Featured Alumni
Diane M. Hardy
Degree/Year: B.A., International Studies and Spanish, 1992
Current Employer: Milwaukee Public Schools (Rufus King International School)
Title: Spanish Teacher
I started studying Spanish as a high school freshman because some of my friends were Latinos, but I had hoped for a career in Washington, D.C., when I graduated from Bradley. Before doing that, though, I wanted to serve in the Peace Corps. I needed volunteer hours to be accepted, so I started tutoring immigrant children and soon realized education is my calling. I returned to college to get my teaching license.
I am fortunate that I go to work every day in an incredibly diverse school named Rufus King International School. It is an International Baccalaureate school that takes an international approach to education. Our school includes primarily African-American students with significant Caucasian, Asian, Arab, and Latino populations.
Having a liberal arts degree has given me tremendous flexibility in my career. While at Bradley, I was encouraged to study abroad, take classes from other departments and intern in Washington, D.C. Between the BU classroom and its extra-curricular activities, I was able to further my knowledge and even challenge long-held beliefs.
Watching Bradley grow and progress has been a thrill for me. As a forensics coach, I have brought students to BU’s great tournaments. When I started at BU, there were limited opportunities for study abroad, but now students can go all over the world and study languages and cultures of countries that are less traveled.
Never close yourself off from any different path. Most students going into IS plan a career in the foreign service. While some of my BU friends have gone to work for the State Department and on Capitol Hill, others went into education, journalism and business. There are so many ways to use our skills in IS.
Michael Carl Budd
Degree/Year:
B.A., International Studies and French, 2008
Current Employer: Institute of International Education
Title: Program Officer
Since I was little, I’ve been interested in other cultures and trying new things. When I was ten my dad let me tag along on a business trip to Paris and I was hooked. My love for travel led to an interest in the history and the politics of other countries and how they connect to and affect the U.S. and Americans. When I enrolled at Bradley, I knew that the Institute of International Studies was the right fit. During my freshman year, Dr. Sconduto of the French department convinced me to add a French major and I’m really glad I did. I started studying French at age ten and it made sense to continue focusing on it in college.
One of the things I most appreciated about Bradley, and especially about both of my departments, is the flexibility toward and the encouragement of studying abroad. Spending my junior year in France was highly formative and connected me with other opportunities such as interning at the U.S. Embassy in Paris. Making study abroad work financially and with regard to class requirements and grading, Bradley stands head and shoulders above many other schools.
As a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, I represented the Rotary Club of Peoria while attending the American University in Cairo, Egypt. I gave speeches, attended fundraisers and volunteered alongside Egyptian Rotarians. I also taught English in the Sudanese refugee community. Here in New York, I’ve worked for the American Society for Muslim Advancement as a writing and editing consultant for its women’s initiative. What I enjoy most about the work and volunteer experiences I have had since Bradley is the opportunity to meet people from diverse backgrounds. Being exposed to other cultures and other ways of thinking has helped me grow as a person.
Bradley has continued to support me. The rapport I developed with several of my professors has proven lasting. From pep talks while I finished my thesis to ideas for other alumni to contact in my job search, my Bradley professors have continued to be a great source of help.
Anyone considering a degree in international studies shouldn’t worry about it being a narrow field. In an increasingly globalized world, it’s important to know how political and economic systems function on a global level. Careers in fields from international business to diplomacy to humanitarian work all build off of this. For similar reasons, a degree in foreign language is useful, too – having a second or third language is a major asset in employment.
