Travis Mitchell

• School of International Affairs

• B.S. INTA 2008

Can you begin by updating us on what you have been up to since graduating from Georgia Tech?

I interned in Munich at the Georgia Department of Economic Development and then worked as a Program Coordinator at an international non-profit. Then, I pursued my Master's degree in Global Studies at Lund University in Sweden. As part of my degree, we had to do research, and I chose to do it in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. After graduation, I relocated to Cambodia and have been working as the Director of the Council for Research and Creativity at The University of Cambodia. I have been here for 6 years now.

How did Tech and/or the Sam Nunn School help you get where you are in your career?

Georgia Tech helped me learn how to prioritize information and write clearly and succinctly. In my work, I must process lots of information quickly and explain complex topics in an easy-to-understand manner. The faculty at the Sam Nunn School were always so helpful and approachable, and I have used their teaching methodologies with my own students here in Cambodia.

What has been a particular impact of studying International Affairs at Tech on your career?

I got my initial job based on Tech's reputation and the international experience I had while studying at Tech. Studying international affairs taught me to think critically, which has been one of the most valuable skills I have ever learned.

What advice would you give current students at the Nunn School?

1. Don't just go to class and go home. Go to the lectures and events that the Nunn School hosts. Once you leave Tech, it's hard to have access to so many outstanding speakers and experts, especially for free.

2. Join the International House--The I-House was a key part of my university experience. We attended so many cultural festivals in Atlanta, and there were so many activities occurring in the city that I otherwise would have never known about. I attended grad school in Sweden because some of my hallmates were Swedish and they advocated for their university's international relations program.

3. Do an internship, no matter how busy you are. That little bit of work experience exposes you to what working in the real world is like, and it helps you get that next job.

4. Study abroad. Or better yet, work abroad. Tech has so many programs, so check out one that interests you.

5. Learn a language. It's so much harder to do once you leave.

6. Ignore people who don't understand the Sam Nunn School--I always found Sam Nunn students way more interesting, dynamic, and frankly more intelligent than students from other Schools.