Accelerated MA in Global Affairs
Diana Fernandez
Where are you from?
I am from a suburb near Dallas, Texas!
What aspects of Mason made you choose to study here? What is your undergraduate major?
The main aspect of Mason that made me want to study here is the location, I love that Mason is close to D.C. Another aspect is that Mason is a large university where I can find different communities of support and interest. My undergraduate major is also in Global Affairs.
Why did you choose to do the Accelerated MA/BAM program?
I chose the BAM program because I want more depth into the academic field in Global Affairs and I believe it’ll give me more time and flexibility to explore my academic interests.
What has been your favorite class or experience in the Accelerated MA/BAM program or what are you looking forward to the most in the program?
I’m most looking forward to taking courses for my specialization to develop extensive knowledge in my desired area of global affairs.
How do you think the Accelerated MA/BAM program will prepare you for your future career?
I think the BAM program will prepare me for my future career by helping me build research skills that I could use to create reports, programs, etc. depending on what field my career will be in.
Do you have any advice for prospective students to the Accelerated MA/BAM program?
Come into the program with a few solid GLOA topics that you would like to explore to apply to your academic and professional fields!
What are some causes/issues you care about? Why?
As my interest is mainly in sustainable urban development, I care about people’s experiences and opportunities in cities around the world. I believe that access to transportation, housing, public spaces, and communities is extremely important to people living in urban places, especially due to the high concentration of people in cities. However, urban development needs to be sustainable to ensure healthy environments and healthy urbanites for future generations.
What work/intern/volunteer experience do you have and how has it prepared you for your studies?
I currently have a Pathways Internship with the U.S. Department of Justice as a Human Resources Trainee. Although it is not related to my academic field of interest, it has prepared me by gaining experience in how to act in a professional setting.
What do you hope to accomplish while at Mason?
At Mason, I hope to accomplish independent research projects that I’m proud of and that can serve as background knowledge for my future career.
What are your hobbies?
My hobbies include doing yoga, listening to podcasts, and exploring cities!
What is your favorite thing about being a student?
One of my favorite things about being a student is community! I love learning about others’ majors and interests and how they could relate to mine to create multidisciplinary perspectives.
Which languages do you speak?
Other than English, I speak Spanish!
What was the last book you read? Do you recommend it? Why or why not?
The last book I read was Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. If you are interested in environmental science or the environmental movement, then I do recommend this book. Published in 1962, it’s about how pesticides used during the early and mid-20th century had negative impacts on the environment and people and it’s largely credited with kick-starting the environmental movement during the 60s and 70s.
