March 2021
Ryan Pavel
BA International Studies (International Security, Norms and Cooperation) ‘12
Hometown: Barrington, IL
University of Michigan Affiliations: Student Veterans of America
“By far, the most influential component of my degree was the process of writing a Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS) Honors thesis. I worked with Vic Lieberman, a brilliant mentor and professor, to craft my thesis on transitional justice in Iraq. My critical thinking, researching, and writing skills all improved dramatically thanks to that experience. Even though I moved on from the national security field after graduation, the skills obtained by writing a thesis were instrumental throughout law school and into my current career.
I now serve as the CEO of Warrior-Scholar Project, a nonprofit focused on empowering enlisted veterans as they transition from military service to higher education. A number of my former International Studies professors have helped out with this project by instructing and mentoring our students. In many ways, I am better equipped for my current job thanks to my time at the University of Michigan Program in International and Comparative Studies.”
