Archer Fellowship Program Alumni Profiles
Sarah Islam
Spring 2004 Archer Fellow
Internship: Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Education
The University of Texas at Dallas
B.A. Political Science; May 2005
Princeton University
M.A. Near Eastern Studies; 2010
Ph.D. Near Eastern Studies; expected 2018
Spring 2004 Archer Fellow
Internship: Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Education
The University of Texas at Dallas
B.A. Political Science; May 2005
Princeton University
M.A. Near Eastern Studies; 2010
Ph.D. Near Eastern Studies; expected 2018
“The Archer Fellowship Program was incredibly formative in my career path and journey. … It was through the Archer Fellowship Program and through Dr. Edward Harpham that I realized I was the kind of person that wanted to engage in bigger picture projects where I can contribute to change on a larger scale. It was my Archer Fellowship Program experience that convinced me to move into the social sciences and pursue graduate work in Middle East Studies."
Q & A with Sarah
Please tell us more about your Archer Fellowship Program internship.
I was the primary program intern for the Islam and Middle East Studies Program. My job involved writing up drafts for the monthly newsletter, doing primary and secondary source research for forthcoming book publications, and setting up conferences and roundtables for the program as well as for authors of forthcoming edited volumes.
What has been your general career path?
I am pursuing a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies. I am in the last year of writing my dissertation.
How has your experience as an Archer Fellow influenced your career path and goals?
The Archer Fellowship Program was incredibly formative in my career path and journey. Prior to joining the program, my career trajectory was aimed towards the sciences and medicine—helping people one at a time. It was through the Archer Fellowship Program and through Dr. Edward Harpham that I realized I was the kind of person that wanted to engage in bigger picture projects where I can contribute to change on a larger scale. It was my Archer Fellowship Program experience that convinced me to move into the social sciences and pursue graduate work in Middle East Studies.
What did you value the most about your Archer Fellowship Program experience?
The Archer Fellowship Program is not just another Washington, D.C., internship program. It is a holistic program where students not only gain work experience, they also — through carefully planned coursework and incredible mentorship —are able to take part in multifaceted educational experience that helps us think about how our time in Washington, D.C., will inform our long term life goals, whether in or out of the political sphere.
What do you value the most about being an alumna?
I most value the long term relationships I was able to make through the program both with mentors and colleagues. I still keep in touch with my Archer Fellow colleagues. We give each other career advice and feedback on other related projects. Looking back, I never would have imagined that 15 years later, we would be as close today as we were back then!
What is your favorite memory as an Archer Fellow?
The scavenger hunt!
Please tell us more about your Archer Fellowship Program internship.
I was the primary program intern for the Islam and Middle East Studies Program. My job involved writing up drafts for the monthly newsletter, doing primary and secondary source research for forthcoming book publications, and setting up conferences and roundtables for the program as well as for authors of forthcoming edited volumes.
What has been your general career path?
I am pursuing a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies. I am in the last year of writing my dissertation.
How has your experience as an Archer Fellow influenced your career path and goals?
The Archer Fellowship Program was incredibly formative in my career path and journey. Prior to joining the program, my career trajectory was aimed towards the sciences and medicine—helping people one at a time. It was through the Archer Fellowship Program and through Dr. Edward Harpham that I realized I was the kind of person that wanted to engage in bigger picture projects where I can contribute to change on a larger scale. It was my Archer Fellowship Program experience that convinced me to move into the social sciences and pursue graduate work in Middle East Studies.
What did you value the most about your Archer Fellowship Program experience?
The Archer Fellowship Program is not just another Washington, D.C., internship program. It is a holistic program where students not only gain work experience, they also — through carefully planned coursework and incredible mentorship —are able to take part in multifaceted educational experience that helps us think about how our time in Washington, D.C., will inform our long term life goals, whether in or out of the political sphere.
What do you value the most about being an alumna?
I most value the long term relationships I was able to make through the program both with mentors and colleagues. I still keep in touch with my Archer Fellow colleagues. We give each other career advice and feedback on other related projects. Looking back, I never would have imagined that 15 years later, we would be as close today as we were back then!
What is your favorite memory as an Archer Fellow?
The scavenger hunt!
