Student Stories
From Bologna to the Foreign Service: A Diplomat in the Making
From public health research to a future in the U.S. Foreign Service, Heeba’s path has been shaped by curiosity, determination, and a strong sense of purpose. As a Charles B. Rangel Fellow, she chose SAIS for its practical, skills-based approach and found in Bologna not just a place to study, but a place to grow—connecting with diaspora communities, exploring Europe, and deepening her perspective as an Arab-American.
A Sense of Belonging
Before SAIS, I had recently graduated from UCLA and was volunteering in part-time roles with nonprofits in California, including the San Diego Diplomacy Council and the League of United Latin American Citizens.
Bridging Worlds: From Botswana to the U.S. Senate — and Now Bologna
Originally from Trumansburg, a small town in Upstate New York, Logan Bonn came to Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe after graduating from Cornell University with a degree in Global Development.
A More Nuanced Understanding of China
My favorite thing about Nanjing was having the opportunity to learn alongside Chinese students and professors...The ability to interact bilingually in and outside of the classroom, participate in thoughtful discussions, and directly engage with these perspectives gave me a much deeper and more nuanced understanding of China than I could have gained anywhere else.
From Refugee to Aspiring Diplomat: May Soe Min's Journey to Service
Born in Imphal, India to Burmese pro-democracy activists, May Soe Min experienced displacement as a refugee before immigrating to the United States at age six. Now a first-generation student and Pickering Fellow at Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe, she is preparing to join the U.S. Foreign Service.
From NASA to SAIS, a Mission to Lead in the Space Domain
Before joining SAIS, I was deputy director of the Logistics Management Division at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) headquarters.
Finding Perspective in Nanjing
I believe the Hopkins-Nanjing Center offers students several competitive advantages that other U.S. programs in China lack.
It’s About Relationships, Always
For me, the relationships that I built while studying at SAIS are just as important as the degrees. It’s about relationships, always.
A Desire to Influence U.S. Foreign Policy at the Highest Levels
The Air Force taught me to strive for excellence, no matter the circumstances.
Turning Technical Experience into Policy Impact
My experiences, from operations centers in Iraq to boardrooms in the Pentagon, have driven my desire to move from reacting to policy to actively shaping it in an informed and meaningful way.