At the fourth annual Global Perspectives, Global Careers: Stanford Fair for Community College Students, 91 students from 40 institutions across the U.S. attended interactive workshops, presentations, and panel discussions featuring Stanford scholars, students, and alumni who spoke about various global topics.
Hosted by Stanford Global Studies, the day-long virtual event, which took place on April 27, aimed to provide community college students with opportunities to learn about pathways to international work and global citizenship while fostering connections with others interested in global studies.
“I registered to attend Stanford's global careers fair for community college students because it offered valuable career exploration info sessions and had interesting and unique panelists. Hearing about careers with an international scope from Stanford graduates and professors is invaluable as a student who is still early in my education and has various career interests,” said Scott Lee, an economics student at Cosumnes River College.
I registered to attend Stanford's global careers fair for community college students because it offered valuable career exploration info sessions and had interesting and unique panelists. Hearing about careers with an international scope from Stanford graduates and professors is invaluable as a student who is still early in my education and has various career interests.
“The fair was a whirlwind of information and inspiration for me. I realized how impactful a global studies education is in today's world,” shared Arianna Eduardo-Hernandez, a political science student at De Anza College. “Not only would a global studies education equip me with the knowledge and skills to advocate for policy changes that protect the rights of vulnerable populations on a global scale but would also help me gain a deeper understanding of the cultural, political, and economic factors that contribute to global crises, in order to come up with effective solutions.”
Brooke Beyer, international relations ’22, a program specialist with the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons in the U.S. Department of State, opened the symposium with a keynote about the importance of studying international affairs and developing a global perspective.
“If you take anything away from my speech today, I really hope it’s an appreciation for the universality of global studies, no matter your academic or professional goals,” she emphasized. “Studying international affairs allows you to develop a global perspective and a curiosity about the world that I believe leads to greater connection and greater community in all facets of life.”
Beyer discussed how her experience as an American living in Singapore and England for eight years shaped her academic and professional goals. Admitting that while she might have been predisposed to an interest in international relations because of her time overseas, she believes that global studies is an important field of study for those of any background.
I think the reality is, even if one never moves abroad or lives their whole life in the same small town, we live in a vastly interconnected world. Nearly all of us will end up working in an international space in some capacity, whether that’s through government, nonprofits, multilateral organizations, or through global business or the arts. In each of these spaces, a knowledge of international affairs is always beneficial to ground one’s work in the current moment.
“I think the reality is, even if one never moves abroad or lives their whole life in the same small town, we live in a vastly interconnected world,” Beyer said. “Nearly all of us will end up working in an international space in some capacity, whether that’s through government, nonprofits, multilateral organizations, or through global business or the arts. In each of these spaces, a knowledge of international affairs is always beneficial to ground one’s work in the current moment.”
Following her talk, students moved into breakout sessions, where they heard from Stanford scholars Saumitra Jha, Stephen Luby, Ariam Mogos, and Kenneth Schultz, who shared their international career paths in business, medicine, technology, and government, respectively.
Stephen Luby, professor of infectious diseases in the School of Medicine, said he decided to pursue a career in global health because he felt it would be the path that allowed him to have the greatest impact on the issues that troubled him the most: issues of global injustice. In his presentation, he delved into his epidemiological research, which focuses on lead contamination in developing countries. Most recently, he was part of an interdisciplinary research team that found that turmeric grown in Bangladesh is sometimes adulterated with lead-laced chemical compounds.
“I was introduced to various research methodologies and scientific modes of thinking in global health through learning about Dr. Stephen Luby's isotopic analysis, which determined the age of lead chromate found in turmeric samples in rural Bangladesh, enabling him to trace it back to a common market where the contaminated turmeric was being sold,” said Samuel Lopez, a biology student at Cosumnes River College who hopes to pursue a career in medicine. “This experience not only reinforced my understanding of scientific principles and their applications to addressing global health challenges but also gave me inspiration and insight into how I can effectively conduct my research in the future.”
Following the faculty-led seminars, instructors from the Stanford Life Design Lab guided students on ways to use design thinking to make important life decisions regarding their studies and vocations.
“The ‘Design Your Global Career’ workshop opened my eyes to the fact that there are many different paths that I can take to make a positive impact in the world. While I have always been determined to follow a traditional path of obtaining a J.D. and becoming an attorney, I now see that there are other ways to use my education and skills to effect change,” said Eduardo-Hernandez. “The possibilities are endless, and the fair showed me that there are so many ways to make a difference in the world.”
Next, three undergraduate students who transferred to Stanford from community colleges talked about their personal experiences as transfer students, offered advice for navigating the transfer process, and underscored the value of international education.
“My favorite part of the Stanford Fair for Community College Students was the Stanford transfer student panel. Hearing about the transfer experience directly from students who got accepted into Stanford, as well as the valuable insight and advice they provided, was extremely informational. It provided lots of clarity and guidance as I continue to navigate my own transfer journey,” said Lee.
The day concluded with a talk by Alice Petty, associate dean of residential academic advising, who provided an overview of the transfer process at Stanford.
“The info session with Dr. Alice Petty provided valuable information about the transfer process to Stanford,” said Lee. “Her presentation and Q&A section demystified several assumptions about what it takes to transfer as well as provided clarity on what the curriculum and coursework may look like as a prospective student.”
“I want to express my sincere gratitude for organizing this fair,” added Lopez. “As a community college student, I truly appreciate the opportunity to access valuable resources and information that can help me pursue my aspirations for change.”
The Stanford Fair for Community College Students is one of several K-14 community outreach activities offered through Stanford’s Education Partnership for Internationalizing Curriculum (EPIC) and is supported by U.S. Department of Education Title VI funding. Collaborators include the Stanford Global Studies Division, the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE), the Stanford Graduate School of Education's Center to Support Excellence in Teaching (CSET), and the Center for Spatial and Textual Analysis (CESTA).