Title: Despatches | 6 December 2022 — 2022-2023 McHenry Fellows

McHenry Fellows Class of 2024

This year, four students have joined the Georgetown University community as McHenry Fellows. We asked the incoming fellows about their paths to Georgetown, courses of study, and advice for prospective students.

Natalia Simmons-Thomas

“I grew up in a small town in Connecticut and moved to Washington, D.C., for college about eight years ago. I graduated from George Washington University in 2019 with a dual degree in International Affairs and Chinese Language & Literature. After graduation, I worked at RAND corporation as a research assistant, conducting Chinese language research and analysis on Asia-specific security topics for government sponsors. I also completed full-text Chinese-to-English translations of technical military manuals and journals. After my time at RAND, I transitioned into a language-enabled analyst role at SOS International, LLC, where I served government and commercial clients, completing intelligence analysis on due diligence analysis and risk identification on Chinese state-owned enterprises. Presently, I am a senior consultant and open-source analyst at Guidehouse.

My path to Georgetown has been a rather serendipitous one. In 2019, I was accepted to GW’s Chinese Language and Culture master’s program; however, due to financial reasons, I decided to work instead. Although it was a tough decision to make, it ultimately led to me developing a passion for China-related security topics. I chose to attend Georgetown’s Security Studies Program (SSP) because I appreciated that the program emphasizes the practical application of themes from the courses and that many of the courses are taught by highly experienced practitioners themselves.

I began SSP this fall, and have chosen the intelligence concentration. I plan to continue to focus on China. After graduation, I intend to utilize my skills, including my Chinese language capabilities, to further integrate myself into the intelligence community.

My advice to those interested in the program is to apply! Do not let imposter syndrome keep you from applying for such a great opportunity. Trust in yourself and your ability to invoke global change if you set your mind to it.”

Aurora Lopez

“I grew up in the Bay Area, specifically East Palo Alto, CA. I’m a first-generation college student raised by a single-teen mother, her three sisters, and Mexican-immigrant grandparents. For college, I started at San Jose State University, then transferred to De Anza Community College, Foothill Community College, and ultimately ended up at the University of California Berkeley. At UC Berkeley, I got my first exposure to foreign policy at the British Embassy in San Francisco.

Shortly afterward, I started taking courses on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. I developed an interest in Saudi Arabia, so I completed the Critical Language Scholarship in Arabic. I also did research through the Cal-in-Sacramento Fellowship at UC Berkeley, where I interviewed Arab households to understand the barriers they face in the California public school system. These opportunities helped jump-start my career to pursue more intensive foreign policy internships.

Post-graduation, I completed an internship at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory doing research related to Saudi nuclear latency. Although I have an interest in Saudi Arabia, I’m using this time [at Georgetown] to explore new interests. One interest I’ve begun to unravel is the relationship between domestic society and U.S. foreign policy. Americans, especially communities of color, tend to see foreign policy as irrelevant and want to know how the United States can fix problems at home. As a Latina raised in an immigrant household, I understand the sentiment of “what can foreign policy do to help me?” I hope to work in a congressional position post-graduation and use my background to help balance domestic and foreign policy.

For anyone applying [to the McHenry Fellowship] that doesn’t feel they fit the D.C. mold — whether it be LGBTQIA+ members, people with disabilities, people of color, non-U.S. citizens, and those of low economic status — I really encourage you to lean into how these experiences shaped your perspective on international affairs. While doing global public service, one will inevitably encounter situations in which values, interests, and ideas don’t align with others at the table. How will you overcome this?

Asad Pabani

“My journey to Georgetown has been quite unpredictable. I grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, but then had the privilege of pursuing undergraduate studies at Vanderbilt thanks to a scholarship. I then went back to Pakistan to work as a journalist and freelance researcher for five years. Applying to Georgetown for a master’s degree appealed to me because of the exceptional quality of its faculty, as well as its location in Washington, D.C.

I am now pursuing a Master’s in Global Human Development at the School of Foreign Service. The aim of the program is to prepare students for a career in international development. Therefore, it was a perfect opportunity for me, as I plan on returning to Pakistan and working to improve development outcomes there. I am specifically interested in urban policy, and am hoping to learn about innovative urban practices from across the Global South during the course of my studies here.

I would advise prospective students to critically reflect on what public service looks like in 2022. It does not simply mean working for the government. It is instead a mindset of working to improve the quality of life of communities in an ethical, inclusive, and sustainable manner. If that sounds appealing, then this is the right program for you.”

Kai McGuire

“I was born and raised mostly in Tokyo, but also lived in New York City and London as a child. I went to college at Tufts University, where I double-majored in International Relations and Russian & Eastern European Studies. After graduating, I went to work at the Embassy of Japan’s Congressional Affairs Section, where I supported the U.S.-Japan alliance as a locally hired U.S. staffer. I then went to work at McLarty Associates’ Northeast Asia practice, where I advised corporate clients on policy and strategy.

The School of Foreign Service has always been a dream of mine. As an undergraduate student, I interned for Dr. Michael Green at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where I also worked alongside several SFS students and alumni. I was impressed by the depth and breadth of their expertise in international affairs — but I was most inspired by their deep commitment to service. They made me think more deeply about what I wanted to do with my career and how I wanted to make a difference. That ethos of service ultimately inspired me to apply to SFS and the McHenry Fellowship.

I am passionate about updating and enhancing U.S. alliances, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. My work on the U.S.-Japan relationship has impressed upon me that, firstly, alliances are critical to virtually every aspect of U.S. foreign policy. There are few global issues on which the United States can act independently of its partners and allies. On issues like climate change, the United States needs to tap into every resource at its disposal — its relationships with like-minded partners and allies are a natural foundation for cooperation and progress.

At Georgetown, I plan to use my experience in U.S.-Japan relations as a springboard to explore these and other thematic issues in the context of our alliances. Climate diplomacy, technological cooperation, economic competitiveness, and national security are all areas that I look forward to diving into throughout my academic career, and that I hope will prepare me for a career in public service working on U.S. alliances in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere.

My advice for those interested in applying for the Donald F. McHenry Fellowship Program is to get personal. Applying to graduate school is certainly an academic and professional exercise — but it’s also just as important to tell your personal story. Who are your heroes? What have you overcome? Why public service? These are just some of the questions that can help draw out the personal stories that make for a compelling fellowship application — and that will help focus your thinking about your career overall.”