This May, a dozen Georgetown students will receive a graduate certificate in Gender, Peace and Security which provides them with the practical and analytical skills to take a more inclusive approach to international affairs.
This year’s graduating cohort includes Aastha Gupta, Ellissa Goldberg, Hannah Eleanor Barrett, Jenna Galberg, Jo Desmone, Kara Joyce, Linsey Brown Scoresby, Mia Ferrari-Mathis, Rebecca Contreras Kayayan, Sojung Ha, Spencer Boldt, and Therese McCarry.
Linsey Brown Scoresby (L’23) is the first Georgetown University Law Center student to graduate from the certificate program, which is open to graduate students across Georgetown University.
During her time as a Georgetown student, Scoresby helped evacuate high-risk women during the Taliban takeover and interned at the Department of Justice’s Human Rights & Special Prosecutions Section. She said the certificate helped prepare her for a career in international law and foreign policy.
“I loved the Gender and Security Toolbox course, which provided me with tools necessary to conduct gender analyses not only in the security sector, but also in all other aspects of my career,” said Scoresby.
Meet other recipients of our gender, peace and security certificate.
Kara Joyce, Masters of Security Studies, School of Foreign Service
Kara Joyce is focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation, which she calls “the most pressing issue facing the human race.”
Why does gender matter? “I believe gender is inseparable from these [climate change] questions because of the role that gender plays in agriculture, conservation, and resource usage.”
How does the certificate program support your career? “The certificate fits into my goals by expanding my academic background on these topics and teaching me practical skills for writing, research, and analysis.”
What were other Georgetown highlights? “I served as the associate editor for gender and international relations in the Georgetown Security Studies Review before becoming its deputy editor.”
Hannah Eleanor Barrett, Masters of Security Studies, School of Foreign Service
Hannah is focused on topics such as human security and gender-based violence, where international development and international security intersect. She will serve as a Presidential Management Fellow following her graduation.
Why does gender matter? “I am fascinated by the ways in which gendered approaches to international security can upend our understanding of the security field.”
How was the certificate program relevant to your career? “I work at Vital Voices Global Partnership where I support international gender-based violence response and prevention programs. It has been exciting to apply my findings and research from my gender, peace and security courses to my work in real time, and in turn identify critical issues from my job that I can explore in an academic setting.”
What was a highlight from the certificate program? “The professors in the certificate courses have been some of the most inspiring, considerate, and engaging faculty I have met at Georgetown. I am so grateful for their mentorship and dedication to their students!”
Spencer Boldt, Masters of Foreign Service, School of Foreign Service
Spencer is interested in work pertaining to women’s empowerment, LGBTQI+ inclusion, and sustainable development.
What were your favorite courses? “Being a student in the first Queering International Development class inspired me to continue to reinforce the non-binary aspects of gender work. I have since shifted my focus towards LGBTQI+ inclusion and the importance of intentionally inclusive development work that considers all identities of people.”
What research question most interests you? “Can the same efforts towards women’s empowerment and inclusion be applied to LBGTQI+ inclusion?”
How is the certificate program relevant to your career? “The GPS certificate has provided me with the soft and hard skills to apply a gendered lens to all work that I do.”
Rebecca Contreras Kayayan, Master of Arts in Latin American Studies, School of Foreign Service
Rebecca’s work addresses the intersection of gender, rule of law and governance in Latin America.
Why does gender matter? “I am interested in the gender-differentiated impacts caused by extractive industries in Latin America. I am also interested in how these issues intersect with democratic backsliding in the region, especially regarding violence against women in politics.”
Tell us about your research? “My academic research has aimed to understand the gendered impacts of extractive industries and how this reflects broader issues of participation and governance in countries. I conducted fieldwork for my capstone project which analyzed the gendered impacts of a silver mine in Guatemala.”
What was a highlight from the certificate program? “The GPS certificate provided me with the opportunity to study issues related to governance, corporate accountability and human rights with a gender lens, and to analyze power dynamics at the local level.”
Congratulations to Graduating GIWPS Research Assistants
GIWPS also congratulates our graduating student research assistants, who are critical to our work at the Institute. We look forward to following the bright careers of Ana Lejava, David Guzman, Iryna Tiasko, Isha Arora, Kristine Baekgaard, Lily Erickson, and Satya Adabala.
“It is tremendously rewarding to see another wonderfully talented group of students graduate with a Gender, Peace and Security Certificate! I cannot wait to see them advance the status of women and girls, and make the world more peaceful, just and equitable.” -GIWPS Managing Director Carla Koppell.
