UWF international studies student to intern at U.S. Embassy in Peru

May 31, 2018 | By: Jordan Ardoin; Photo: Racine Frank | casshcommunications@uwf.edu

Racine Frank, UWF international studies student, will soon embark on a ten week internship with the U.S. Embassy in Peru. Frank will work in the Consular Section of the embassy June 4 - Aug. 10 and will focus on immigration and visa processing during her time there.

Frank has high hopes that her work in the embassy will prepare her for a career in international diplomatic leadership. Frank says she sees herself working as a foreign service officer in the U.S. State Department in the future. Of the internship, Frank says, “This is definitely a step toward where I’m trying to get.”

There were many steps in Frank’s journey, which led her to this one. While studying in the international studies program at UWF, Frank developed her skills in diplomacy and analytical thinking.

“I’ve taken a lot of great classes that are either cultural, political, security and diplomacy . . . and I can see how it’s starting to apply in the workplace,” Frank says.

She specifically cites her coursework with UWF professors Dr. Jacob Shively, Dr. Wil Hugli and Dr. Brian Crisher as helpful in preparing her to work in international diplomacy.

“I’ve taken a lot of great classes that are either cultural, political, security and diplomacy . . . and I can see how it’s starting to apply in the workplace,” Frank says.

In addition to classwork, a local community-based internship and participation in UWF organizations have prepared Frank to work in the U.S. Embassy in Peru. Since January 2017, Frank has served as the program intern for the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council, a branch of the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program, which organizes meetings around the U.S. for up-and-coming social and political leaders from other countries. Frank also serves as the operations chair for the Campus Activity Board at UWF and was elected president of the W.E.B. Du Bois Honor Society in the Fall of last year.

Through her experiences at UWF, Frank has learned the real meaning of diplomacy. She says, “It’s important to know that being diplomatic, you’re going to have arguments, you’re going to have confrontations, but the point is exchanging perspectives and seeing both sides of the situation and hopefully coming to a middle ground of things.”

Frank’s internship with the U.S. Embassy in Peru’s Consular Section is the next phase of her educational journey with UWF, leading her to a future of making a difference in the global community.

For more information on international studies at UWF, visit the program’s website.