UCF Alumna’s Travels Enhance Her Educational Experience

Karina Konz, ’12, is originally from Germany and began her college career at Temple University in Tokyo, Japan. In 2011, she transferred to UCF as an international student and graduated in December 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in philosophy. Having traveled to and lived in several different places, Konz has had a variety of rewarding experiences. But studying at UCF, which she describes as a large university with a very politically active student body, has been one of her greatest experiences of all.

“UCF provided me with the means for great opportunities and I am grateful to the political science department for what it has helped me accomplish. Due to the encouragement and support I received from faculty and fellow students, I am not afraid to set my goals high.”

After graduating from UCF, Konz started working at an internship as a research assistant at Oceana, an international organization focused on ocean conservation. Her work involves research on local communities in Florida as well as reaching out to congressional representatives and senators to encourage them to support environmental protection policies. Her internship has allowed her to stay connected to UCF, since the organization works closely with several student groups in organizing information events on campus about environmental issues such as oil spills and seismic airgun testing.

This summer, Konz will take part in the Washington Center’s Postgraduate Professional Development Program (PPDP), which is a 10-week internship program in Washington, D.C. that focuses on providing practical training and skills in the fields of political science and international relations. After she completes the summer program, Konz plans to move to London to pursue a master’s degree in international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

When asked if she has any advice to current students, Konz suggests, “Take advantage of the wide variety of resources and opportunities that UCF offers, such as workshops at the career center or involvement in student organizations; these resources allowed me to network with people outside of my courses and greatly enhanced my undergraduate experience.”