MA in Global Affairs

Kimberly Flores-Rivera, 2024

Describe your dissertation, thesis, or capstone.
My capstone was on Human Security and Conditional Cash Transfers in Latin America.

How did you choose your specific area of study?
I earned my bachelor's from Virginia Tech in national security and foreign affairs. I currently work at the International Monetary Fund and decided to expand my knowledge by enrolling in the Global Affairs Program, specializing in economics and development.

How did your academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences impact you? 
It provided a deeper understanding of international affairs.

Which accomplishments during your time at Mason are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my research paper that I submitted during research week, which was on Efficacy of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Economic Initiatives for Syrian Refugees in Jordan and Turkey. My professor, Yasemin Ipek, provided amazing feedback and I was able to study a topic under the lens of humanitarianism that I was not fully knowledgeable about.

Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your Mason career?
Professor Laura Sauls, Professor Yasemin Ipek, and Professor Lisa Breglia were amazing and went out of their way to assist me through my research papers. They pushed me to go further with my work and in doing so expand my understanding of justice and global environment, global humanitarianism, and human security and cash transfers in Latin America.

What advice would you give to an incoming cohort of graduate students?
Trust the process and it will pay off.