Where are you from?
I am from Cologne, Germany.
What was your undergraduate major, and from which university did you graduate?
My undergraduate major was a combination of Political Science and Sociology. I graduated from the University of Bonn.
What are some causes/ issues you care about? Why?
I care about many issues, particularly transatlantic and international relations, our environment, and events that are happening around the globe and especially the people concerned by those events (like climate change, conflicts etc.).
What work/intern/volunteer experience do you have and how has it prepared you for your studies?
I have several work, intern and volunteer experiences that prepared me for my studies. For instance, I worked at the Center for Global Studies which belongs to the Chair of International Relations at the University of Bonn. This experience gave me a profounder understanding of this academic field and deepened my interest in global affairs, especially in transatlantic relations. Also, I was an intern at the Political Department in the Federal Ministry of Defense where I learned much about security and defense which became one of my research focuses. Additionally, I was part of the executive board of Bonn International Model United Nations (BIMUN) where my team and I voluntarily organized an international conference.
What aspects of Mason made you choose to study here?
What I especially like about Mason is the graduate program ‘Master of Arts in Global Affairs’ which is very multidisciplinary, the university’s vast resources, the close location to Washington D.C. and the diversity on campus.
What do you hope to accomplish while at Mason?
At Mason, I hope to accomplish my graduate degree successfully while being able to meet ambitious students and experienced as well as knowledgeable professors, learn more about my academic interests and join at least one student organization.
What are your hobbies?
I like to travel, meet and talk to people from all over the world, read interesting books, learn new languages and much more.
What are you most looking forward to while living in the DC area?
I am looking forward to getting to know the Washington D.C. area better and be close to the political center of the United States which is a big plus for a student interested in transatlantic relations and global affairs.
What is your favorite thing about being a student?
What I like most about being a student is that you always learn something new and have the opportunity to discuss current issues with classmates as you encounter so many interesting and different points of view at diverse places such as universities.
Which languages do you speak?
I speak English, German, French, a little Italian and Spanish and I started to learn some Arabic.
What was the last book you read? Do you recommend it? (Why/why not)
The last book I read was a historic as well as detective novel that is set in Berlin in the late 1920s. It combines many aspects of history and was so thrilling and successful that it has been used as a template for the most expensive German TV production (‘Babylon Berlin’). I definitely recommend the book.