honors Thesis, was the former IRR EIC and BarMUN DG, and was a former Department of State and UNHCR intern.
Bridgette has accepted a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Lithuania.
Advice: "Take risks! You never know until you try.”
Helen Ganley
Major: Business Administration ; Concentration In Accounting
Helen graduated Magna Cum Laude. She was the Treasurer of Bu on Broadway, a peer advisor, and President of the Senior Class for Questrom Student Government.
Helen is floating between Virginia, Ocean City MD, and Boston visiting friends and studying for the CPA exam for the next 6 months. January 2024, she will start as a member of Tax Staff for EY in Boston
Advice: “Don’t get overwhelmed! There’s 9,000 branches of BUIAA, your niche is somewhere, don’t stress too much and overcommit!”
CLASS OF 2022
Angela Song
Major: International Relations (Asia track, Foreign Policy, and Security Studies track)
She was the Director of the Layout of the IRR and was the Captain of BU Quidditch during her time in school. In addition, she was on senior staff for BarMUN and BosMUN.
Angela is currently part of the Admin Staff of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine as a Program Coordinator.
Advice: Do the things that make you happy! also, be open to new opportunities and encounters because you never know how that will come along the way later on. Lastly, take every moment as a learning point as there will be something that you will learn about; either something that you realize that you like or don't enjoy.
Ethan Wong
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Philosophy
He was a USG for BarMUN XII, was a former Secretary and President for BUIAA, DG for BarMUN XIV, which was the first collegiate conference post-COVID in person! He also spoke at BOSMUN's Closing Ceremonies at my 5th BOSMUN. In addition, he was the Director of Academic Affairs, a Member of the Provost's Undergraduate Student Advisory Board, and an Associate Justice for Student Government. He was also the Secretary for BU miXx, BU's Premier Kpop Dance Cover Team.
Ethan is located in Washington DC. He is working as a Litigation Paralegal at Wilkinson Stekloff LLP, a boutique trial litigation firm!
Advice: Taking care of yourself should always be the priority.
CLASS OF 2020
Elisa Cifiello
Major: International relations, concentration in International Systems & World Order, Regional focus: Asia
Elisa was on the Dean's List and was the SUN Director during her time at BUIAA.
Elisa is currently working for the United Nations in Rome and is focusing on climate finance tracking for projects in all the regions at IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development). She is also pursuing a part-time master’s in sustainable finance at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, where she is integrating teachings from this degree into her current role. She hopes to continue focusing on sustainable finance and ultimately focus more on mitigating climate change, either focusing on Europe directly or continuing on her current path in agricultural development with a focus on adaptation and mitigation.
Advice: “I would trust the process that it takes to get you to your dreams! It may take many internships doing part-time jobs, or doing jobs you don't like at first, but I would say to trust where these different parts of life take you and to never give up. Never stop networking, learning, and focusing on self-growth.”
Jordann Krouse
Major: International Relations (Environmental Development and Latin America)
Minor: Environmental Analysis and Policy
Most of her awards were from being on the travel team on MUN@BU Team!
Jordann is currently in Law School at the University of Washington and working for a firm in Seattle.
Advice: “Have fun! Seriously, BUIAA was some of the most fun I had while at BU. But, it was also a lot of work, so don’t let the work cloud over the fun.”
CLASS OF 2019
Advice: “Take every opportunity that comes your way because every single one will be a stepping stone to something even better. Invest time in maintaining relationships - personal and professional - and use your time at BU to connect with all kinds of people from all over the world that you might never meet otherwise. Never pass up a chance to travel, and spend as much BU money as possible to do it while you're there - trust me, there are plenty of programs on campus that will pay you to go to China, Israel, Lebanon, Uganda, and more. It's very easy to get lost in the competitiveness and authority of BUIAA and Model UN, but remember that the field you are in comes with a cornerstone of humanitarian work. As you advance your own skills and experience through BUIAA and beyond, remember to consider how you can use them to give back to your community and the world.”
Raina Kadavil
Major: International Relations (concentration in Middle East/North Africa and Security Studies)
Raina was the Editor-in-Chief of the International Relations Review and Founder and Director of Students for the UN. She was also the Marketing Director of BUIAA for a year! In addition, she conducted research in Istanbul as a WEMUN Secretary-General UROP awardee, is the CEO of Urban Refuge, and is an awardee of the William R. Keylor Travel Grant.
Raina has worked at Mastercard since graduating from BU, first in Marketing and now as a Senior Specialist in Mastercard’s Center for Inclusive Growth. At Mastercard, She has been recognized with the CEO Force for Good award and served as Philanthropy chair of their Young Professionals and Women’s Leadership Network organizations. She just graduated from Johns Hopkins’ Carey Business School with an MBA, concentrating in Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Business Leadership. She sits on the Board of Directors of the United Nations Association of Westchester, is the CEO of Urban Refuge, and sits on the Comprehensive Planning Council of her hometown of White Plains. She is also serving as a Red Cross disaster responder, learning Hindi, and writing her second book.