Information Officer, International Labour Standards Department

'86 » Peace Corps Volunteer, Mauritania, West Africa » M.S. Urban & Regional Planning, University of Wisconsin, Madison » City Planner, City of Minneapolis » Assistant to City Coordinator, City of Minneapolis

I gained and enhanced many skills with a History major at Vassar. They include: problem-solving, writing well, analyzing complex situations and information, communicating effectively, being a self-starter, and recognizing how people’s perspectives (including my own) are influenced by life experiences & history.

I use these skills every day in my job. I give presentations and training sessions and need to be an effective and persuasive communicator. I am presented with problems or situations and asked to develop solutions, usually working with groups of staff and/or citizens, and I need to be able to analyze information, be creative, consider all perspectives, work under deadline, develop realistic ideas, & persuade others of their merit.

The breadth of my coursework, the writing practice, the discussion, & the attention from my professors that I experienced while at Vassar are extremely beneficial to me today!