Meet Our Graduate Network
Global Policy Institute alumni have gone on to pursue careers in foreign affairs, public policy, academia, and beyond. We are proud of our former fellows and know that they are committed to continuing conversations of global importance beyond USC’s campus.
Natalia Smith
Natalia Smith graduated from USC in 2020 with a B.A. in International Relations and a B.A. in NGOs and Social Change. She is interested in foreign affairs, domestic policy and Law. Outside of her studies, Natalia was on the executive board of USC’s Troy Camp and worked for StoryFile. Natalia has interned at Los Angeles Central Trials, the USC Shoah Foundation and served on the Panhellenic Judicial Board. Natalia also participated in the Teaching International Relations Program, which teaches complex issues surrounding International Relations to high school students. Over the summer, Natalia participated in a Problems without Passports program in the Arctic Circle studying Climate Change as well as volunteering at Aegis Trust in Rwanda for a month assisting with content and program evaluation and development. Natalia is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the USC Price School of Public Policy.
Kurt Weatherford
Kurt Weatherford graduated from USC in 2020 with a B.A. in International Relations and a B.A. in Political Economy, with a minor in Human Security and Geospatial Intelligence. On campus, he worked as a tour guide, served on the E-Board of the Swim Club, and volunteered through the Teaching International Relations Program. Outside of these activities, he conducted research in the Spatial Sciences Institute focused on detecting and measuring mass migrations using satellite imagery and other location-based data. Earlier last year, he interned at the US Department of State and the Atlantic Council where he had the chance to work on the policy issues that most interest him: human migration and climate change. Kurt was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant fellowship to Greece for January 2021. He is originally from St. Louis, MO.
Sarah Wagner
Sarah Wagner graduated from USC in 2020 with a B.A in International Relations (Global Business) and a B.A. in Political Economy. Her interests include human security and climate change. On campus, she was a member of Delta Phi Epsilon. In Summer 2018, she traveled through the Arctic Circle while on Professor Lamy’s Problems Without Passports course researching Arctic climate issues. She also interned with a Member of Scottish Parliament last semester while studying abroad at the University of Edinburgh. She spent last summer in Washington, DC working at Bates White Economic Consulting, where she is returning full-time after graduation. Sarah is originally from Los Angeles, CA.
Shir Attias
Shir Attias graduated from USC in 2020 with a B.A. in International Relations and a B.A. in Political Economy. Shir is focused on national security and defense issues, women’s economic empowerment, and American foreign policy processes, with regional interests in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Shir participated in a 6-month study abroad program at King’s College London, studying War Studies. Shir was a member of Gamma Phi Beta, served as President of USC’s Bipartisan Trojans for Israel, and was a student researcher at the USC Security and Political Economy Lab, studying trade policy and transitional justice issues. She also served as the Chairwoman of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Women’s Leadership Council, working to create professional development opportunities for young women pursuing foreign policy careers, and has also interned with the Majority Staff at the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs. Senior year, Shir was awarded the U.S. Department of State’s Boren Scholarship. She is originally from Phoenix, AZ.
Sofia Bosch
Sofia Bosch graduated from USC in 2020 with a B.A. in Journalism and a double minor in International Relations and Communication, Policy & Law. At USC, she mentored 21 South Los Angeles students through USC Troy Camp, was a reporter and TV Executive Producer for the campus’ student-run news outlets, and jammed out with Remedy Through Music. She has interned for CNBC, the Office of Congress Member Karen Bass and Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project. Sofia also co-founded a community organization called the University Park Action Coalition, empowering individuals in South L.A. through greater activism and improved communication between the community and local authorities. She is passionate about social impact and aims to eventually work in international human rights policy and law. Sofia was awarded a Princeton in Latin America fellowship to pursue post-graduation.