Program in International and Comparative Studies Annual International Studies Alumni Career Panel and Reception

The Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS) will host its annual International Studies Alumni Career Panel in person and virtually on Monday, March 24th, 2025.

If you wish to attend virtually, please register here: https://myumi.ch/M6jDp

This alumni panel will showcase and celebrate the university’s rich history of contributions made by International Studies alumni, while providing valuable insight for current students as they start to develop their own career paths. The panel will include a student Q&A portion. This will be followed by a reception.

PICS is home to the International Studies major and minor. Established in 2009, International Studies is one of the largest majors in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, with over 2000 accomplished alumni worldwide. International Studies graduates pursue numerous career paths, many going on to work with corporations, non-profits, or government agencies, as well as progressing directly on to graduate school.

Learn where an International Studies major can take you!

Natalie Andrasko, Learning Agenda Advisor, John Snow Inc.
New York City, NY
MPH, Columbia University ‘24
BA International Studies (Global Environment and Health); minor, Environment; minor, Asian Languages and Cultures ‘18

Natalie Andrasko is the Learning Agenda Advisor at John Snow Inc. (JSI), where she works on research and learning for the USAID-funded MOMENTUM Integrated Health Resilience project, which seeks to advance family planning, reproductive health, and maternal and child health in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Natalie graduated in May 2024 with her MPH from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health with a certificate in Public Health and Humanitarian Action. While at Mailman, Natalie conducted research on contraceptive decision-making among Chadian refugee women, and worked in Northern Uganda on a pilot project to scale access to self-injectable contraceptives and abortion pills. Prior to grad school, Natalie led research projects to inform program design and implementation as Evidence to Action Manager at International Rescue Committee’s Airbel Impact Lab. Her first job out of college was as Program Assistant at USAID’s Office of HIV/AIDS, where she worked on PEPFAR programs focused on promoting youth and male engagement in HIV clinical care. Natalie graduated from Michigan in 2018, where she received her BA in International Studies (Global Environment and Health), and was involved in optiMize, Lean In, and the Summer in South Asia fellowship. Natalie is based in Brooklyn, NY and is from Bethesda, Maryland.

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James Batchik, Associate Director, Atlantic Council’s Europe Center
Washington, D.C.
MSc Theory and History of International Relations, London School of Economics and Political Science, ‘20
BA International Studies (International Security, Norms and Cooperation); BA History; BA Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies ‘18

James Batchik is an associate director at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, where he serves as the staff lead for programming on the European Union, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and the center’s transatlantic digital and tech portfolio. Batchik was previously an intern and project assistant at the Atlantic Council’s Future Europe Initiative. He also held internships at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, US Congress, and the US Consulate in Vladivostok, Russia. Batchik received a MSc with distinction from the London School of Economics & Political Science in theory and the history of international relations. He received a BA from the University of Michigan in international studies, history, and Russian, East European, and Eurasian studies.

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Sarah Jacob, Emergency Response Team Lead, National Endowment for Democracy
Washington, D.C.
BS International Studies (International Security, Norms and Cooperation); BS Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience; minor, Islamic Studies; Honors ‘20

Sarah Jacob leads the Emergency Response team at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), where she has worked since 2020. Sarah oversees a global emergency and protection portfolio serving activists and democracy advocates around the world. Her work focuses on ensuring careful planning, providing the supportive infrastructure, and deploying the expertise to respond to emergencies with respect for the dignity and lives of NED’s partners and staff. Sarah travels globally monitoring and supporting partners working in the democracy space facing diverse and challenging operating environments as well as engaging with communities of protection and civil society experts. At Michigan, Sarah was the president of SIR, international studies fraternity, ran a mentorship program for South Asian students, studied abroad in Austria, Czechia, and Thailand, and worked at the UMMA and Rec Sports.

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Tazia Miah, Research and Evaluation Associate, Lift Every Voice - Evaluation, Research & Strategy
Hamtramck, MI
BS International Studies (Global Environment and Health) ‘19

Tazia Miah is a Research and Evaluation Associate with Lift Every Voice - Evaluation, Research & Strategy, where she plays a key role in designing and implementing research and evaluation projects focused on systems change and culturally responsive strategies that address the needs of underrepresented communities. She also works as a Research Technician at MI-DDI, supporting disability inclusion efforts by tracking performance measures and assessing state-level initiatives to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. In 2024 Tazia completed a Public Health Fellowship with the Michigan Public Health Institute, where she helped facilitate, coordinate and implement anti-oppression initiatives. She was also a Scribe Ambassador for ScribeAmerica. Additionally, Tazia has pursued a Master of Science in Basic Medical Sciences at Wayne State University’s School of Medicine, with her academic research focusing on the intersections of T2DM and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) development, specifically exploring the impact of metformin on AD. She is also a first generation college graduate from the University of Michigan and held leadership roles with the Global Scholars Program (GSP), Health Sciences Scholars Program (HSSP) and Bangladeshi Student Association (BSA). Her research and global experiences during her undergrad include: collaborations with non-profit organizations in Vietnam (Hong An), India (Jeevantirth and SKSN) and Canada (ALPHA Education); studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan through CIEE; conducting independent research on food inequality and waste, and participating in endocrinology research through UROP. Tazia continues to support comprehensive evaluation practices and multicultural dialogue facilitation in medical and public health systems to bridge gaps in health disparities and increase community empowerment. In her free time, she enjoys baking, cooking and traveling.

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Maki O'Bryan, Honors Deputy Attorney General, California Office of the Attorney General
San Francisco, CA
JD, University of California, Irvine, ‘24
BA International Studies (Political Economy and Development); BA Asian Studies (Japanese Studies); Honors ‘19

Maki O'Bryan is a Deputy Attorney General for the state of California and was hired through the office’s Honors program to work in civil defensive litigation. At UC Irvine Law, Maki was an International Law Scholar, serving as captain of the Jessup International Moot Court team and a student clinician with the International Justice Clinic. Prior to law school, Maki worked in Kyoto City for two years on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. While at Michigan, she was involved in the Japan Student Association, United Asian American Organizations, and Kappa Alpha Pi pre-law fraternity, and also studied abroad in Brussels. In her free time, Maki enjoys reading, cooking, contemporary dance, and riding public transportation.

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Chelsea Racelis, Social Impact and Inclusion Program Manager, Cisco
Ann Arbor, MI
BA International Studies (International Security, Norms and Cooperation); Honors; BBA Business Administration ‘19

Chelsea Racelis is a Social Impact & Inclusion Program Manager at Cisco. She is an Ann Arbor townie who completed her dual-degree in International Studies and Business Administration at UM in 2019, earning highest honors for her thesis on transformational justice for the Indonesian genocide of 1965-1966. During her time at Michigan, she co-led the Black-Asian Coalition, founded the DEI peer facilitation program at Ross, and participated in the Humanity in Action summer fellowship in Warsaw. Chelsea started her career in change management consulting at EY, transitioning into corporate responsibility before coming to Cisco where she focuses on AI ethics and digital rights. In her free time, she volunteers for Women Peace Network founded by human rights leader Wai Wai Nu, and enjoys traveling and water sports.

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Megan Zabik, Senior Policy Associate, Alliance for Learning Innovation
Washington, D.C.
MS, International Social and Public Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, ‘23
BA International Studies (International Security, Norms and Cooperation); BA Spanish ‘20

Megan Zabik lives in Washington, D.C., and works for the education nonprofit organization Alliance for Learning Innovation as a Senior Policy Associate. Before this role, she also worked at the Federation of American Scientists in D.C, and the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Kalamazoo, Michigan with the Regional Economic and Community Development team. She transitioned into the policy sphere by way of her master’s in international social and public policy at the London School of Economics, completing a comparative dissertation researching universal preschool policy development in two U.S. states. Upon graduating from the University of Michigan in 2020, Megan started her career as a Venture for America Fellow working in Detroit, Michigan for the AI tech start-up Waymark as a Customer Success Manager.

If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us at is-michigan@umich.edu. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.