Read about this month’s International Studies Alumni Spotlight. Alumni were asked to share how their International Studies major or minor has influenced their path after graduating from the University of Michigan.
November 2025 – Makayla Kegerreis
BA International Studies (International Security, Norms and Cooperation); BA Spanish; minor, Social Media Analysis and Design ‘25
Hometown: Chelsea, Michigan
University of Michigan Affiliations: Donia Human Rights Fellow, DHRC Fellowship at the Post Conflict Research Center in Sarajevo, BiH, Study Abroad Winter 2025 in Granada, Spain, UNICEF UM, One Thousand Schools, Panhellenic Peer Educators: Sexual Violence Education and Empowerment, Sigma Iota Rho, Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, Kappa Delta Sorority
“While I briefly tried out graduate school in a different subject through an amazing program after my graduation from the University of Michigan, my time with PICS made me realize how much I love learning about the world. Next fall, I will be starting a new graduate program in a field related to international security or policy analysis to study how we can use technology to promote conflict prevention, reconciliation, and peacebuilding around the world. In the meantime, I am serving on the Justice Council with the International Justice Mission and will be starting an internship in January with the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea! My biggest piece of advice is that if you are passionate about something, don't give that up! Although it may take a few tries for you to realize what you love, it will always come back if you know that is the right path for you.”
