Olivia Cundiff ’18 at U.S. State Department

We recently heard from Olivia Cundiff ’18, who now is based in Washington, D.C., where she works at the U.S. State Department on issues related to Pacific islands.  Olivia completed her M.A. in Asian Studies at George Washington University, supported by a U.S. Department of Education Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship, which provides a generous stipend in addition to covering the costs of tuition. She then was awarded a Presidential Management Fellowship -- the U.S. government's flagship leadership development program for advanced degree holders across all academic disciplines, which recruits and develop future government leaders by providing a two-year, full-time, paid fellowship at a federal agency.  In 2023, Olivia will transition to the U.S. Department of Commerce, where she will research emerging technology and export control with regard to China.  “Thanks to Berea,” says Olivia, “I now get to dabble in a bit of everything in East Asia!”

Olivia welcomes contact with any current students who share her interests in Asia, policy, and security issues.  We’re very proud of you, Olivia!