Student Reflection: Preparing for a Change-Making Career

*Editor's Note: The International Economic Relations: Quantitative Methods degree is no longer accepting applications. The Politics, Governance, and Economics Department is excited to unveil a revamped degree name and curriculum for our STEM degree program-the Global Governance, Politics & Security: Quantitative Economic Methods (GGPS:QEM) program-for students starting in fall 2025. For more information and to apply, visit the GGPS:QEM webpage.

As a second-year master's student in International Economic Relations: Quantitative Methods at American University's School of International Service (SIS), my academic journey has been driven by a commitment to addressing the pressing global economic challenges facing developing countries. My passion for the energy transition, particularly in regions like my home country of Honduras, inspired me to pursue this degree. I believe the global economic system should be more closely aligned with the needs of developing countries through strategic financing to promote robust infrastructure, effective governance, and solutions that alleviate poverty and combat climate change.

My time at SIS has allowed me to deepen my understanding of the theoretical frameworks that inform global economic policies. I have sought to explore critical issues like lack of competition, protectionism, and government monopolies-factors that hinder progress in the energy sector of many developing nations. Additionally, I have worked to broaden my toolset for economic and financial analysis, mastering statistical software such as Stata and R. Through this training, I have gained expertise in portfolio optimization, financial modeling, and economic modeling, all of which are essential in facilitating financing for sustainable energy projects.

Professional and Academic Opportunities at SIS

SIS has provided me with a wide range of opportunities to grow academically and professionally. As a research assistant, I collaborated with Professor Anthony Fontes, an anthropologist, synthesizing qualitative data to contribute to his work on violence, migration, and transnational illicit economies. Additionally, as a researcher at the Center for Latin America and Latino Studies (CLALS), I co-authored a report analyzing remittance data and its impact on the US economy, while assisting with editing various reports before publication. In addition, I have served as Vice President of the Graduate Leadership Council (GLC), where I helped manage the budget for student-led initiatives.

One of my most significant experiences, however, was interning at the World Bank's Energy and Extractives Global Knowledge unit. I was selected as part of a highly competitive cohort of 38 interns from a pool of 15,000 applicants. During this internship, I developed electricity access and renewable energy indicators and a database on energy procurement. This transformative experience has shaped my approach to energy portfolio monitoring and economic modeling, preparing me to inform strategic decision-making at the highest levels of global finance.

Building Quantitative and Analytical Skills

My studies at SIS have equipped me with a robust set of quantitative and analytical skills that I plan to apply in addressing global economic challenges. Courses such as environmental economics, sustainable finance, econometrics, and financial modeling have sharpened my expertise in cost-benefit analysis, portfolio construction, statistical analysis, and financial forecasting. Through these courses, I have worked extensively with time series, panel data, and cross-sectional data using tools like Excel, Stata and R, ensuring that my analyses are both valid and impactful.

For my master's final paper, I plan to apply these skills to examine the relationship between energy market structure, utility performance, and progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7)-affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. My objective is to provide insights that can inform international financing institutions on the market structures most effective in driving the energy transition in developing countries.

Looking Toward the Future

As I advance in my career, I aim to leverage my degree and experiences from SIS to contribute to global initiatives that connect financial institutions with effective policies. My vision is to support efforts that promote renewable energy generation, reduce emissions, and bring electricity to underserved communities. Washington, DC, offers a unique platform to engage with organizations like the World Bank Group and Inter-American Development Bank as well as private sector entities pursuing these goals. I am confident that my skills and passion can help drive their missions and create a meaningful impact in the global energy sector.

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