Tufts Blogs

As a sophomore at Tufts, one of the biggest questions on everyone’s mind is what to major in. While some students come in with a clear plan, most of us aren’t as sure, which can feel overwhelming. Personally, I struggled to pick between political science and international relations. I turned to just about everyone I know for advice, including my professors, parents, friends, and the Career Center. While their support was incredibly helpful, I wasn’t fully confident that IR was the right major for me until I joined Tufts Women in International Relations (WIIR). WIIR has been a massive part of my Tufts experience, and through this post, I hope to highlight the opportunities available to IR majors at Tufts while expressing my appreciation for all that WIIR has given me. 

WIIR is one of many student groups at Tufts supported by  the Initiative for Global Leadership (IGL), a program housed in the Tisch College of Civic Life. The IGL’s mission is to connect students’ studies of international affairs and civic leadership into practice through various projects and opportunities. WIIR hosts weekly discussions on a variety of topics, including current events, course registration, study abroad, networking, guest speakers, and more. Sample events from this past year include Tea on Courses, Black Voices in IR, Women in Conflict Zones, and IR & Social Media. In addition, many IGL clubs receive funding to complete an annual research trip internationally, which I attended last summer. 

My journey with WIIR began at the club fair in the fall of my sophomore year. Walking through the academic portion of the fair, I spotted two familiar faces at the WIIR table and decided to go say "hi." They both encouraged me to join, despite the fact that I had only taken a few IR classes and felt too inexperienced to join. I decided that my curiosity was more important than my hesitation, and added my name to the email list. From the first meeting, I felt truly welcomed by the members, who emphasized that WIIR is open to anyone interested in global affairs, regardless of their experience or major. The weekly meetings felt like a breath of fresh air, providing a space for kind and passionate women to have important conversations on current events and academic concepts. In addition to the academic and professional benefits WIIR has given me, I have also met some of my closest friends through the club. 

Last summer, I went on WIIR’s annual research trip with five other members, where we studied a range of topics including refugee resettlement, Islamophobia, abortion access, the role of women in conflict negotiations, and more. The trip not only gave me hands-on research experience, but also deepened my bond with the other members. In my junior fall, I served as the events chair on WIIR’s executive board, joining other members in planning weekly meetings, guest speakers, and collaborations with other organizations. Moving into my senior year, I will be serving as the co-president for the club, alongside one of the first members I met. WIIR has been a massive part of my Tufts experience, pushing me to explore new academic interests, guiding my career aspirations, and importantly, introducing me to a brilliant community of thoughtful and caring women I meet with each week. 

If you have any more questions about WIIR, feel free to email me at maya.tesfai@tufts.edu, and feel free to check out WIIR on Instagram @tufts_wiir!