Johanna Z
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Class
1999
Track
Arts & Culture
International Experience
Faculty-Led
Country
Moscow, Russia
What are you doing now?
“The Modern Language program at Texas A&M University gave me the best of both worlds–the resources of a large and eminent university and the personal attention of a small liberal arts college. The personal attention made all the difference in my growth as a student and budding Russian speaker. Add to that the university-sponsored study abroad opportunity in Russia and I couldn’t have asked for a more solid foundation for my eventual professional career. My experience as a Russian major was key to my acceptance into the Masters program at the George Bush School of Government and Public Service. That experience led me to what has been a 20-year career with the US Government. My career has taken me across the globe and to policy and legislative venues that I never anticipated. I continue to take the lessons that I learned at A&M with me in my current leadership role every day. I learned the value of making a “big city” feel like a “small town.” I learned that expertise, insight, and excellence are key values to model and pass on. I learned that you get nowhere by focusing on mission over people. I learned to invest in those that I lead and ensure that they feel that investment. That’s what I felt at A&M and what I strive to share with my officers now. I owe a debt of gratitude to my professors in the College of Liberal Arts Modern Language program for everything that I’ve achieved and every officer that I have helped to grow.”
What advice would you give current and future students?
“Think big and think beyond the boundaries of your experience. You can build a resume and array of experiences at Texas A&M that will take you anywhere that you want to go…and many places of which you have not imagined.”