A view from the class Kevin Kravitz, MIA 16 Tsechu Dolma, MPA 15 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

A view from the class Kevin Kravitz, MIA ’16 Tsechu Dolma, MPA ’15 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog Here are two more additions to the SIPA student stories series. One student is studying security and spent two years with the Peace Corps in Azerbaijan. The other story features  is a dual-degree student who recently won the Brower Youth Award. Lets see what their lives have been like before and while attending SIPA! Kevin Kravitz, MIA ’16, is a first-year student concentrating in international security policy with a specialization in international conflict resolution at SIPA. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Kevin holds a BA in international relations (with concentrations in security, foreign policy, and Europe) from Boston University in 2010. Following his undergraduate studies, he served as an Americorps VISTA Summer Associate, working at a food pantry in Northeast Ohio. He then served for 27 months as an English Education and Community Development Peace Corps Volunteer in Azerbaijan (2010-2012). As a PCV, Kevin worked with his host community to improve the English education at the local secondary school, most notably by establishing an English resource room and library at the school. Additionally, Kevin founded and served as commissioner of the Azerbaijan Interregional Softball League. This Peace Corps project established 16 co-ed youth teams throughout the country and provided an environment o f friendly competition while teaching teamwork, leadership, and friendship. Overall, his experience in Azerbaijan was a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience that allowed him to fully immerse himself in a new culture and language. Kevin moved to New York following his Peace Corps service and worked for two different start-up companies, most recently at Minibar Delivery, an on-demand wine and spirits delivery mobile app. At Minibar, Kevin helped build the customer experience team, while also providing content and copy for marketing emails and social media. Now at SIPA, Kevin is excited to once again immerse himself in international affairs and build his knowledge and skills for a career in diplomacy. Looking to build off of his Azerbaijani language skills, he is learning Turkish to provide himself a solid foundation for work in Central Asia. This summer, he hopes to secure an internship with a conflict resolution or Eurasian focus at a leading think tank. Upon completing his studies at SIPA, Kevin hopes to embark on a long career as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer. Tsechu Dolma, BA/MPA ’15, is a five-year dual-degree student with a concentration in economic and political development at SIPA. Most recently, Tsechu was honored as one of the six Brower Youth Award winners for her work in creating a sustainable model for food security in remote high-altitude villages in Nepal. At SIPA, Tsechu participated in the International Conflict Resolution Practicum on UNDP for Colombia strategy on extractive industries and natural resource management. She has also worked at the Earth Institute with SIPA Professor Ben Orlove on researching glacier communities and developing the website glacierhub.org. SIPA has been an enabler for Tsechu. After she graduates from SIPA, she plans on leading her organization, Yulha Fund, innovating food, energy and talent security for the future of the Himalayas. Tsechu grew up in Tibet, Nepal and India, before moving to the U.S. as a political refugee teenager. She is also a recipient of the prestigious U.S. Congressional Uda ll Scholarship for Environmental Policy and has been featured on NBC News. We look forward to Isabella, Kevin,and Tsechu’s year at SIPA!