ONIF Alumna Spotlight
Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts
March 13, 2020
Name: Anna Joyce
Major: Psychology and Theology
Graduation Year: December 2017
Fellowship Award: Fulbright Master's in Public Policy at Tel Aviv University in Israel.
What are your current or future career plans? Following my grant period, I will be completing an internship with NATO in Brussels for six months. I would love to continue to work domestically or abroad and am excited to see where life takes me and the opportunities that arise!
What have you enjoyed most about the program? The diversity of my program has opened me up to a variety of perspectives. My professors have various professional and academic backgrounds, along with my peers that come from countries all over the world. I have been challenged in my thinking and presented with new worldviews that shape my own. I have richly benefited from being taught by professors that negotiated peace treaties in the region and are experts in their fields.
What is/was the most challenging aspect of the program? It has been challenging tapping into a relatively new discipline. Given that my background is in psychology and theology, I feel like I have some catching up to do in the field of international relations to meet the demands of the program. That being said, my learning has been accelerated and it has challenged me in new ways for the better. My program has a wide scope, so the sheer volume of information can be difficult to synthesize. Yet, I value the interdisciplinary and holistic approach that my program takes and am certainly more well-rounded as a student and global citizen.
What advice do you have for future applicants? Don't overthink your application. Certainly edit and fine tune your responses, reach out to professors and mentors for help, and do your research. But at the end of the day, be yourself in your application and do not alter it to fit the mold you think it ought to. The reviewers do not have a standard for the ideal candidate, so be honest and highlight your experiences from LMU and elsewhere that you can bring to the table.
What would people be surprised to know about you? My professional experience is in law enforcement. I interned with two federal law enforcement agencies (ICE and USMS) and worked full time with Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office before my grant period. Now, I am studying conflict resolution and mediation, diplomacy, and peace. All experience is valuable and you never know where it takes you!
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From top to bottom: Hiking in the Negev Desert. The Western Wall.
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The Fulbright MA Degree Awards in Israel is designed to allow Bachelor's degree holders to pursue a Master's degree at an Israeli institution of higher education. For more information, attend an ONIF info session or visit https://us.fulbrightonline.org/countries/selectedprogram/347.