Syracuse University offers a variety of study away opportunities for you to gain a competitive edge. Maxwell-in-Washington is one such program, building on our leadership in policy-driven teaching, research and engagement.
Offered by the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the program resides in the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based, bipartisan, nonprofit think tank. Its strategic location gives you more than a front-row seat to domestic and global affairs. It also enables you to learn—and grow—within a tight-knit community of scholars and practitioners.
We recently caught up with several Maxwell-in-Washington students to find out how the experience benefits them.
Natalie Mulimbi G’25
“I have a fresh perspective on how our government operates,” says Natalie Mulimbi G’25, who interns at the USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.
A member of the public administration and international relations dual master’s degree program, Natalie Mulimbi G’25 credits the Maxwell-in-Washington program for deepening her understanding of public diplomacy as well as global security and development.
Such insight is utilized in her internship at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, where she works in the Office of Africa.
“I have a fresh perspective on how our government operates, nationally and globally,” says the Western New York native. “Interagency cooperation enables us to work together to support the most vulnerable populations.”
Outside of class, Mulimbi enjoys the perks of big-city living—from attending academic events to frequenting cultural festivals. “These humbling experiences in our nation’s capital foster human connection and critical thinking, which are essential to what I do,” she adds.
Forrest Gatrell G’26
Forrest Gatrell G’25 is a Robertson Fellow who interns at the U.S. House of Representatives’ Homeland Security Committee.
Washington is like a second home for Forrest Gatrell G’25, an Indiana native pursuing a career in foreign service. By day, the Robertson Fellow interns at the U.S. House of Representatives’ Homeland Security Committee. By night, he takes courses in public diplomacy, economic statecraft and international relations.
“Proximity to my target job market helps me understand Washington’s hiring dynamics, professional culture and lifestyle,” says Gatrell, a member of Maxwell-in-Washington’s Global Security and Development Program.
A former personal injury paralegal for underserved immigrants, Gatrell is excited to be among early- and mid-career professionals in the public administration and international relations dual master’s program. Being in the nation’s capital, he says, puts him “closer to the action.”
Plus, you never know who you’ll meet. Gatrell bumped into Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes while walking to the Maxwell School’s Centennial Celebration at the National Portrait Gallery. “The Chiefs had been at the White House earlier in the day, celebrating their second Super Bowl win,” Gatrell recalls. “I was in the right place at the right time.”
Masih Ghazanfari ’26
An aspiring foreign service officer, Masih Ghazanfari ’26 credits the Maxwell-in-Washington program for giving him an “up-close look” at the complexities of government operations.
An international relations major, Masih Ghazanfari ’26 focuses on human rights in the Middle East and North Africa. His fascination with the impact of historical events on modern society has led to an internship at the Institute of World Politics (IWP), where he studies religious and political extremist groups in Afghanistan in the late 1990s.
“This work is preparing me to become a foreign service officer,” says the Afghan native, who is committed to “advocating for human rights and enacting positive changes.”
A Maxwell Student Ambassador and member of the Muslim Students’ Association, Ghazanfari appreciates the University’s robust academic and research presence in Washington. He credits Maxwell-in-Washington for giving him an “up-close look” at the complexities of government operations and equipping him with the “knowledge and practical skills” essential for his career aspirations.
Ghazanfari also is mentored by alumni like Andrew Lederman ’05, acting director of the State Department’s Near Eastern Affairs Office of Regional and Multilateral Affairs. “Andrew is broadening my perspective and enriching my educational growth. I can’t say enough about him,” Ghazanfari adds.
Bakary Darboe ’25
Bakary Darboe ’25, a Gambian-born Our Time Has Come scholar, interns at Syracuse’s Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship in Washington. “Everybody has something to teach us,” he says.
Many students augment their Maxwell-in-Washington experience with coursework in the Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship (IDJC). A joint initiative of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Maxwell School, the IDJC enables students like Bakary Darboe ’25 to gain a comprehensive view of current events and issues.
Through an internship at the IDJC, the political science major is getting a crash course in “high stakes” donor relations and contact management.
“I’ve gotten to know a handful of alumni, who have reminded me that it’s OK not to have it all figured out right now,” says Darboe, an Our Time Has Come scholar. “Just as they have taken me under their wing, I want to do the same for others.”
Darboe is a Gambian-born American who plans to attend law school. He’s interested in knowing why some presidential administrations succeed and others fail. The answer might be found if not in the classroom, then in one of his many networking and “real-world learning” events in Washington.
“It’s our differences, unique qualities and perspectives that bring us closer together,” says the Bronx native. “Everybody has something to teach us.”
Xenia Zolano-Doroteo ’25
Xenia Zolano-Doroteo ’25 considers Washington the “ideal place” to study international relations. “The city has its own rhythm … and vibrant pulse,” she says.
A senior majoring in international relations, Xenia Zolano-Doroteo ’25 interns at the Department Against Transnational Organized Crime. It’s there that she helps members of the Organization of American States “confront and respond to” the trafficking of people and arms as well as the smuggling of migrants.
The California native has a passion for international security and diplomacy, particularly from a Latin American perspective. “Washington, D.C., is where I need to be right now,” Zolano-Doroteo says. “The city has its own rhythm, its own vibrant pulse.” Washington’s rich history and diverse population also make it the “ideal place” to study international relations.
One of her mentors is Fulton Armstrong, an adjunct professor and former CIA analyst who teaches global public policy. Zolano-Doroteo singles him out for improving her scholarly writing and organizing class trips to the Pentagon, the Embassy of Ukraine and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.
“People like him help me broaden my perspective of inter-government organizations,” she says. “I get to slowly transition into a professional setting while still remaining under the Syracuse umbrella.”
To find out how you can immerse yourself in industry while pursuing special opportunities, visit Syracuse’s study away website.
