Tristan Williamson - INTA 2017

Tristan Williamson graduated from James Madison University in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in International Affairs and, in 2020, he graduated from the George Washington University's Elliot School of International Affairs with a master's degree in International Affairs specializing in foreign policy and international law. 

What is your current position? 

Currently, I serve as a Foreign Affairs Officer in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation's Office of Missile, Biological, and Chemical Nonproliferation - the office that leads the U.S. government's working-level expoert control and diplomatic efforts to prevent the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons, missile delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction, and related equipment, materials, and technology. 

How did the International Affairs major prepare you for this? 

While at JMU, I had a regional specialization in Europe with a dual minor in Modern European Studies and Business German. The INTA program, with its top-tier faculty coupled with its interdisciplinary coursework, provided the foundation for me to understand the complex problems facing our world and set me on a path for me to discover my professional identity. I highly recommend students, both undergraduate and graduate, to fully utilize their time in the INTA program to not only absorb the diverse skillset of Miller's facility but seek opportunities to network with peers and to perfect necessary skills through various professional experiences.