Founder, Sarus Exchange Program, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Wesley moved to Asia shortly after graduating from Tulane in 2006. For a year, he worked as an English teacher at universities in China and Vietnam. Since then he has worked for a variety of educational non-profits in Burma, Cambodia, and Vietnam. In 2010, he founded Sarus, a peace-building, service learning exchange program for Cambodian and Vietnamese university students. He also currently works as Volunteers in Asia (VIA)’s Southeast Asia Program Director and Visions Service Adventures ‘ Southeast Asia Coordinator.

Wesley reflects on his time at Tulane…

Why did you choose to major in Latin American Studies?
I chose LAST because of my interest in foreign languages and learning about other countries. I was impressed by the faculty and resources of the Stone Center. My decision to study abroad in Argentina cemented my decision to major in LAST.

How has your background in LAST helped you since graduation?
LAST gave me the tools to approach a different region, Southeast Asia, with a critical and holistic perspective. It also gave me a key point of reference and comparison for understanding Southeast Asia. 

In hindsight, what would you have done differently as a LAST major?
I would have spent an entire year abroad instead of just one semester, and I would have done summer internships and other summer programs related to LAST. 

Any words of wisdom for LAST undergraduates?
Really work on the foreign language you’re studying and find plenty of opportunities to practice. I also recommend supporting your classroom work with real world experience through jobs, internships, study abroad programs, research, service learning, etc. 

Youth Development Promotor for Peace Corps, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

(Natalie describes this picture: My coordinating committee and I at the close of the 2012 National At-Risk Youth Conference we organized, which brought together 30 local, national and international NGOs working with vulnerable children and youth in the Dominican Republic.)

After graduating from Tulane with a double major in Latin American Studies and International Development, Natalie simultaneously taught volunteered for Teach for America and pursued an MS in Bilingual eduaction at Pace University. While serving in Teach for America, Natalie taught ESL/bilingual Science at a middle school for new immigrants in New York. She then returned to New Orleans for an MPH in International Health and Development from Tulane, during which time she also worked as a Spanish Immersion Teacher and as an Intervention Specialist, mentoring and evaluating new teachers in the teach NOLA program, the New Orleans component of The New Teacher Project. Natalie is currently a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic. She directs the Peace Corps-wide initiative “Escojo Enseñar,” a comprehensive teacher-training initiative comrpised of conferences, manual, and videos to be implemented with teachers cross the country. She also works on capacity building initiatives with a child’s rights NGO that works on behalf of exploited youth.

Natalie reflects on her experience at Tulane…

Why did you choose to major in Latin American Studies?
Being from Texas, I have always been fascinated by Tex-Mex traditions that were a part of my upbringing. When I was in high school, I did a program called Amigos de las Americas (sort of like a mini-Peace Corps) that sent me to live and work in a rural area of Oaxaca, Mexico for a summer. This experience impacted me greatly and piqued my interest in the region in general. I also knew that I wanted an interdisciplinary experience where I could take classes across different areas of study, and that Tulane had one of the most well respected and well funded LAST programs in the country. So, I knew I would be taking advantage of the best of what Tulane had to offer!

How has your background in LAST helped you since graduation?
All of my work experiences since graduation have involved either working with Latino populations in the States or working abroad in Latin America. The broad background I gained on the region through LAST was invaluable in each of these settings. My LAST classes also gave me a solid base in history and geopolitical structures that have allowed me to engage more thoughtfully with current events. I often take for granted this perspective, but recognize that, had I chosen to major in business, for example, I would likely not have the acute awareness of the world around me that my LAST education provided. All of my coursework in Latin American Studies and International Development were great preparation for being a Peace Corps volunteer. My job with Peace Corps gives me a chance to see how theory plays out in real world situations.

In hindsight, what would you have done differently as a LAST major?
I am very satisfied with the way my Latin American Studies major played out.  I took a nice variety of courses, co-majored in International Development (which provided an interesting perspective), and took advantage of the excellent faculty and resources that the Latin American Studies program had to offer. I would have liked to take a Latin American history course, but at the time was scared off by the amount of reading!

Any words of wisdom for LAST undergraduates?
My perspective on my undergraduate years has changed with masters’ degrees and work experience under my belt. I truly believe that your undergraduate years are about finding something you are passionate about and learning to think critically. You will, in all likelihood (and especially in today’s economy) have to get a master’s degree regardless. You can worry about applying your generalist experience to more specific career paths then (or double major with a more specific discipline such as Spanish, International Development, history, etc). Focus on finding classes that really interest you across all disciplines (art, history, music, culture, etc), where you’ll be excited to do the work. This was my approach, and I had an unforgettable learning experience in Latin American Studies at Tulane.

(Of this picture, Natalie writes: My “Chicas Brillantes” and I at their graduation in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic – Chicas Brillantes is a Peace Corps girls empowerment program that aims to increase self-esteem in young girls and therefore reduce violence against women.)

Elections and Policy Expert, New Mexico

After graduation in 2007, Jessica moved to Buenos Aires and pursued a graduate degree in Marketing from the Universidad de San Andrés where she was the sole US student in the program conducted entirely in Spanish. She subsequently worked for Wines of Argentina, then as an analyst for a market intelligence consulting firm, and finally with Endeavor‘€“an NGO with a private sector approach to development that identifies and supports high potential entrepreneurs in emerging markets. After four years abroad, Jessica returned to the United States to work on Capitol Hill, serving U.S. Congressional District (TX-27) with its +60% Hispanic demographic. As a Sr. Legislative Assistant, she advised Congressman Blake Farenthold on policy issues ranging from energy, to agriculture, tax, social security and small business. In 2012 Jessica managed a U.S. Congress primary race in South Texas and also served as Governor Romney‘€™s Deputy Director of Coalitions for Colorado, a crucial swing state in the 2012 Presidential election. Has Jessica led various coalitions and was heavily involved in Hispanic outreach throughout the state. Currently Jessica is Legislative Director for Congressman Steve Pearce from New Mexico. Working from Rep. Pearce‘€™s Washington office, Blake leads Rep. Pearce‘€™s legislative team, which drafts bills and amendments, reviews legislation under consideration, and corresponds with constituents on legislative matters. She also aids Rep. Pearce with his work on the Financial Services committee.

She reflects on her time at Tulane…

Why did you choose to major in Latin American Studies?
I transferred to Tulane after spending her freshman summer with Tulane in Guadalajara, Mexico. After my summer in Jalisco, I was hooked on Latin American Studies and knew that Tulane was the place for me. While at Tulane, I studied abroad in Argentina and wrote my senior thesis on Bolivian politics, I carried out field research in La Paz, Bolivia, thanks to a grant from the Newcomb College Institute, which supports undergraduate research for women.

How has your background in LAST helped you since graduation?
The major strengthened my writing abilities, formed my analytical thinking skills and developed my sense of adventure. Latin American Studies introduced me to a region ripe with possibility and opportunity.

Any words of wisdom for LAST undergraduates?
My career and my passion for Latin America started at Tulane. Find a major that interests you, where you will put your heart into your studies, where lecture topics follow you outside of the classroom and into the bar. Let your major and your career envelope your life. I have backpacked across South America, analyzed Latin American market entry strategy for corporations, traveled the Amazon on a cargo boat, and discussed immigration and trade policy in a Presidential election. This major can become a way of life – dive in, there will be a world of opportunity waiting for you.
Words of wisdom:

- Learn the language (both Spanish and Portuguese). The only way you can truly do that is to live abroad.

- Couple the major with a business or economic orientation.

- Understand Latin America from a multi-disciplinary perspective, the region‘€™s culture, language, markets, economics, history and politics. This approach has tremendous value.