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alumni CLAS COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES,notes UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA SPRING 2008 journey to the white house CLASact Thy M. Nguyen is arguably one of the University of Florida’s Thy M. Nguyen most successful young alumni. Graduating a mere seven About CLAS years ago, she has earned an M.A. in strategic studies and B.A., Political Science, 2001 The College of Liberal Arts international economics from Johns Hopkins University, and Sciences at the University and landed a job as a Foreign Affairs Officer in the Bureau of Florida is the largest college for International Security and Nonproliferation. In between assignments in Austria, Vietnam, China, on campus, with more than 700 and Japan, she debriefed Alumni CLASnotes on faculty members responsible her life at the U.S. State Department. for teaching the majority of the university’s core curriculum to at ACn: What does an average day look like for you? least 35,000 students each year. TN: A typical day starts off with checking diplo- matic reporting that has come in overnight from CLAS has more than 12,000 around the world concerning the key countries undergraduate students pursuing and issues I cover. Then I check to see whether a variety of disciplines through I have been assigned to draft any briefing its 42 majors and 42 minors. Ad- materials for my bureau leadership or depart- ment principals to prepare them for meetings, ditionally, nearly 2,000 graduate hearings, and high-level visits. Generally this students are attaining advanced includes briefing papers, press guidance, pre- degrees in the college. sentations and the like. If there is some kind of crisis—such as when North Korea tested a About Alumni CLASnotes nuclear device in October 2006—then the pace and scope of work can increase exponentially, Alumni CLASnotes is published and that’s when you reacquaint yourself with twice a year by the University what it was like to pull an all-nighter in of Florida College of Liberal college. Arts and Sciences for its alumni ACn: How did CLAS prepare you for a and friends. Please send all cor- career in public service? respondence to Editor, CLAS TN: During my freshman year, Dean’s Office, PO Box 117300, I took a course with Dr. Leann Brown, who taught the Intro- University of Florida, Gaines- duction to International ville FL 32611-7300 or editor@ Relations course that really clas.ufl.edu. piqued my interest in inter- national relations. I also took Interim Dean a course with Dr. Richard Nolan on U.S. Foreign Joseph Glover Policy, and the lectures and discussions we had on the CLAS News & Cold War in particular were Publications the first time I really had a sense of American politics Buffy Lockette, Editor and policy in a global con- Jane Dominguez, Designer text. You learn these things in one form or another in Jeff Stevens, Web Master high school, but my sense of Owen Fasolas, Intern awareness of, and apprecia- Christopher Garland, Intern tion for, the art of diplomacy Heather Read, Intern and leadership and the impact it had on world history didn’t Aubrey Siegel, Intern really happen until my studies in CLAS. CLAS Development & Alumni Affairs ACn: What advice would you give a student wishing to follow Cynthia Butler, Senior Director in your footsteps? Cody Helmer, Director TN: If you want to be involved in Norman Portillo, Director U.S. diplomacy, I think it’s very helpful to have a solid grasp on U.S. and world his- tory, international affairs, international economics, and at least one foreign society or culture. Most people who work in a policy capacity at the State Department have lived or on the COVER worked overseas. But you know, there’s nothing that says there’s only An international student explores what one right way to get into foreign policy or, more broadly, international it takes to become president of the relations work. As long as you’re learning, having fun, and have a OMINGUEZ United States, page 4. sense of what you want your next step to be, you’ll be in good shape, D whatever career you choose. ANE J 2 Spring 2008 Alumni CLASnotes, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Florida OMINGUEZ The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences occupies a D ANE beautiful section of campus that captures the ori- J gins and history of the university in its buildings and landscaping. Thanks to the generosity of alumni and donors, many of the original architectural structures have had their grace and grandeur restored. Because of its importance to the entire campus, we modify the historical district rarely. And when we do, we do so carefully. In February, CLAS celebrated the completion of a mar- velous new building, Jim and Alexis Pugh Hall, whose style respects and complements that of its neighbors. Its placement between Newell and Dauer Halls creates a new plaza and focal a note from point, where none existed before. Thanks to the generosity of Jim and Alexis Pugh, the Department of African and Asian the Languages and Literatures, the Samuel Proctor Oral His- Dean tory Program, and the Bob Graham Center for Public Service have a new state-of-the-art home. Please visit www.ufl.oxblue. the campus in considering problems ham Center for Public Service, students com/grahamcenter to view a live shot of the building and see a facing the nation. So far this spring, the will have the opportunity to learn about time-lapse film of its construction. center has hosted Bob Graham, Dr. Jo- those challenges and to work shoulder- CLAS formally opened the Graham Center in March. seph Nye, Pulitzer Prize winner David to-shoulder with current leaders to help Inspired by the work of former Florida Governor and U.S. McCullough, Senators Chuck Hagel address them. By any measure, our stu- Senator Bob Graham, the center prepares students to assume and Jay Rockefeller, and former Secre- dents are among the most talented in leadership roles in addressing state and national issues. It fo- tary of State Madeleine Albright. the nation. If we can turn their atten- cuses on public leadership and public service through course- The college’s primary mission is to tion to address boldly our most pressing work and practical experience, U.S. relations with neighbors in prepare our students to assume leader- problems, we will have helped our na- Latin America and the Caribbean basin, and homeland securi- ship roles in resolving the challenges fac- tion take great strides forward. ty. Through its distinguished speaker series, the center engages ing the nation. Through the Bob Gra- —Joe Glover, Interim Dean in this issue CLASact ...............................................................2 Updates from CLASmates ............................... 14 Foreign Affairs Officer Thy M. Nguyen gives an insider’s look at Whether serving as legal counsel for Univision, flying helicop- the U.S. State Department. ters for the Los Angeles Police Department, or designing sets for the Big Brother television series—your college friends are Journey to the White House ..............................4 leading remarkable careers. Join international student Christopher Garland on his quest to discover the skills and attributes needed to navigate the Alumni Bookshelf ............................................ 16 American presidency. Image management, Generation X parenting, and the lives of athletes—these and other issues are explored in the latest Celebrating Civics ...............................................8 books by CLAS alumni. An all-star cast of political greats joined in the grand opening of the Bob Graham Center for Public Service. CLAS Tomorrow ............................................... 17 Invest in the heart of the Gator Nation by participating in the A Home for Public Service .................................9 Florida Tomorrow campaign. Doors open to Jim and Alexis Pugh Hall, home to the Depart- ment of African and Asian Languages and Literatures, Bob Campus Views .................................................. 18 Graham Center for Public Service, and Samuel Proctor Oral A political science undergraduate shares his story of growing History Program. up in the Sudan, while a classical studies doctoral student explores the Jewish identity of a Greek historian. Leading Tomorrow .......................................... 10 Some of the university’s brightest undergraduates prepare for Mark Your Calendar ......................................... 20 careers in public service. Events that may persuade you to revisit your alma mater. Alumni Spotlight ............................................. 12 English alumnus Doug Band serves as President Bill Clinton’s top adviser. Spring 2008 Alumni CLASnotes, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Florida 3 journey international to the student explores the maKing of w h i t e an A merican h o u s e president Every international student at the University tem, I remain intrigued by the essential ity,” he said. “And presidents, like all of of Florida has a unique story about moving question that remains to be answered in us, have to conquer their own demons to Gainesville, though many share some November: In terms of skills and char- when they’re in office.” acter, what makes a president? Conley refers to the late James common elements: Wandering through the So, I turned to some of the experts Barber, former Duke University politi- massive campus in the midst of the oppres- in the College of Liberal Arts and Sci- cal scientist known for his work explor- sive August heat, gawking at the size of the ences who could provide insight into ing the psyche of presidential hopefuls, Swamp (the football stadium, not the restau- what specific personality traits are need- when discussing the leadership traits ed to lead the United States. not always apparent to the public on rant), and marveling at the number of alliga- My journey took me to the office the campaign trail. “Richard Nixon, for tors sunbathing in Lake Alice.