Melina Schmidt

Melina is a senior at the University of Washington majoring in International Studies. Her academic focus is on foreign policy, diplomacy, peace, and security, however, she is fascinated by all areas of this interdisciplinary field. Born and raised in Germany, she is particularly interested in European affairs. Through her internship at the World Affairs Council, she hopes to gain experience in research and the day-to-day logistics of a non-profit organization.

As an international student, Melina is able to recognize the benefits of a global education, and she aspires to utilize what she has learned in the Jackson School to make positive contributions to the community – locally and globally. After her freshman year of college, she spent one month in rural Nicaragua teaching English and learning first-hand about the importance of access to education. Since then, she has solo-traveled to a variety of countries to learn more about the histories, cultures, languages, and individual challenges of different nations. She also works for the international admissions department at UW, through which she can assist incoming international students with their own transition. In her free time, Melina loves to read, spend time with friends, and complete nerdy geography quizzes.