February 2019
Kyra Dahring
BA International Studies (Comparative Culture and Identity) ‘19
Hometown: Northville, MI
Affiliations: Semester at Sea Global Ambassador, Peace Corp Prep Program, and Spanish Club
“Imagine a space that brings together leaders in business, government, education, and the arts to drive critical discussions and offer solutions for our world’s most prominent global issues. This is the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
Over the summer, I had the opportunity to intern with this remarkable think tank. As a development intern, I assisted the Council in engaging donors throughout the Midwest through individual membership and private sector sponsorship opportunities. This involved building and maintaining relationships with community organizations and leaders by managing pertinent potential and current donor information. At the Council, I was working day to day alongside some of the most interesting and passionate people, like the president of the organization, Ivo Daalder, who served as the U.S. Ambassador to NATO and University of Michigan alumna, Jennifer Cizner, who is the chief operating officer and formerly served as deputy chief of staff for presidential personnel at the White House. Interning at this organization also provided opportunities to attend high-profile events and programs, where the Council brought in thought-provoking leaders from around the world like Joe Biden, Madeleine Albright (former U.S. Secretary of State), and business executives from Fortune 500 companies. All of these components made this experience an extremely unique internship that provided me with a keen network and exposed me to many possible career paths as an International Studies graduate.
I thank the International Studies major and the Program in International and Comparative Studies for this top-notch education that prepared me for this high-level experience. An internship at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs provided a platform for me to combine both my passions, global affairs and philanthropy, while expanding my knowledge on how individuals, nonprofits, and private sectors approach leading international issues.”
Future plans: “After graduation, I plan to pursue a career path in government affairs for private sectors. In the near future, I hope to get a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and continue my passion for business with global thinking.”
