Amélie M. Godfrey graduated from the MA International Relations Program in Fall 2018. Originally from Costa Mesa, California, she received her undergraduate degree in 2016 with a B.A. in History and a B.A. in International Studies from the University of California, Irvine.
Why did you choose the IR program at NYU?
I chose the IR program at NYU because the program offered a good mix of flexibility to explore subjects and specifications I was interested in, while also offering a broader and more rigorous framework for IR studies in general.
Which has been the class you enjoyed? And the one which you learned the most?
One of my favorite classes was Immigration & Transnationalism with Dr. Roy Germano. A class I learned the most from would probably be Radicalization & Religion with Dr. Mazzucelli.
What advice would you give to the future students of the program?
New advice for incoming students: learn how to prioritize your reading pretty quickly into the first semester. If you try and do all of it at once it gets very overwhelming, but it's all worth reading and learning, so figure out what texts you can skim, and which ones you need to engage with more deeply.
What is your favorite place on campus?
My favorite place on campus was the reading room in Bobst Library that overlooked Washington Square Park.
What do you like best about student life at NYU?
The food trucks right outside of Bobst Library!
What is the best thing about living in New York City?
It's hard to pick one best thing about living in New York City, but if I had to narrow it down, I'd say walking down Broadway at night and seeing all the skyscrapers lit up against the sky, and the diversity of wonderful restaurants and all the used bookstores.
What are your plans after you graduate? How has this program prepared you for that?
I'm planning on working for different political charities until I start a Ph.D. in Human Rights Law, after which I plan on doing research in the human trafficking unit at either Interpol or the EU. The IR Master's program helped me develop the work ethic and the research skills that work both professionally and in continued education, as well as broadening my interest in international politics outside of the areas I'd studied previously.
Last Updated January 15th, 2019