Initial Global Pathways interns soak up a world of knowledge
Whirlwind. Eye-opening. Future-refining. Rewarding. Challenging. Connecting. The first iteration of the Global Pathways Program at Coe could be defined in different ways depending on the week by the two initial Kohawk participants — Maria Bello ’26 and Davis Sharp ’26.
The Global Pathways Program is an internship experience that creates an immersive experience in international affairs through connections and activities with Iowa’s network of international partnerships, including its longstanding relationship with the Republic of Kosovo. Tailored to the interns’ particular interests and career goals, students learn about multiple aspects of international relations, including state and citizen diplomacy, human rights, international law and policy and international development.
Bello is considering an international relations or immigration law career, and Sharp is considering law school and is interested in sports diplomacy. Both found the Global Pathways experience to be profoundly impactful as they met and networked with representatives from key nonprofit, higher education, state and diplomatic organizations.
“When I think of Iowa I don’t think of a diplomatic hub, so meeting all these people was enlightening. To see the depth of what they do on a daily basis is eye-opening,” Sharp said.
Bello had a similar experience — learning more about others helped her learn more about herself and her future.
“Doing this internship, I started loving the human rights side of things more. I realized how passionate I was for public policy and advocating for communities of people who struggle to have advocates,” Bello said.
Realizations like these are what program supervisors, Director of C3: Creativity, Careers, Community Joe Demarest and Assistant Professor of Sociology Alissa Boguslaw, were hoping for. They set a robust agenda over the summer.
Throughout June and July, there were day trips to Des Moines to meet with the Kosovo Consulate, visit the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates and engage in discussions with Daniel Van Sant, director of international disability policy at the Harkin Institute, an independent public policy think tank.
On campus and in Cedar Rapids, Bello and Sharp helped host a delegation of women in business from the Republic of Georgia, in collaboration with the Open World Program and the Friendship Force of Cedar Rapids-Iowa City. They met with Pat Grote, executive director, and Hannah Huisman, program coordinator, at the Iowa International Center, to learn about citizen diplomacy, Iowa’s partner state program and career opportunities. They visited with International Relations Coordinator Leigh Carlson of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Executive Director Amy Alice Chastain of Global Ties Iowa.
Coe connections also proved to be pivotal as always. Coe Trustee Bola George ’00 acted as a mentor and Professor John Chaimov discussed internationalization initiatives at Coe. George, specifically, had an acute impact on Bello and Sharp. He is executive director and assistant general counsel at JP Morgan Chase, a Yale Law School graduate and interned at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the Hague.
“This experience has given me confidence. The more I talk with people, the more knowledgeable and comfortable I become,” Bello said.
For both the interns, Global Pathways both opened up a world of opportunity and helped them sharpen their focus for the future. The perspective gained extended beyond career direction, though. The program helped each student understand how they can be helpful and productive in a larger sense.
Sharp mentioned his analytical skills and big picture thinking ability have grown as he has spent the summer studying diplomacy and its intricacies. His evolving skillset will serve him well as his Global Pathways experience affirmed he wants to pursue a career in the legal field, perhaps in international or immigration law.
Bello is already putting some of her experience into action on campus as the international student coordinator. She has assisted with international student orientation, welcoming nearly 30 new students from over 10 countries. She will remain a mentor, and just a friendly face, for that group throughout this academic year.
After Coe, Bello plans to attend graduate school, and maybe law school down the road, with a focus on human rights or public policy. The Global Pathways experience has confirmed a desire to travel, and any future studies will be abroad.
“I’m passionate about helping people who are basically me at one point,” Bello said. “Global Pathways has motivated me and confirmed that I want to be an advocate for international students and visitors.”
Both Bello and Sharp aren’t completely done with the internship yet — they are putting the finishing touches on a website called "International Relations and Citizen Diplomacy at Coe" to share with the public our global engagement and to track their work. That work will pave the path for future Global Pathways interns at Coe.
“Since it’s the first time the program was offered and I would be one of the first interns, I knew it would be a good opportunity to build a foundation for the program,” Bello said.
Sharp left a piece of advice for future interns.
“We are helping to facilitate citizen diplomacy, are helping to connect Iowa with other countries and other international students,” he said. “We made the most of it — you get what you put into it.”