Alumni spotlight: Jack Fornasiero, JYM 2019-2020

Having the Junior Year in Munich program cut short due to the pandemic, I was incredibly disappointed that I had to come home in March 2020 and knew that one day I wanted to return to Europe. Following my graduation from Wayne State in December 2020, I decided to move out to Washington, DC in pursuit of professional opportunities that may lead me back abroad. I was fortunate enough to gain a legislative internship in the Office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York in the fall of 2021 which was followed shortly thereafter with another legislative internship with the Office of Congresswoman Susie Lee of Nevada's 3^rd district. This period in Congress gave me the chance to put to work the policy knowledge I had gained in my undergraduate studies. Working in Congress was a truly exciting period of being able to serve constituents of diverse backgrounds with questions about legislation and assist the legislative teams with research on foreign affairs issues. 

Following these experiences, I accepted an Executive Office and Communications Fellowship with Meridian International Center, a center for diplomacy and cultural exchange and partner of the U.S. Department of State. In this position, I was in a dual role of assisting the CEO former Ambassador Stuart Holliday with meetings. The communications component of the role had me responsible for executing the run-of-show for internal and external events for Meridian. This included the annual U.S. Chiefs of Mission Summit, bringing together alumni of Meridian's exchange programs who have gone on to work in the private sector and in the State Department serving as ambassadors abroad. The most rewarding part of this event was receiving the Secretary of State Antony Blinken at Meridian as well as interviewing the U.S. ambassadors to missions in Poland, Albania, Angola, and Ukraine on their advice for young people interested in the foreign service. This work contributed greatly to Meridian's marketing team and helped me showcase my communications capabilities.

 

Through these professional experiences, I personally felt late this summer that I had the skills I needed to pursue opportunities back in Europe, and with this, I applied and was accepted to master's programs at the University of Tübingen and the University of Basel. This was an immensely rewarding achievement to have the chance to finally go back to Europe, but through further reflection, I felt that I was only just beginning to get to know Washington, DC and had more to do. Further professional opportunities were drawing me to stay here longer and in late September of this year, I received a job opportunity as the Program Coordinator with the American-German Institute at Johns Hopkins University. For me, this was an incredible full-circle moment. In this role, I am incorporating my studies and interests into my professional work and building my skills for future opportunities that will bring me back to Germany. I am incredibly proud to say that Wayne State University and Junior Year in Munich helped get me to where I am now, and I look forward to where else I will take my experiences from the program with me.