Asian Studies Alumni Stories - Tracie Yang
Current Position & Responsibilities
I am the Communications Officer for The Asia Foundation's Global Communications team. With 18 country offices all over Asia, I help manage media relations, social media, and publicity. Last November, I traveled to Mumbai and Phnom Penh with our photographer and filmmaker to produce two short films highlighting our women's education and empowerment program. I also coordinated media relations and created the communications plan for the Foundation's 2019 Survey of the Afghan People, released last December in Kabul and at the United States Institute of Peace in D.C.
Why the Asian Studies Program?
I chose the program because the curriculum really pushed me to get the most out of my graduate degree, while also being flexible enough to pursue specific subjects and specialties. Along with core courses offered by the Elliott School, I was given the opportunity to take courses from the university's law and global communications schools. When starting the program, I was the most anxious about the required foreign language exam, but my rigorous preparation and the program's foreign language fellowship opportunity equipped me with important language skills that I still use in my career.
What are your future goals?
In the future I hope to complete and pass the Foreign Service exam, and join the diplomatic core to work specifically in communications and public diplomacy.