Ashley Bliss Lima

Name: Ashley Bliss Lima Picture of Faculty/Staff Member
Alumni Of:
  • School of International Affairs
Degree(s):
  • B.S. EIA 2008
Current Job: Senior Program Manager at Jobs for the Future
Biography:

After Ashley Bliss Lima obtained her bachelor's degree in Economic and International Affairs in 2009, she worked as a field organizer for the Obama Campaign For Change. She later worked a staff assistant for the office of Congresswoman Nydia Vasquez, account executive at Porter Novelli, and field director for Lloyed Doggett for US Congress. In 2012, she attended the University of California, Berkley where she obtained her master's degree in Public Policy. She worked at the University of Texas as an assistant director at the Office of Strategy and Policy and now works as the senior program manager at Jobs for the Future.

How did Tech and the Nunn School help you get where you are?

The Nunn School department does an exceptional job in creating an environment in which “non-tech” students can flourish. With the majority of my peers being engineers, scientists, and mathematicians, it was naturally harder to find opportunities that suited my interests. As a liberal arts student studying International Affairs and Economics at Georgia Tech, I was in the minority. However, Ivan Allen College (IAC) pushes its students 100% to find internships, fellowships, jobs that best fit what they are looking for- and not only does the pushing, but also provides the resources and contacts. These factors all come down to the outstanding faculty and staff that work within the IAC- I can name at any moment the professors and advisors that influenced and pushed me to where I am now.

What advice you would give current students at Tech as well as the Sam Nunn School specifically?

Take advantage of the opportunities that the Sam Nunn School offers because they are all there. Don’t be afraid to search for the opportunity that suits your interests the best- you don’t have to settle- and especially don’t be afraid to ask for help from your professors and advisors.

What is something that you got from studying Economics and International Affairs at Tech?

A close-knit academic environment with a large university feel- since there are so few of us, I was able to build close relationships with my professors and the Nunn School classmates.