Enriching Experiences from Conflict Management to Women’s Empowerment

Nainika Paul
MA ’20
Conflict Management

Having attended a large state school for her undergraduate degree, Nainika sought a graduate program smaller in size, with a diverse student body, that enjoys a strong reputation in the communities of politics and academia, as well as among experts in her field of interest: conflict management.

Johns Hopkins SAIS became the obvious choice for Nainika. She values the unique perspectives of her classmates, believing that the diversity in their experiences allows students to truly learn from one another. The school’s strategic location has also been a major advantage, offering Nainika the chance to tap into domestic and foreign politics on a local level. She also appreciates being constantly challenged by her professors to articulate both the policy-applications and theory of a study; she considers this one of the main reasons the school is a world-renowned institution.

This year, Nainika has been an active member of the school’s Global Security and Conflict Management Club, where she facilitates events. She is also involved in Global Women in Leadership, a student organization that helps those with a passion for women’s issues assume leadership roles and engage with a diverse network of professionals. She has also gained skills in academic writing as an editor for the SAIS Review of International Affairs, a widely recognized academic journal that advances the debate on leading contemporary issues in world affairs.

After graduation, she hopes to translate her current studies on women’s political participation and Middle Eastern politics into a relevant PhD program. She also hopes to represent the United States in the future as a Foreign Service Officer in the U.S. Department of State.