Studying in the Heart of Europe

Max Lowenthal
Master of Arts ’17
Latin American Studies
First Year: SAIS Europe

Max became interested in attending Johns Hopkins SAIS while working with several of the school’s alumni at the Mintz Group, an investigative service and due diligence consultancy in Washington, DC. After attending an impressive admissions lecture focused on the ongoing European economic crisis by Professor Erik Jones, Max was hooked. He was also confident that the school’s quantitative focus would allow him to pursue a career in the private sector. Having grown up in the DC area, the opportunity to spend a year studying at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy and gain a European perspective on international relations and economics, was very appealing.

During his studies, Max has had the chance to take part in a number of the school’s activities outside of the classroom. As part of Professor Jacqueline Mazza’s Labor Market Policies in Developing Countries course, he participated in a two-day study tour to Rome, where the class received technical lectures related to social and labor policies in rural development from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Program (WFP). Max has also been able to participate in two energy-related career treks; in Bologna, he attended a student-led trip to Vienna, which featured visits with local utility companies, conversations with alumni at an oil and gas research consultancy, and a tour of a large waste incineration facility. In the US, Max took part in a week-long career trek to San Francisco and visited companies dedicated to the development, distribution, and regulation of renewable energy.

This summer, Max is working as an Equity Analyst for Itaú Asset Management in Santiago, Chile and post-graduation next spring, he plans to pursue work opportunities in renewable energy development and finance.