Tiffany Harris

I am originally from Seattle and I have lived in France, Switzerland, Israel, Morocco, and now Washington DC. I attended Seattle University for my undergraduate studies. After completing 27 months as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco, I attended Tel Aviv University for my graduate studies, where I earned an MA in International Security and Diplomacy. I chose TAU over Georgetown, Brandeis University, and a Fulbright Fellowship. I was really attracted to the opportunity to live, study, and socialize abroad. Before applying to TAU I had done plenty of research on the school academically and I knew that, in that regard, it was the right fit for me. A lover of rigorous academics, thoughtful debates, and language learning, I relished the opportunity to improve my Arabic skills, study Hebrew and participate fully, openly, and thoughtfully in academic conversations.

The big question, however, was whether I would be happy at TAU socially and if future employers would consider an international MA equal to a degree from an American University. The big change of heart happened when I arrived on campus. I found the students and staff to be hardworking, bright, happy, friendly people. The professors were the best of the best. It was amazing how much I learned from them. The Security and Diplomacy Program offered me a chance to develop an entirely new network of friends and professionals, while maintaining my existing networks. It provided me the opportunity to learn academically and experientially, which wouldn’t have been possible if I stayed in the United States. In addition to earning my MA, I gained new perspectives, a new social network of friends, peers, and professional contacts all over the world.

I am currently working for the Federal Government in Washington DC, but while I was a student, I interned at one of Israel’s leading Security think tanks, and I volunteered with a Peace Advocacy organization. My MA, the internship, coupled with the volunteer work, gave me a great deal of the experience I needed to compete and succeed in DC’s competitive job market.