Student Success Story - How D.C. CONNECT led Gabriela Avila ’16 MPA ’17 to her dream job at the U.S. Dept. of State
After graduating from , Gabriela Avila ‘16 MPA ‘17 went on to
become a Protocol Officer for the United States Department of State (DOS).
Before her graduation, though, Avila attended the Washington D.C. Employer Site Visits in 2017 and met with alumni in the non-profit and government fields.
“These were fields that I was interested in for a very long time, especially since I had always considered working for the State Department,” Avila said. “The Washington D.C. Site Visit experience was great because I got the opportunity to network with different alumni and learn about different routes that others had taken.”
During an employer Trek at the Department of State (DOS), Avila made a life-changing connection.
“This Trek gave me the opportunity to have a one-on-one chat with someone that was in the Pathways Program which helped me get to where I am today,” Avila said. “The experience also helped me get a feel of the culture and the work pace, and that was quite eye-opening for me.“
The Fleishman Center, Alumni Association and partner career offices work together to coordinate CONNECT Employer Treks and Networking Nights in various cities - including New York, Boston, Silicon Valley, and Washington D.C. - during school breaks.
Employer Treks provide students with the opportunity to expand their network by connecting with alumni and employers around the country, and polish their professional development skills.
During the visit, Avila found out about the Pathways Program from the speaker at the State Department and after her trip, she applied for the program and was accepted. After working in New York City, Avila went on to work at the Diplomatic Affairs Division in Washington D.C.
“Every day is something different at the DOS,” Avila said. “I like being challenged and learning new things every day.”
As Protocol Officer for the DOS, Avila said she has to interview international domestic workers and ensure their overall well-being.
“I am passionate about helping these people and making sure they are aware of their rights and prevent abuse,” Avila said. “I’m passionate about advocacy, culture, and languages and to get to practice that in this field, in a unique way.”
Avila has always been interested in learning languages and cultural affairs, and the site visit showed her more opportunities at the state level.
“This job is always teaching me something new and always keeping me on my toes,” Avila said. “It’s helped me to develop professionally and has given me opportunities to travel and meet people with very interesting portfolios.”
Avila said she enjoyed her experience on the visit and it allowed her to learn about different career paths that others have taken, as well as about job openings and programs available post-graduation.
“I enjoyed hearing from fellow Bearcats and getting great advice from them,” Avila said.
Avila’s advice to future students who will be going on the Trek is to research the organizations prior to the visit. She said to never shy away from asking questions and to make sure to follow up with contacts to thank them for their time, update them on your progress and keep the relationship going. This increases the likelihood that you’ll be the person who comes to mind when new opportunities cross their desk.
“I know that some students are interested in some companies/agencies more than others, but it’s important to give them all a shot,” Avila said. “You never know what opportunities you’ll learn about that could be beneficial to you.”
Overall, Avila said that the program helped to get her foot in the door and led her to the position she has now.
“I am also really thankful to for giving me many opportunities to learn and participate in things I had always envisioned for myself,” Avila said.
The 2020 Washington, D.C. CONNECT program will be happening April 5-8. Be sure to attend an info session either online or person Feb. 7- Feb. 13 to be eligible to apply. Learn more.