Irmak Ersoz

Irmak (she/her) is a junior majoring in International Relations with specializations in Social Development and Human Well-Being, and Comparative International Governance. She is also minoring in Data Science and Art Practice. She spoke with us about how she became interested in IR, her favorite class, and advice she would give to students interested in IR!

What sparked your interest in IR?

My interest in IR was sparked from witnessing gaps in humanitarian needs and aid, and its interactions with good governance especially in the Middle East. I worked as a research and policy intern with the Permanent Mission of Turkey to the UN last summer, mainly working in enhancing diplomacy around cross-border aid into Syria. This brought along my interest in research that incorporates data science and machine learning to humanitarian aid success in situations like these.

What is your favorite IR class?

My favorite class I have taken in the IR major so far is HISTORY 282K: Refugees and Migrants in the Middle East and Balkans, which is a colloquium class that provides intersectional approaches into migration trends in MENA and the Balkans, incorporated with gender, healthcare, education, and politics. I hope to take all of my experiences in these different fields to create innovative approaches to humanitarian aid in conflict and post-conflict contexts.

What advice would you give students interested in international relations or foreign policy?

I recommend prospective IR majors take as many interdisciplinary classes in fields like statistics or healthcare policy as much as possible to widen their understanding of global issues!