Where Are They Now? Emma Sanderson (IAFS & SPAN, ’21)
We’re excited to continue our “Where Are They Now?” feature, highlighting IAFS alumni and the diverse paths they’ve taken since graduation. Each spotlight shares updates on career, accomplishments, and life after - offering our community a chance to celebrate and stay connected with fellow graduates. If you’d like to be featured in a future edition, we’d love to hear from you!
This month, we’re featuring (IAFS & SPAN ’21), who reflects on how her IAFS experience launched her into the world of foreign policy, her recent achievements in graduate school, and what life looks like now in Washington, DC. Here’s what she had to say:
(IAFS & SPAN ’21) is a Master’s student in International Relations at (SAIS), where she is a Public Service Fellow concentrating in Security, Strategy, and Statecraft with a regional focus on Latin America. Previously, she worked in research at the and the at Eurasia Group, supporting analysis on US foreign policy, sanctions, migration, defense, and national security. She has also conducted research on US-Africa policy and counterterrorism in sub-Saharan Africa as a with the , and received training in diplomatic tradecraft through the . Originally from Eugene, Oregon, Emma holds a BA in International Affairs and Spanish from the University of Colorado Boulder.
What are you up to now (role, organization, location)?
I’m a second-year master’s student at the (SAIS) in Washington, DC. While at SAIS, I interned at the at Eurasia Group, and I’m currently a and Vice President of the Careers in Diplomacy Club. After graduation, I plan to continue working in US foreign policy.
How has your IAFS background shaped your path?
’s IAFS program played a huge role in shaping my path toward foreign policy. I really valued the structure of the major paired with the flexibility to explore different regions, issue areas, and disciplines. Just as important were the professors, who pushed me to think critically while being incredibly supportive mentors. (Forever grateful to Prof. Gregory Young, Prof. Robert Wyrod and Prof. Doug Snyder!)
During my senior year - when everything shifted online because of COVID - I was able to intern virtually at the . That experience gave me my first real exposure to the policy world. While balancing Zoom classes and remote work, I slowly built relationships and learn more about the foreign policy field. That internship ultimately helped me transition into a full-time role after graduation and gave me the confidence to keep pursuing this path.
Emma’s research examines how U.S. “maximum pressure” sanctions reshaped Venezuela’s economy by pushing the regime toward illicit revenue streams and alternative financial networks.
As Venezuela adapted to sanctions, it deepened ties with other sanctioned states—including Iran—to sustain its energy sector and bypass international restrictions. These shared workarounds help explain how sanctions on one country can ripple outward, shaping broader networks of cooperation among sanctioned regimes.
A recent accomplishment or moment you’re proud of?
I was recently selected for the inaugural , based within the . The cohort includes 15 graduate students representing five different graduate schools, all focused on research related to economic warfare. My project looks at US maximum pressure sanctions on Venezuela.
Through SAIS, I also have had the opportunity of conducting my capstone research topic on US-Colombia relations, and I’m headed to Bogotá and Medellín in two weeks to conduct my research on the ground!
One fun fact about life after ?
I’ve had the chance to return to twice for the Conference on World Affairs (CWA), which I loved attending as a student. On those visits, I got to represent the Chicago Council alongside my boss, Lizzy Shackelford, when she was a speaker. It felt very full-circle, and I hope to be back again soon.
We also recently published an interview with Emma titled From Internship to SAIS: Emma Sanderson's Path in Foreign Policy, where she speaks more in depth about her experience in the IAFS Internship Program and gives practical advice to current IAFS students.