“This ability to think about my work in ways that may be different from folks who come from a specific or specialized background has been invaluable.”
Majors: Religion and Anthropology
Lives in: Pittsburgh, PA
What work looks like: “The GAO is an independent, nonpartisan government agency within the legislative branch of the U.S. Government. We provide Congress, executive agencies, and the public with fact-based reporting with the goal of preventing fraud, waste, and abuse in the government. Our work usually culminates in a report containing our findings and recommendations. Right now, I am working on a review of the U.S.’s international efforts to combat human trafficking in countries experiencing armed conflict.”
What she loves about it: “I love that I get to have a role, however small, in improving our government and ensuring things are as efficient and effective as possible. I also love that I get to learn about, and become an expert on, a wide variety of topics.”
What she gained from a liberal arts education: “Through my liberal arts education I gained the ability to approach life, both professionally and personally, with a broad set of skills like communication, critical thinking, and creativity, and those skills have allowed me to bring a nuanced, multi-faceted view to the table. This ability to think about my work in ways that may be different from folks who come from a specific or specialized background has been invaluable. Being a generalist equipped with the skills and knowledge gained in large part from my education has been a large contributor to my professional successes.”