Student Perspectives: Kristin Burke

Studying Abroad to Bring Home Jobs

Kristin Burke truly knows the meaning of "a global classroom." Kristin, who is pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Asian studies, is currently in Chengdu, Sichuan, studying business Mandarin and researching Western economic development in China. She is there with the support of a Boren National Security Education Program Fellowship, which enables graduate students to add an international and language component to areas of study deemed critical to U.S. national security.
With the United States and China as the world's first and second-largest economies, Kristin is looking for ways to enhance U.S.-China commercial partnership. Through her work and research in China, she hopes to pursue a career that will enable her to facilitate sustainable Chinese investment in the United States as a way to increase American employment.
According to Kristin, many Chinese mergers and acquisitions have been in the IT sector, and the majority of "green" projects have been in the manufacturing industry, specifically renewable and alternative energy products. Her fellowship enables her to look at the emerging trends in both of these industries in different regions of China. Doing so, she says, will help her identify which industries and companies are compatible with the U.S. investment environment.
"When Chinese finances keep an American company or factory from closing, the American workers stay employed and the Chinese team gets the opportunity to learn about the American market, standards, and technology…this is good for both sides," Kristin said via email from China.
Kristin credits many factors as to why she chose to study at GW, including the stellar reputations of Elliott School faculty and the positive things she heard about the Career Center.
"The Elliott School equipped me with academic resources to add depth to my areas of interest. Coming back to China and networking with Chinese professors provides me with the opportunity to combine my past on-the-ground knowledge with the academic expertise gained at the Elliott School. This allows me to dive deeper into the Chinese political economy."

-From the Elliott School Briefing Newsletter