Major(s): BA, Spanish and International Relations
Additional Degrees: MPA, Development Studies and Demography (Princeton University, 2003)
Current Job Title: Project Manager
Organization: Ibis Reproductive Health
Brief description of your job:
I am a Project Manager at Ibis Reproductive Health
(www.ibisreproductivehealth.org), a non‑profit organization with the goal of
improving women's health, choices, and autonomy worldwide. Ibis is
collaborating on a clinical trial of the diaphragm's effectiveness in
preventing HIV transmission among women in South Africa and Zimbabwe. I work on the policy and advocacy aspects of this trial and support the
development and promotion of HIV prevention options for women. In addition, I am the executive director of the Cervical Barrier Advancement Society (www.cervicalbarriers.org), which aims to raise the profile of cervical
barrier methods both for preventing pregnancy and potentially also HIV and
other sexually transmitted infections.
Other job titles you have held:
Consultant (World Bank, Population Services International)
Program Assistant (YMCA)
Secondary School English Teacher (US Peace Corps)
How have you found these positions?
Informational interviews
Graduate school alumni network
Referrals from professors
Networking at professional events (meetings, conferences)
What skills from your degree do you use in your current work?
Language skills
Political and economic analysis
Statistics
What advice do you have for current students?
Use professors and alumni networks to learn about job opportunities, and
follow up with informational interviews. This kind of interview doesn't put
pressure on you or the person you are interviewing, but it may lead to
potential job opportunities. Also, I would advise students to find ways to
create mentoring relationships. Remember that most people like to help
others, so try to make it easy for your professional contacts to help you
out!
