April 15, 2014
My journey to St. Petersburg started four years before I arrived, when I decided to major in Political Science and minor in Russian Language and Literature at the George Washington University in Washington, DC.
My fascination and appreciation for all things Russian drove me to pursue studying in Russia, and the European University at St. Petersburg provided a unique experience that no other university in the world could provide. EUSP was offering the ENERPO MA program, the first of its kind at the University and it was an instant match for me. Throughout my studies at GW, I learned about Russia's role as a leader in the energy world, and EUSP provided the unique opportunity of being surrounded and taught by the leading minds in the Russian - and thus global - energy sector. It was clearly one of the best decisions of my life, as it prepared me for my career in the energy sector - while living in the amazing city of St. Petersburg. I was exposed to new ideas about energy and policy formation, in addition to understanding the energy world from the Russian perspective. The knowledge I gained from my professors, who have had real experience in the energy sector has given me an advantage that no one else can have unless you participated in the ENERPO program. Couple that with the polishing of my language skills from the language courses and living in Russia, you are prepared for almost anything.
Today I work as a Regulatory Affairs Analyst at Invenergy, an independent power producer based out of Chicago. Simply put, if I had not studied at EUSP, I would likely not have a career in the energy sector. The experience of a world-class university, coupled with the beautiful city of St. Petersburg (which obviously has no shortage of culture and nightlife) makes the ENERPO program at EUSP a no-brainer, and I would go again in a heartbeat. I cannot find enough superlatives to describe my experience, the memories, and lifetime friends I've made in Piter.