When I was a graduate student in the International Affairs Program at Florida State University several years ago, I interned at Gulf Coast Diplomacy, then called Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council. The internship allowed me to meet people from all around the world and to showcase the best parts of Northwest Florida, where I grew up. It was a wonderful experience that further strengthened my interest in diplomacy.
After completing the internship, I finished my last semester of coursework and then completed an internship abroad to complete my degree. Immediately after graduation, I went to South America to teach English for half a year.
Upon returning to the United States, I obtained a position with Cambridge Network, an international education firm specializing in international student recruitment, academic services, and residential services at the secondary school level. When I first began at the company, I was a consultant to schools looking to develop internal student programs. I later became a project manager focusing on business process improvement and operational best practices.
Most recently, I switched industries and now work as a project manager to Nasdaq, focusing on client experience with corporate platforms. While my role and the industry I work in has shifted, I am certain my time with Gulf Coast Diplomacy gave me the right experience to be a competitive candidate to work for companies in any industry requiring the ability to think globally and to work with diverse teams.
—Terry Epps, summer intern 2011
