Bergen Bassett received her Masters of Arts in European Studies in 2012. We were able to catch up with her and see the path she's been on for the past 13 years.

What is the name of your degree, when did you graduate, and what was your affiliation with the European Union Center?

I received the MAEUS in May 2012 with the first cohort of masters degree students. I was intrinsically involved in the EUC, which also facilitated my Swedish FLAS fellowship.

What were the most important skills you learned from your time with the EUC?

Three of the most important skills I developed or refined during my time with the EUC were (1) elevating my understanding of the European Union and how it operates among member states and globally; (2) networking among peers, professors, and guest lecturers; (3) the ability to think deeply and collaborate on a range of cross-cutting global and transatlantic issues and draw from a variety of courses, material, and perspectives while forming my own ideas.

What are you doing now? Are you using any of the skills you discussed in the question above?

I am a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. I have recently worked in the bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs in Washington DC in the office focused on U.S. relations with the European Union. However,  I am currently learning Italian in preparation for my next assignment at the U.S. Consulate in Florence, Italy, where I will be the multi-hatted deputy principal officer (#2 in charge), consular chief (managing all American citizen services and visa interviews), management officer (in charge of logistics and the management of people and property), and security officer (in charge of physical and information security at the consulate). It will be a big job, allowing me to learn a lot. I have used all of the skills I developed or refined during my time with the EUC and expect to continue drawing on them for years to come.

What do you hope to be doing ten years from now?

Ten years from now, I hope to be in a position of greater leadership with the State Department where I can leverage my EU and transatlantic experience to develop the next generation and help the United States further deepen its relationships with the EU and individual European countries while also supporting the EU in maximizing its full potential.

Would you recommend taking a foreign language and if so, how has that knowledge helped you?

I would absolutely recommend taking a foreign language. Try to select one that you think you may use again or could open professional doors. That said, I have not been able to use my Swedish in a professional setting--yet. However, being able to communicate in a foreign language helps one to better understand other cultures and points of view. For me personally, it also strengthened my understanding of English grammar rules, which made me a stronger writer, and made it easier to learn Spanish and Italian (though not in the same language family) down the road.

Do you have any advice for students who are currently affiliated with the EUC?

Get out, nextwork, study abroad, and gain as many experiences as possible. Seek out internships, engage with professors and visiting lecturers, be open to opportunities - even if they don't appear to align with your core interests at first glance. All experiences will add to your "tool kit" and you might be surprised what you draw on in the future. You may even discover a new field you previously hadn't considered.  Also, never burn bridges. You never know when you might want/need to reach back to a former colleague.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

For some of you, your post-college pathway may have challenges and turns, so keep an open mind and your eyes on your future goals. My first five years post graduation, I found myself in a field far removed from my MAEUS and the EUC. However, I learned many new things and stayed open to opportunities. Even when I joined the State Department, my first two assignments sent me to Asia and Central America. With some strategic maneuvering and networking, I have found my way to a career where I can leverage my MAEUS and other prior transatlantic experiences.  Always keep going if you are not entirely where you want to be and learn along the way.