Erick Agbleke, a SHU student in his second year pursuing a master’s degree in diplomacy and international relations, applied to three summer internships last October to fulfill a degree requirement. His first choice was to work with the U.S. Department of State; his second, the U.S. Embassy in France; and he didn’t think his third choice would pan out. He wasn’t called for a second round of interviews and Agbleke said he thought that’s where it would end.
To his surprise, he got a call within a couple months of applying saying that he was selected to work in Togo, a country on the west coast of Africa and Agbleke’s birthplace. Agbleke left the country at the age of 13. He explained that this internship abroad opened his eyes to what diplomacy is like in practice and allowed him to be an agent of progress in the region, both in terms of U.S. relations and Togo’s own political/economic obstacles.
“Being able to witness diplomacy from the front row seat is pretty awesome,” he said. Agbleke worked alongside the Togolese government at the U.S. Embassy in the capital, Lomé. While there, he said he played a variety of roles, from researcher to project manager with a focus in the economic/political sector. One project he noted was an initiative to end wildlife trafficking in the country.
According to both Agbleke and a 2018 report from the BBC, wildlife trafficking has been and continues to be a major issue in the country. Togo is a popular transit point for poached ivory and animal skins. A commonly used port is located in Lomé.
Agbleke said he was tasked with analyzing the difficulties that the government was having with trafficking and then creating a proposal to combat those problems. He suggested the government create a “working group” comprised of law enforcement agencies, members of the scientific community and nongovernment organizations that would be dedicated to wildlife conservation.
He said he also had a valuable experience working as a facilitator for a U.S. team as they studied election-related violence in the area. Though Agbleke said that he learned a great deal about his area of study, he acknowledged that the length of his internship prevented him from seeing these projects to their end. He explained his view on the situation. He said he is dedicated to service, having served in U.S. National Guard since 2011 and recently transferring to the Army Reserve.
“For me, it was about service,” he said. “It was another way to serve the U.S.”
Jillian Lope, who is also a second-year master’s student studying diplomacy and international relations, felt a similar call. For her summer internship, she worked at the U.S. Embassy in Valletta, Malta. She said she was originally attracted to the area in part to learn more about the migration crisis there. Lope explained that, while the use of ships is common in Maltese commerce, (the country being on the Mediterranean Sea) it is also a common tool for migration.
Due to the fact that most of her work is classified, Lope spoke generally on the topics she encountered while working at the embassy, saying she oversaw areas of Maltese society from pop culture to politics. Though she had to adapt to a new culture, she said there wasn’t much of a “culture shock” except for getting used to the heat during those summer months as well as the bug population.
Lope offered a word of caution to all diplomacy and international relations students looking to have a summer internship abroad. “I know that this internship would not have been possible for me if I didn’t have previous internships,” she said. She added the that she had prior experience at the United Nations and in the non-for-profit and private sectors. “It’s a really long process and you have to work really hard for it,” Lope explained. She recommended that students wanting to intern abroad should stay up-to-date on current events as well as maintain a professional resume.
Approximately 1,185 miles away (by car and a ferry ride) from Lope, Patricia Zanini Graca was completing a 10-week fellowship in Geneva, Switzerland. In the same graduate program as Agbleke and Lobe, Graca’s focus this summer was security. She worked with Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), more specifically, in the Latin American and the Caribbean Unit. Given that the DCAF in part works with policymakers to help develop security sectors in nations worldwide, Graca said that her favorite part of the fellowship was creating factsheets and analyzing life in Latin American countries.
“Some of the most violent countries in the world are in Latin America,” she explained. “Venezuela, Honduras and Guatemala have higher homicide rates than Syria.”
In addition to data analysis, Graca also worked to organize and promote various events and initiatives. She would publicize these updates through blogs and articles. As a part of her duties, she also managed the Latin American and the Caribbean Unit on social media as well as the DCAF website.
Though these students were all in pursuit of master’s degrees, undergraduates have a variety of avenues to explore in terms of a study abroad, whether it be through faculty-led tours, an exchange program or through a third-party company, separate from Seton Hall.
According to Olivia Koloszuk, a graduate student worker in the Office of International Programs at SHU, studying abroad as an undergraduate can be an invaluable experience.
“Students should study abroad as much as they are able to,” she said. “They can learn so much about themselves, their degree programs, various cultures and explore places all over the world.”
Graca, when discussing her travels, echoed a similar sentiment. She said, “I think the key to adapt is to travel light, meaning leave your judgments and misconceptions at home. Never generalize anything or anyone. Each person and situation is unique, and there is always something to teach you.”
Julie's Corner 