If someone had asked me five or six years ago whether I would work at an international development grant-making organization in the future, I might have laughed in their face. During my time at Wellesley, I discovered that I loved the smell of books, poring over old documents, and researching Soviet-era dissident movements late into the night. Graduate school was the logical step for me, and after Wellesley, I headed off to the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies at Georgetown University on a full ride. At Georgetown, I continued down my history path, taking doctoral-level seminars, picking up another foreign language, and spending weekends among the stacks at the Library of Congress. I completed internships at two public policy institutes, where I contributed to research initiatives, several articles and a book. My future as an academic seemed imminent.
While I was strongly convinced that I would go on to get a doctorate in twentieth-century East European history, a fellowship at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum helped me put on the brakes and ask myself whether devoting my career to analyzing events and figures from the past was really for me. I had the chance to speak with several people who worked in human rights, international development, and democracy assistance. Through my discussions, I learned that these career paths could provide a means for me to grapple with the same historical trends and questions, but in a modern context.
I applied for a job at the National Endowment for Democracy, and interviewed with the woman who would later become my boss. During my first interview, she asked why I had applied for the position, given that I was on track to go into a PhD program. I responded that I wanted to take a step back and try working in a field where I could address dissidents, social movements, and Eastern Europe in a contemporary context. She smiled wryly and said, “You know, I have a doctorate. I made plans to teach, but then I happened to apply for a job at the Endowment. I vowed I would stay for a few years, but here I am, twenty-five years later. The academic world will be there when you are ready for it, but it can never hurt to gain experience as a practitioner.”
I got the job, and for several months, I questioned if it was the right decision, and reminded myself that PhD programs would be there next fall if I wanted to take that path. As I settled in at the Endowment, I realized that there were many things that I could not get from a PhD program! Firstly, having first-hand conversations with the activists the Endowment supports (many of whom are working in difficult political situations, and some of whom are younger than I am!) has been truly inspiring for me. Secondly, I realized how engaged I am in a mission-focused work environment. Every detail supports the mission, from the budget one manages for a program in Sierra Leone, to the logistics of an event on freedom of information in Azerbaijan; from helping your boss to prepare analytical research for a presentation on Russia, to overseeing a portfolio of small grants in Sri Lanka.
If you’re a Wendy navigating these crossroads, here are my takeaways:
- Broaden your horizons: Learn as much as you can about the breadth of the field you’re interested in. I thought with Russian Area Studies that my two paths were academia or the Foreign Service, but I discovered that there is a plethora of options (the private sector, nonprofit work, human rights advocacy, consulting, museums and preservation, and more)! One good way to do this is to reach out to alumnae, graduate school classmates, and others for informational interviews.
- Maintain an open mind: You probably will not love everything about your first job, or even your second, but these experiences can help you figure out what you do enjoy. For example, I learned that I like a good dose of project management, editing, and human interaction with my analytical writing and research.
- Keep pursuing the things you love: Honestly, you will probably find ways to have them dovetail with your professional experience. I often bemoaned the lack of writing opportunities at the Endowment, so I started publishing my pieces to blogs and other online platforms that address my areas of interest and expertise. It is a great way to gain recognition and keep up those writing skills!
Gina Lentine is a 2009 Wellesley graduate with a B.A. in Political Science and Russian Area Studies. She received her M.A. in Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies from Georgetown University in 2011. Her studies and work have taken her all over Eurasia, from the outer reaches of eastern Siberia to the balmy shores of the Black Sea. A native of Washington, DC, Gina currently works as the Special Assistant to the Vice Presidents of Programs at the National Endowment for Democracy. In her spare time, she writes for Global Voices, teaches yoga, studies Ukrainian, and takes long runs around Washington. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter (@ginayogina).